Just 10 years ago, the absence of mail on Saturdays from the U.S. Postal Service could have caused great hardship on real estate transactions.  We had to mail earnest money checks long distance and other documentation.  Sometimes even closings that occurred were done by mail – received, signed, and mailed back on the same day.  Delays could have potentially caused a transaction to fall through completely.

Today the USPS is considering eliminating Saturday mail delivery.

Last year the agency handled 177 billion items, down from 213 billion in 2006 — and there is little likelihood of an increase in the future. The Postal Service has previously proposed eliminating delivery six days a week, but got a cold reception in Congress.

While I think there could be repercussions on individuals (e.g., no delivery person to check on an elderly person), the fall out on real estate could be minimal.  Most states allow communication to be done by fax, email, overnight delivery – and all allow “in person” delivery.

In my own real estate world, it would just mean that people relocating from out-of-area would be delayed a day or two from getting the information packages I send.  I suppose email will be a good option for them, as well.

Photo by Quigley Brown. Go visit at Flickr for some amazingly beautiful photography.