Posted by Jim on 5/8/04 6:11pm
Msg #1909

Need answers please!

I have been a notary in WI for about 5 years. I recently learned that notaries can make money as "signing agents." How does one get started as a signing agent? Is this for real? What fees can be charged? Is there any advice on how to avoid fraud in this business, or what to avoid? Thank you for any help.

Jim

Reply by !Madre de Dios! on 5/8/04 8:08pm
Msg #1912

!Mama mia! You asked a huge question!

To get more info on becoming a signing agent look at these websites:
www.50StateNotary.com
see especially the "free training course" for new signing agents
www.GoMobileNotary.com - the message board

You will get an eyeful.

Avoid the NNA: National Notary Association. They are 99% hype about what you can make and how to do it. Their training materials are junk. (I know - I fell for it all before I found truly professional resources.)

If you decide to pursue this career, get training from
JustPointAndSign.com
Their training materials are much better quality than those offered by the NNA.

Thousands of notaries become signing agents every month. Only a few dozen per state really make a great living at it (more in Calif). The NNA makes it sound like work will drop into your lap. Being a full-time Notary Signing Agent is being a small business owner. Those of us who are successful spend as much time marketing ourselves as we do working.

For example - my usual weekday schedule:
9am - 3pm Marketing to new companies and researching for new companies to market to. 1 hour break for lunch.
3pm-7pm Paid loan signing work (travel to appt, signing appt, travel home). I occassionally get a 7am or 8am signing appt.
When I went to being a full time NSA, it was 4 months before I gave myself very-other-Sunday off from researching companies to call.

Being a Notary Signing Agent ain't for sissies.

Reply by Anonymous on 5/8/04 9:13pm
Msg #1914

Do you have to be certified by the NNA or can you become certified by other organizations?

TIA

Reply by Roger/OH on 5/8/04 9:56pm
Msg #1915

123Notary has a "certification" that is pretty much crap, according to the board posters who have taken it. NNA's certification is fairly well recognized because of the sheer volume of companies that list with them, and The Signing Registry's certification is, IMHO, the best of the bunch.

Reply by Anonymous on 5/8/04 9:58pm
Msg #1916

But the are all recognized?

Reply by Claire/CA on 5/9/04 12:26am
Msg #1919

I have yet to be asked by a ss if I am "certified." I do have NNA certification, which I have on my business cards, but most people don't know what it is, and don't care. I tried asking a few ss's if they pay more to "certified" agents, but the answer has been a resounding "no." So, if you feel the need to get certified, do so, but don't expect it to be a magic pill for your business. Experience is what most ss's, title co.'s, etc. want.

Reply by Bob-Chicago on 5/9/04 11:15am
Msg #1921

My NNA Experience

When I get a call from a new customer, I always ask " may I ask where you got my name?" Usually the answer is "signingagent.com" which is NNA's registry. Frequently, I am told that I was called first, because I am listed as "certified". One or two extra signings certainly pays for the cost and time to get NNA Certified. I recommend it. If they have a choice between calling a "certified" versus a "non-certified", unknown NSA, the choice seems obvious.

Reply by Stephanie on 5/9/04 11:18am
Msg #1922

Re: My NNA Experience - Bob

Bob what you say is true. I have experienced that as well. By the way, I am looking forward to meeting you at the upcoming conference.

Reply by Bob-Chicago on 5/9/04 8:53pm
Msg #1932

NNA conference

Looking forward to it
I should be easy to spot
I'm kind of a cross between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, but better looking.
If that doesn't work, e-mail me at signingagent @ ameritech. net
for contact info.

Reply by Stephanie on 5/9/04 11:15am
Msg #1920

One doesn't need to be "certified" to do loan signings; however, by being "certified" you will learn what loan documents there are in a loan packet along wit other helpful information.

While other Signing Agents do not speak highly of the National Notary Association (NNA), I have been fortunate to have had excellent experiences with them. Once you are "certified" (taken training and passed an open book exam) with the NNA, your information is automatically placed in their database (I have gotten many calls from there, which have lead to valued relationships with a number of Title Companes). In any case, I think training is important, then you can work on developing a reputation for your business.
While the income can be excellent, it is hard work...alotof driving (to the borrowers homes or other places of convenienvce for the borrower.
I believe that a signing agent MUST be meticulous and detail oriented. If a signing agent markets their services contiually, builds their reputation, and is willing to work long hard hours...there can be success as long as the calls for your service keep coming in.
If you need help from thes boards, ask...if you get rude responss, just ignore them, becausethere always is someone to help out.
An excellent mesage board for seasoned as well as new signing agents is gomobilenotayry.com (there is a signing agent from Florida named Paul. He is frequently responding to questions on that board - he is extremely knowledgeable and rsponds to help other signing agents out).
Check it out.
Good luck on your endeavers into the new vocation for the Notary Public.
(please excuse any typos)

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 5/9/04 7:51pm
Msg #1931

Thank you for the accolades Stephanie. <blusing>

Just some thoughts on this thread. First, as for being "certified", signing services often don't ask whether an agent is "certified" or not. They do get a lot of mileage from the signingagent.com (NNA/NSA) directory. However, many title companies and lenders do ask for certification as well as some number of years of experience. Of course, the flaw with certification is that there is no commonly accepted standard upon which one can rely on what the certification really means. The NNA offers certification, 123Notary has a certification, the Signing Registry has a certification, and there are others. I do feel that any of the certification courses are good because it may introduce the NSA to aspects of being a Signing Agent that they may not have encountered. But I also feel that most of them fall short of being a valid "certification" until some nationally accepted yardstick is established.

Second, as for getting jobs from the NNA, I personally did not receive one call that I can attribute to the NNA listing, except for 3 from signing services. Not one title company or lender told me they found me through the NNA/NASA. Most of my contacts have been developed by my own marketing and registering on this site and 123Notary.com. (Though, 123Notary.com has afforded me more in the way of general notary work rather than signing agent work.)

Paul/FL