Posted by Frustrated Centeral CA on 8/9/05 1:56pm
Msg #57869

Getting Signings

Last month, I asked the question , why don't I get many call backs from SS after I have done 1 for them. Someone suggested that I call my most recent signing and ask if the work was up to standard or not. Well,I took a deep breath, bit thr bullet and called every company I have ever done work for that hasn't called me back & told them I was doing a quality control assesment on my work. Everyone was very nice and helped me, but they all said their were NO negitive reports filed about me, they just didn't do much work in the Morgan Hill and Gilroy area. Or, they said they were just plain slow. Some are no longer in operation. I have been a notary for almost 1 year. I'm getting really discourged. I only do about 8 signing a month, but last month was awful. I only did 3. I need some advice from the voice of experience. I am now signed up with approx. 60 SS. I have done a lot of advertising to them but that doesn't seem to work either. Any HELP would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Reply by Dogmonger, Ca on 8/9/05 2:03pm
Msg #57870

You should be signed up with a minimum of 200

Look at advertising on the national sites, such as this one. Perhaps target some general notary work, hospitals, driving schools, adoption agencies, drops your cards at lending institutions who may not offer notary services. Think outside the box a bit:-)

Reply by Charm_AL on 8/9/05 2:07pm
Msg #57871

I agree with dog, you should get a membership here and get a good profile, I've gotten a lot of business from this site. You should sign up with every signing agency you can. I've been doing this for about 9 months now and I'm still signing up and looking for ways to market myself.

Reply by ala notary to charm on 8/9/05 10:41pm
Msg #57967

Charm-I have recommended you to a few companies that called me but I could not do those particular signings.

Reply by Brian/CA on 8/9/05 2:24pm
Msg #57874

I am also in a remote area of CA. I do drive quite aways to be able to do as many signings as I can. I just looked on the map, do you do the San Jose area, I would try and market that area also. When living in a remote area if you want the signings, you must be willing to drive.

Reply by Dogmonger, Ca on 8/9/05 2:32pm
Msg #57879

Where are you if you don't mind me asking? NM

NM

Reply by Frustrated in Central CA on 8/9/05 3:09pm
Msg #57889

Re: Where are you if you don't mind me asking? NM

I live in Morgan Hill California, which is between Gilroy and San Jose.

Reply by Dogmonger, Ca on 8/9/05 3:16pm
Msg #57893

I did see your location in your previous post

I was inquiring about Brian as he was also saying he was in a rural location:-)

Reply by MarleneM/USNA on 8/11/05 9:17am
Msg #58265

I think I stopped for gas in Gilroy once. . .

. . .the wind almost took my car door off when I opened it and the attendant had a kerchief over his face. When I asked him if it was always this windy, he looked out over the flat (FLAT) landscape and said, "Oh, yeah."

Reply by Frustrated in Central CA on 8/9/05 3:15pm
Msg #57891

I always advertice for Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties, the problem is 95% of the signing I get calls on are in Gilroy & Morgan Hill. I'm wondering if this area is just so saturated with notaries that I don't get considered for the other areas.

Reply by CaliNotary on 8/9/05 4:49pm
Msg #57906

I'm curious, do your fees reflect the distance that you have to drive to do signings? It seems like a no-win situation to me - if you do charge appropriate fees then you're going to be an expensive option a lot of the time. If you don't charge appropriate fees then I'd think you're doing a lot of work for way too little pay.

I think one of the problems is that a lot of signing services look at the miles between the signing and the signing agent. If they're looking for the closest notaries, somebody 30 or 40 miles away isn't really going to stand much of a chance because it's going to be assumed that their fees will be to high. In some areas that might not be a problem if there aren't a lot of signing agents around, but I'm sure San Jose and the surrounding areas are just as saturated as the rest of the big cities in California.

Reply by mes/IL on 8/9/05 3:00pm
Msg #57886

I have had a pretty slow beginning of month compared to July.I had 4 co's that were calling me every other day and kept me very busy. I have been pretty discouraged these past few days, but today I got a call from one of the co's I have done alot of work for and then for a new ss.I think on a day to day basis, when you are busy, you think this is going to last forever...that is not the case.I have had the opportunity to do some other notarial work, such as dba's,a will, and an adoption all last week, which was really a slow week for me.While the pay is not high for these, I met some very nice people, and felt that I was doing a service for them that they really appreciated.I am thinking about going to some adoption agencies and nursing homes to market myself.I felt really good about these experiences, and would like to try and do more.I am certainly not the voice of experience, but these few jobs last week, got me through a low point.The couple I did the adoption affidavits for have hired me for other notarizations and they are truly an inspiration.I also have wondered if I haven't gotten call backs from ss, if they just out and out didn't want to call me any longer.I don't think that's the case.If you do a good job for them, they will call back when they have something in your area!

Reply by Anon on 8/9/05 6:30pm
Msg #57923

The country is very large, and not all signing services are assigned closings in the same areas all the time. I have a couple of great notaries in CT and NC, but I have not had any loans for them to close in more than a month. Sometimes, it's just the area you are servicing and the number of RE transactions taking place, along with the number of available notaries and their fees.

If you want to continue in this business to make a living, you might want to consider servicing other areas one way or the other.

Reply by MsRobboPA on 8/9/05 8:09pm
Msg #57936

I am in agreement that you should consider other areas even if you have to drive a little further. It seems that the longer you are at this job the closer the closings are to home. Many SS do a search for miles before they call a notary. You should also consider getting a membership on this website. Much of my work has come from NR. Good luck.

Reply by Mdene_AZ on 8/10/05 11:01am
Msg #58028

I had not known that there are so many SS out there! I actually am amazed. If I needed more signings I certainly would consider all the advice that Dog has given.