C O A L I T I O N Corner Coalition Corner: Business training tools for HR staff, real estate licensees and other service professionals in the relocation and real estate industries Courtesy Signers Accommodate Busy Schedules By Dwayne Prince, CRP, First American Title Insurance Company-Arizona © 2006, Employee Relocation Council/Worldwide ERC ® Coalition

C O A L I T I O N Corner Program objectives This program supplements an editorial feature in Worldwide ERC ® ’s Mobility magazine This segment will: –Define the courtesy signer’s position and role in the real estate closing process –Outline some of the advantages and disadvantages of using courtesy signers in a relocation transaction

C O A L I T I O N Corner What are “courtesy signers”?  Representatives who offer flexibility in location/schedule for the witnessing/signing of real estate closing documents*  Often are retired escrow officers/closers  Assist title and closing companies in meeting higher volumes and/or demands of busy client schedules, particularly relocating employees *It should be noted that courtesy signers cannot be used in all states. Some states’ current statutes require closing in a title or attorney’s office, including CT, DE, MA and GA

C O A L I T I O N Corner What is their role?  Role is to facilitate/notarize legitimate signatures  May only answer general questions about the documents  May not offer advice on the loan program or any legal matters

C O A L I T I O N Corner Courtesy signers can: Offer flexibility of time (meet outside regular business hours, on weekends, holidays, etc.) Offer flexibility of location—where allowable by state law— including transferees’ homes, offices, etc. Help speed up process by cutting down on travel to closing or attorney office/eliminating need to take time off from the workday Help ensure a smoother transition for relocating employees by bringing the documents to them Advantages

C O A L I T I O N Corner Reliance on a single individual vs. an office staff may result in the occasional need to postpone/reschedule, due to unavoidable emergencies/scheduling conflicts Use of inexperienced individuals may pose problems of inability to answer questions and/or overstepping bounds of those actions within their authority Potential Disadvantages

C O A L I T I O N Corner Where allowable by state law, experienced and well trained courtesy signers can offer companies and their employees speed, convenience and a positive personal experience Bottom line?