No, but it is there for your convenience. The Control Panel is a powerful tool that allows home buyers, sellers, and refinancers to manage their closing process digitally. However, it is entirely optional and you can purchase title insurance at a 35% discount without using it all. You're welcome to use whichever features of the Control Panel make your closing easier.

The alerts on the page will always let you know if there are tasks crucial to your closing that need to be completed. Typically, your first step should be to upload your Purchase & Sale Agreement or Mortgage Commitment to the site through your Checklist. These Checklist documents contain most of the information needed by your Closing Specialist in order to begin your closing process. When you speak with your Specialist, they will be sure to review all action items, timelines, and an overview of the process with you. Whatever questions you may have, please do not hesitate to call your Specialist.

Your Checklist is pre-populated and contains all of the documents REQUIRED for you to close on your transaction. All of the items on your Checklist are critical. This allows you to easily manage the most important steps in the closing process. You can ensure that your closing is on track by making sure that all documents are uploaded to the Checklist by your Specialist, you or the appropriate service provider, by the item's due date.

The Task List is completely customizable and allows you to build a list of personal tasks related to your move or refinance that you need to complete before and/or after your closing. For your convenience, we've provided a dropdown list of the most common tasks.

You can update your Calendar by assigning due dates to items on your Checklist and Task List. Both your Tasks and Checklist items will automatically appear in your Calendar.

It's up to you. The Notes tool is a place for you to store any and all notes related to your closing. You may want to include reminders, notes from conversations, names, phone numbers, thoughts on decorating, etc.

To send an email communication to one of your contacts through your Control Panel you first need to enter your contact's information in the Contacts tool on your Control Panel. Once you have entered the contact information, proceed to the Communications tool on your Control Panel and click to "send a message" button (selecting the desired contact from the dropdown menu). Your Closing Specialist will be automatically added to your dropdown menu.

The Checklist in your Control Panel lists documents that your Closing Specialist needs to schedule your closing. To fax the documents to your Closing Specialist select the "send a fax" button next to the document you wish to send. Then print out the fax cover sheet that is generated by our system and use it when sending a fax to your Closing Specialist. The barcode on the fax cover sheet will ensure that your Closing Specialist receives the document.

The Checklist in your Control Panel lists documents that your Closing Specialist needs in order to schedule your closing. To upload the documents to your Closing Specialist, select the "upload documents" button next to the document you wish to provide and follow the on-screen prompts.

To personalize your Control Panel you can upload a photograph of your current or future home. To upload a photograph, simply click on the "upload photo" button in the My Information tool on your Control Panel and follow the on-screen prompts.

DIRECT'S Control Panel lets you upload one property picture into your My Information section, and pertinent documents into the My Documents, such as settlement drafts or closing documents. It is your repository for any documents you would like to update and store.

By granting access to a contact you are authorizing that individual to receive a unique, condensed version of your Control Panel. The Control Panel your contact will receive enables them to view alerts, send communications to you and your Closing Specialist and upload and fax documents to your Closing Specialist, without having access to your personal information.

Your lender and realtor will be connected to your Control Panel through the easy-to-use Communication tool, your inbox for the ENTITLE DIRECT account. It allows you to send and track communications between you and your ENTITLE DIRECT Specialist and any other parties you choose to give access to (including your realtor, attorney, lender or any other party assisting you in the closing process). You will be able to send and receive messages with members of your team through this tool, notifying them of updates, concerns, or any questions you may have. You will receive their responses in this tool as well. Also, they will be able to log into the system to see (but not access) your checklist and documents, to ensure that your process is going smoothly.

Messages you send will be flagged as read in your Communications tool when your Specialist, realtor, or other party receives and opens them.

Alerts provide you with reminders and updates related to items on your Checklist, Calendar, and Task List. They are there to keep your closing on track.

Your ENTITLE DIRECT information will be stored on your profile as long as you need - up to, and past, your closing date. Only you will have access to your uploaded documents once your file is closed.