Posted by Anonymous on 4/19/05 4:24pm
Msg #32711

Getting my 1st signing

I have just recently became a notary. I am also a certified signing agent, but have yet to do any signings. Everytime a company calls me and they ask me how many signings I have done. When I tell them I haven't done any yet, they say they want someome with experience. I won't lie about my experience. However, how can I get any experience if I can't even get a job. Any suggestions?

Reply by Jay on 4/19/05 4:32pm
Msg #32716

Do you have any experience in real estate, appraising, title work or mortgages? If so, let them know. If you passed the csa test & studied the notary laws in your st you should be fine. It doesnt take a rocket scientist but ss's seem to think so. we all started knowing nothing. Enroll in signingagent.com. BIG help.

Reply by MaggieMae_CA on 4/19/05 4:40pm
Msg #32717

The problem goes back to market saturation and the SS getting burned by new people who do not have real estate experience. I'm a believer in what goes around comes around. I believe in helping others get started. If there's someone in San Diego (who is new) who wants to team up and get the experience; I'd be willing to strike up a working relationship with that person.

Jay is right, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to do this type of work; but you do need to pay attention to detail and have confidence in yourself. Familiarize yourself with loan docs. Contact another notary in your area and ask if they will consider acting as a mentor. Network with other notaries. If someone says "no" ask another person. You're bound to knock on the right door.

The thing I've seen on this board is people wanting to talk others out of the business or who don't want the competition. Treat other people like you want to be treated. Hopefully someone in your area will read this and give you a shout and let you tag along and get the experience you need.

Reply by chelleCA on 4/19/05 5:01pm
Msg #32718

Unfortunately MaggieMae, there are not a whole lot of people that will do what you are offering. It seems that everyone on here just wants to discourage people because they are afraid of the competition.

I am also a new notary and have had a few calls, but they were wanting someone with experience. I figure that I will eventually get someone that will be wiling to give me the experience.

Good luck to all new notaries out there..I feel your pain..

Reply by MaggieMae_CA on 4/19/05 5:31pm
Msg #32723

I'm a new CA notary and new Certified Loan Signing Agent. The difference for me is that I've had 16 years of real estate law experience (including being a notary) in New Jersey. I'm able to promote that with the SS and haven't been turned down by any of them.

I saw that one SS no longer accepts notaries for signings and will only use attorneys because they've been burned by inexperienced people or people who just didn't see the importance or care about what they were doing.

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/19/05 6:28pm
Msg #32729

"It seems that everyone on here just wants to discourage people because they are afraid of the competition."

I'm not afraid of the competition, I'm doing just fine in a heavily saturated area. It's just good business sense not to train your competition. To do otherwise is foolish IMO.

Reply by CarolynCO on 4/19/05 8:42pm
Msg #32743

**Unfortunately MaggieMae, there are not a whole lot of people that will do what you are offering. It seems that everyone on here just wants to discourage people because they are afraid of the competition.
**

It has nothing to do with being afraid of the competition -- the market is already saturated.

Reply by Donna_CA on 4/19/05 7:53pm
Msg #32735

Hang in there. Eventually you will get a call and all they'll want to know is whether you're available. I have been doing this less than a year and my first call took about 3 months to get but that was because I didn't register with nearly enough SS.

I only do this part time so I have actually had to turn down about half my calls because I was working during the time they needed me. Maybe I have just been lucky but no one so far has asked about my experience. What I do know is that if you're detailed, competent, know your notary law, and follow their requirements as far as fax backs, confirmations, etc., you will get repeat work because you'll do it right the first time. Wishing you the best.