Here are a few stories of the creative ways our team at Long & Foster Settlement Services are supporting Long & Foster’s agents, as well as buyers and sellers, at the settlement “table,” which is not necessarily a regular table anymore, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Annamarie Haley of Sage Premier Settlements in Pennsylvania has gone above and beyond to adapt to a new way of closing. She outfitted the back of her hatchback car with a custom-made table and then made pointers out of old TV antennas, which allow her to explain the closing documents with her clients while maintaining social distancing. She’s also handled closings in the rain—holding umbrellas up to keep papers dry—passed paperwork between car windows, and even stood outside a client’s home window, reviewing documents with him on her iPad.
Stephanie Timon, senior processor at Sage Title Group in Bethesda, Maryland, reported that her team has been conducting closings through their office glass door, as well as online video programs like Microsoft Teams.
Teresa Schudel, regional vice president and managing attorney at RGS Title in McLean, Virginia, has been conducting closings with her clients as they sit in their cars. This allows her to practice social distancing while meeting face-to-face with her customers. Conducting settlements in this manner even got the attention of CNBC, who filmed Schudel reviewing closing documents with clients.
