Cook & James Responds to COVID-19

 

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At Cook & James, we are one big family - from our founding partners and attorneys to agents and homebuyers. As closing attorneys, we value not only a quality closing experience, but the health and happiness of everyone at the closing table. In recent weeks we have kept a close eye on the global novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in order to keep our family, friends and colleagues safe and healthy at the closing table.

We want to assure our friends and colleagues that we embrace the importance of health, comfort and convenience throughout your transaction process so we want to communicate to you what we, at Cook & James, are doing to stay vigilant and prepared. In addition to following guidance from federal, state and local agencies, including the CDC and other health organizations, we want to share with you the below steps we are taking to protect our staff, our clients and everyone with whom we interact at the closing table and beyond: 

In Our Offices

  • Cleaning commonly used areas more often, including reception areas, doorknobs, self-serve coffee stations, tables and other hard surfaces. 

  • Sanitizing restrooms more frequently and restocking with ample supplies including soap, paper towels and hand sanitizer.

  • We have removed our candy bar but we do still offer bottled water and canned drinks.

  • Asking our staff to stay home if they, or someone in their household, are sick.

  • Offering the opportunity for remote working.

  • Adding extra hand sanitizer to conference rooms, lobbies and reception areas. 

  • Wiping down commonly used closing equipment such as mobile pelican cases, computers and scanners.

  • Following best practices for safe networking and social distancing by suggesting frequent handwashing and offering hand sanitizer to our guests at entry and throughout the events.

At Your Closing

  • Recommend that only essential signers attend the closing

  • Parties will sign in separate rooms to limit contact and maintain a safe distance.  Rooms are disinfected immediately before and after each transaction.

  • We are not reusing pens. Once you use it, it is yours to take with you.

  • Encouraging our staff to closely monitor their health and the well-being of everyone at the closing table and be ready to substitute personnel or cancel if health concerns arise.

  • Prior to entering a venue for an at-home or mobile closing, each person will wash and thoroughly disinfect. Hand shaking is discouraged until further notice. 

For You

  • Encouraging our friends and colleagues to follow the CDC’s suggested hygiene practices to reduce the spread of the virus.

  • Encouraging everyone to stay current on COVID-19 updates from verified and authoritative health sources like the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO).

  • Recommending that our friends and colleagues practice recommended general health safety at home and their places of work, including remote working.

  • We strive to provide the absolute best closing experience for everyone in the Cook & James family...which includes following the recommendations of the public health experts, staying healthy and balancing the safety of our staff with our commitments to our clients. If you or anyone in the closing party experiences any symptoms related to COVID-19, please contact us immediately to reschedule your closing.

 

Thank you for choosing Cook & James and we look forward to seeing you at our (squeaky clean) closing table soon.  

Kara Cook & Heather James

 

Resources for updated information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC.gov – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19)

World Health Organization: WHO.int – Coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) outbreak

U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Ready.gov – Pandemic

 
CJHeather James