Posted by lynnboop on 9/1/04 6:14pm
Msg #7167

edocs?

Can you guys please provide me with some information or resources about edocs. Do I need anything specific or is that just emailed docs that are printed and brought to the borrower. I was under the impression that the docs get shipped to the home of the agent. please help this newbie?

Reply by Adirondack Signing Service on 9/1/04 6:34pm
Msg #7168

You should have a laser printer and a high speed modem (DSL, Cable) - but these are not necessary. You will have to print out two sets or copy a second set for the borrower. Also, about 75% of the time, the title docs and hud are faxed to your home, so you will need a plain paper copier and these, too, will have to be copied. They are usually sent at the last minute, as well, so be prepared. Not a bad deal if they come through well, but can be time consuming. If you have any questions you can give me a email and I will help out best I can. JB

Reply by CarolynCO on 9/1/04 7:34pm
Msg #7173

...Adirondack Signing Service said: You should have a laser printer and a high speed modem (DSL, Cable) - but these are not necessary. ...

Are you saying that a laser printer is not necessary? As for DSL and Cable, I don't miss dial up at all and would hate to depend on dial up on for pulling docs down.

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 9/1/04 9:06pm
Msg #7176

If I may make a minor correction to your statement "You should have a laser printer and a high speed modem (DSL, Cable) - but these are not necessary." IMPO, you MUST have a LASER printer. Only laser printers support PCL5 and 6. Also, laser printers bond the toner to the page (actually, fuse it to the page) where as inkjet sprays the ink on the paper. Laser printing resists cracking and running, where inkjet inks often crack, chip and peel after it hardens and the paper is flexed. Also, many inks will run if they get wet or even extremely damp.

Reply by lynnboop on 9/1/04 10:19pm
Msg #7179

so basicly what you are saying is that without a laser printer you cannot accept edocs therefore you have to get docs sent to your home and then take those docs to signing. Also does the ss usually send the borrowers copy or do you have to make that copy.

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 9/1/04 10:52pm
Msg #7180

So, basically, you shouldn't accept edocs without a laser printer. Of course, one alternative is to print them on your inkjet printer and then copy them on a laser copier (available at Kinko's, and other copy centers). It's only the lenders/title documents that need to be printed on a laser. You can give the borrowers a copy printed on an inkjet if they are not smeared or smudged. But laser printing is much, much cheaper than inkjet printing. Cost per page for laser is about 3 to 5 cents while the cost per page to print on an inkjet can run anywhere from 8 cents to 25 cents per page.

Overnighted docs will typically include the borrowers copy. Only if you receive additional "junk" docs from the title company or replacement docs from the lender will need to make borrowers copies. Of course, if you do an edoc assignment, then all docs will need to be printed twice, once for the "original" lender's set, and once for the borrower.

Reply by CaliNotary on 9/1/04 11:16pm
Msg #7183

Yes, that's basically it. But understand that you don't have the option of choosing whether to have the docs emailed or overnighted to you. If it's an edoc signing and you don't have a laser printer, they're going to find another notary who does.

Assume that you'll always make the borrowers copy. I've had a couple of occasions where I was told not to, but 99% of the time you're expected to, so be sure to factor that into your fees.

Trust me, a laser printer is well worth the $300 investment, you'll make it back in no time at all.

Reply by lynnboop on 9/1/04 11:24pm
Msg #7185

Thanks for the help. Unfortuntely I did not invest in a laser printer but have one of those 4 in one ones. I thought I would be ok with fax and copier. I could always do what was suggested and have a laser copy made from the copy I make and give borrowers the inkjet copy but that could probably get costly. I do charge extra for edocs right?
What 25.00 extra ?

Reply by CaliNotary on 9/1/04 11:29pm
Msg #7188

Depends on where you are. I charge $25, but I'm in a highly competitive area so I try to keep my rates on the low end of reasonable. Personally I think $25 is more than enough to cover my costs on edocs, but a lot of agents in here charge more and are apparently able to get it. Since you're a newbie I'd suggest you just ask the signing services what they pay for edocs and accept that. I doubt there are very many who would quote you less than $25.

If you do get a laser printer remember 2 things - it must be PCL 5 or 6 compliant, and www.tonerkits.com is a godsend for toner refills.

Reply by nah_AR on 9/2/04 9:32am
Msg #7193

Aside from all the very valuable points PAW made; the amount of time it would take for an inkjet printer to print all the docs, and the amount of ink it would use to do so, would not be very economical for a profession that requires so much printing.

Reply by lynnboop on 9/2/04 2:56pm
Msg #7217

looks like I won't be doing edocs for a while . At least not until I get my feet really wet and make some money. It sounds like I could make extra doing that though. Darn I wish I bought a laser printer.

Reply by Irene on 9/2/04 5:51pm
Msg #7228

I have one more suggestion for you that the others didn't.
Go to your local Office supply Place ( Office Max is the one I use) and talk to the people at the copy center and tell them what you need. The only thing is ask the Tile company or SS if the doc's will be delivered with a viewer that has to be down loaded to view the doc's they won't download anything. If it is a web site or PDF format that's fine. Have them e-mail the doc's to ? After you know the doc's have been sent you can call ? and tell them to print two copies,
and that you will be in to pick them up. I still use Office Max when I'm on the road and get a signing and can't get back to my office. It pays to know all their e-mail address in your signing area. I pay about six cents for 100 pages or more. Tell them you will probably be sending a lot of work there and negociate a deal. Hope this will give you another way to take e-doc signings until you can afford a Laser printer. I did this for a year and a half when I first started.

Reply by Jan on 9/2/04 8:58pm
Msg #7236

I have mine emailed to Kinkos, at 8 cents per page it's worth it to have them seperate out the paper, legal and regular and make the copies pronto, since there is an extra charge for email docs by the notaries the wear and tear on home printers the fee from Kinkos is eversoworth it! Good luck. I did several signings before I was comfortable saying yes to email docs because I wanted to become more comfortable with the usual contents of the packages. Best of luck! Jan