Let’s face it.  We live in a world that has different social standards than the world we lived in even 20 years ago. A less formal world.  Restaurants which once required a jacket and tie are now just fine with jeans and a fairly clean shirt (ironing: optional). Thank you notes have become a delightful formality, the occasional reminder of days gone by.

To this new, business casual, upscale comfort food world in which we live, punctuality ain’t what it used to be, either. Heck, arriving late for a job interview isn’t even a deal breaker anymore.  To some degree, we’ve stopped caring about being on time and stopped expecting punctuality.  With a few exceptions.

One of those exceptions?  Closing day on your new house.   Imagine if you will, the first time homebuyer.  The struggle and sacrifice of months or years of saving up enough for the down payment. The endless visits to different homes before finding the perfect one. And then…the paperwork. The phone calls. The silence between phone calls. The ups-and-downs of awaiting the underwriter’s approval; the appraiser’s report and the inspector’s recommendations.  By the time that homebuyer gets the long-awaited call to schedule the closing, the process has taken weeks…maybe months.

The closing is, in fact, ceremonial. It’s a big moment.  You’re taking on a mortgage payment. You’re committing to a move. You’re making a major change in your life.  You’re ready to get this show on the road.

Now imagine arriving at the closing professional’s or title agent’s office, not really knowing what to expect. And imagine waiting…and waiting…and waiting. It’s your big day, but it’s obviously just another day for the closer.  You’ve managed to squeeze a few hours out of the office to get here. Your significant other has had to take paid-time-off.  But the closing professional can’t seem to keep the appointment. Your time is no more important than a coffee break to him or her.

See?  Punctuality still does have a place in this world. And if the closing professional can’t be bothered to be on time for this important moment, what does that say about the mortgage lender?  Does the homebuyer even understand that the closer, in most cases, is a contractor for the lender?  Probably not.  And even if he/she does, it’s not a very good look for the lender.

Equity National Title has surveyed over 17,000 homebuyers immediately after their home closings.  One of the very first questions we asked them was “Did the closing professional arrive at the closing on time?”  Almost 89 percent answered “Early” or “Right on time.” Another 8.48 percent answered “A few minutes late.” Fortunately, less than 3 percent answered “He/she was very late.” Of those respondents, almost 75 percent noted that, at the least, the tardy closer called or notified the waiting homebuyers that he/she was going to be late.

Nonetheless, for that less-than-three-percent, we apologize. Sometimes, things happen—unexpected traffic, car problems and so forth. But it’s still a bit irksome to the antsy homebuyer who’s about to commit himself/herself to a mortgage and new home.  We make punctuality a clear and unequivocal priority at Equity National Title.  We follow up on each and every closing which doesn’t start when scheduled, and deal with the closing professional appropriately. It’s the least we can do on such an important day.