I have a signing tomorrow and it is the first time I will be sitting down with the buyer and seller there together. From a phone conversation with the seller, they know each other. Any advice?
My only advice is, first, breathe. You will do this
In this situation, I sign Seller package first then ask them to excuse us while Buyers and I handle their loan package … The Buyers financial transaction is not the Seller’s business. Then make sure each side gets a copy of the CD and Buyers get a copy of everything, including g a copy of the deed of conveyance. Sellers should get a copy or f everything they signed.
Good luck
P.S. Make sure you have witnesses available if needed
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That is great advice about excusing the seller after she is done signing. I hadn’t thought of that but it makes complete sense. The property is in CA so no witness needed.
Thank you Linda! I will make it my mission to pay it forward and answer a few beginner’s questions this week 
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No advice I suppose. But, when the buyer(s) and seller(s) know each other, it will be very likely they will start conversing about a bunch of different matters other than the closing at hand. Some of the topics might even be about the house and property itself. But nothing directly affecting or related to the closing. You need to be prepared to politely ask them to re-direct their attention to the closing at hand. You can tell them you have another appointment following theirs so you need to stay on track. And, it’s even worse if one or both realtors are present at the closing. Because they all start talking about different things other than the closing!!
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I’ve been in these type of signings before and I prefer to not do them for a couple of reasons. First, I believe this is a dual signing, and you should be paid for a seller signing and a purchase signing at their independent rates. Title companies and/or signing services will try to find a way to not do that. So, this may be your first point of negotiation. Secondly, it is important that you take control of the session at the outset. I agree with and practice the same procedures as @LindaH-FL, get the sellers out of the way first, dismiss them and then concentrate on the purchasers. I have only had a couple of instances where there are RE brokers/agents at the signing table. It is important that I establish myself as the signing agent for purposes of this meeting and I let the RE agents know that if there are questions regarding the property transfer I will defer to them, and if there are questions about the loan that I have the loan agent’s phone number at hand to call for clarification. I then give the signers an expectation of how long the signing should take, which is a way of letting everyone know that this should go quickly as long as everyone stays in their lane. DO NOT get involved in chat and chatter and be prepared to draw everyone back to the task at hand when necessary. Otherwise, this can go off the rails quickly with competing/conflicting voices.