There may be an instance where you and/or your spouse have to leave town when your escrow is closing. Fortunately, there are a couple solutions to this problem, so you don’t need to worry about delaying the close of escrow.
Some escrow companies allow escrow instructions to be signed and faxed or emailed, as long as all original signed copies will be presented a couple days later. However, most escrow companies will not accept a faxed copy of signatures because of the possibility of them being “forged”. Make sure to contact your escrow company to ask what their policies are regarding this matter.
The best solution, and the one that is most commonly used and accepted in cases like this, is to select someone to sign on your behalf. To do this, you must complete a Power of Attorney form signed and notarized and provide the original copy to your escrow holder. It’s a good idea to use a limited Power of Attorney to a single real estate transaction. Once you return, make sure to cancel the Power of Attorney.
Because many escrow companies do not usually accept faxed or emailed copies of signatures, using an authorized Power of Attorney will be your best bet. Although, do make sure to get approval to use a Power of Attorney from your lender if applicable. Also, make sure to notify your escrow company if you do plan to go out of town at the time of your close.
