Posted by Michele Carp on 12/13/04 1:05pm
Msg #13440

Breaking Into the Signing Service

I have been a Notary in New York State for 8 years. On Saturday, I took a home equity line of credit and a Notary came to my home so my husband and I could sign the paperwork. I always had my Notary license for my "day job."

If anyone could answer the following questions, I would appreciate it...

1) Is there anything special I need to do in order to break into the signing service business?

2) Do I need anything other than my Notary license?

3) Is there any special training involved.

4) Do the closing companies set my fee, or do I set my fee?

Any tips or suggestions would be very helpful. Thank you!

~ Michele

Reply by KC/IN on 12/13/04 1:13pm
Msg #13441

1) Sign up with as many companies as you can. The work will start flowing in once that happens.
2) I have E & O and am bonded, but you'll want to check with the notary office in the state you're in to confirm exactly what you need.
3) The only time you'll need training is if you don't have any closing experience. There are courses that you can take.
4) You can set your own fee, but if it's set too high, not all companies will give you work because most of them have a cap (or say they do) as far as how much they can or will pay. The amount you should charge depends on where you are. I'm in IN. I can't charge near as much as CA people do. I wouldn't get any work.

Hope this helps! You'll get more than one response, I'm sure. Good luck!

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/13/04 2:48pm
Msg #13446

Advice for new notaries

Above the menu of posts, click the "First" button. Go all the way to the very first post in June 2003, "Welcome to the General Discussion Forum." Read all the way to the last post today. You will find your answer many times over in the intervening messages, along with far better information about being a signing agent than you’ll ever get from any certification course.

Reply by KC/IN on 12/13/04 7:45pm
Msg #13469

Re: CaliNotary's post

You have that phrase on "copy/paste" don't you? You poor thing, you have to say that alot.

Reply by HisHughness on 12/13/04 8:09pm
Msg #13470

Re: CaliNotary's post

KC/IN chides:

***You have that phrase on "copy/paste" don't you? You poor thing, you have to say that alot.***

Yeah, CaliNotary, I have to agree. I mean, geez, we get tired of reading the same old thing day after day. You're beginning to sound like a broken record. Please try to come up with something different, and maybe a little bit more colorful. Seems to me if you're going to repeat posts time after time, you could at least make 'em a little flashier.

Reply by KC/IN on 12/13/04 8:18pm
Msg #13474

Reply to HisHughness

I've followed your witty responses in the past. I challenge you to re-word his phrase.

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/13/04 9:36pm
Msg #13483

Re: CaliNotary's post

You're right. How's this?:

Dear Newbie

We don't answer stupid and repetetive newbie posts in here. If you're a newbie do your own damn newbie legwork and at least read the #@&*! old messages on this board. Your newbie self will learn everything you need to know to make the transition from newbie to halfway competent non-newbie.

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 12/14/04 5:59am
Msg #13531

Re: CaliNotary's post

Boy, that's one condescending attitude, from the way I read it. You immediately start with, "We don't answer stupid ... posts ...". Do you remember when you first started? Further, I was taught, and hopefully teach, that the only "stupid" question are those that you don't ask.

I agree that newcomers into this field should better prepare themselves by looking at the history of the messages, etc., but there's no need to come down on them with both feet, swear at them and insult them.

Reply by HisHughness on 12/14/04 9:04am
Msg #13535

Re: CaliNotary's post

Cut him some slack, Paul. Cal's post wasn't serious. It was in response to a tongue-in-cheek post I had done responding to a post someone else had done about an earlier post Cal had done about some posts I do that he has plagiarazed...Aw, hell, Cal ain't worth trying to explain this. He can pluck his own chickens when they come home to roost.

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 12/14/04 11:48am
Msg #13575

Re: CaliNotary's post

I'm sorry I'm not as astute as others in "reading" tones of posts. To me, it was a very harsh post, especially for newcomers.

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/14/04 2:20pm
Msg #13594

Re: CaliNotary's post

Maybe this will help:

http://www.notaryrotary.com/forums/forumsbody.asp?id=BG632HB5&forumid=1AAA00000003&messageid=1AAA00039896&action=view&rid=&replytonbr=&replytoid=&subject=&format=threaded

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/13/04 9:38pm
Msg #13484

Re: CaliNotary's post

I just use the search function on this board, find the last time I posted it and copy and paste. I can't take credit for writing it though, some geezer threw it together once upon a time. His reflexes are much more feeble these days so I've been trying to pick up the slack when he fails to post it.

Reply by Michele Carp on 12/14/04 10:01am
Msg #13544

Re: CaliNotary's post

WOW . . . I'm so sorry I upset everyone and caused such a commotion . . . You are all correct, I should have read through this website and researched better before asking such basic questions. Thanks for your time and Happy Holidays!

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/14/04 2:27pm
Msg #13597

Re: CaliNotary's post

Don't worry Michelle, the original post I made was the one I meant to make. The rest was just messing around with Hugh. You'll learn a lot if you hang around here.

Personally, I don't mind basic questions as long as they're not preceded by "I have a signing tomorrow". I commend those who make the effort to learn this job BEFORE they start lining up signings, I'm annoyed by those who don't bother to learn anything, including the most basic stuff, until they have their first signing lined up.

Reply by Katie Rittberger on 12/14/04 11:46am
Msg #13573

The most important thing to know is that you set your fee. Depending on where you are located you should be charging a minimum fee of $75 and that is for overnight docs with at least 24hrs notice on the appointment. I charge $100 for overnight and all of the 35+ companies I work for PAY IT! They pay it because they have used me before and know I am experienced and will get the loan closed and in their office by the next day. For E-Docs I charge $125 sometimes more. These companies will pay $40 if you let them if all Notary's would ban together in their price no one would even flinch! I don't know about you but with all the potential drama there is for these signings Iit is not worth my time to even walk out the door for under $75.....

Reply by Katie Rittberger on 12/14/04 11:49am
Msg #13576

...I'm in florida.

Reply by Michele Carp on 12/14/04 12:19pm
Msg #13582

Katie,

Thank you so much for your advice. I live in Long Island, New York -- you're right about it not being worth your time for anything less than $75, I think that's a pretty fair price. I'm a bit nervous to just go out there and start working, so I'm visiting different websites to see what's out there are far as training is concerned.

~ Michele