Posted by sweetpea on 5/30/05 11:28am
Msg #41192

Help is needed I am NEW!!!

I am new at the game in Alabama, what are good closing companys and what should I expect to get paid. I heard of an Executive Signing, but I can't find their website to register. If so, are they a good company to work for. Please advise. All help is needed. Thanks so much.

Reply by HisHughness on 5/30/05 12:05pm
Msg #41193

Sweetpea pleads:

***I am new at the game in Alabama, what are good closing companys and what should I expect to get paid.***

I'm sorry, Sweetpea. I'll have to get back to you in a few days. I'm just finishing up a job for Microsoft, putting together a list of the MS customer base and 2006 pricing plans that I have to get over to Steve Jobs. As soon as I get back from that delivery, Ford has hired me to to photograph all of Ford's new line, along with their MSRPs, to give to General Motors. And I haven't even begun to think about the Joint Chiefs assignment I got last week to give Osama ben Laden the U.S. military's plans to track him down. As soon as those are out of the way, though, I'll be sure to make you up a package containing the customer list I spent the past three years developing, along with what I charge each one. No reason you should have to break a sweat to find out where you can undercut me.

Reply by James AL on 5/30/05 2:29pm
Msg #41206

My Goodness HisUgliness... why be so mean about it?

Reply by Jon on 5/30/05 5:42pm
Msg #41236

If "Sweetpea" had bothered to read any of the comments previously posted, the question probably wouldn't have been asked. I think Hugh was simply making a very unmistakable point.

Why don't you post your list of "good" companies on this board to help "Sweetpea" out. I'm sure the rest of us would appreciate it also.

Reply by Bobbi in CT on 5/30/05 3:24pm
Msg #41226

Shame on you, Hugh ..

You forgot to throw in your business and marketing plan and your NSA customized spreadsheet for your income/expenses that you use to prepare your tax return.

Sweetpea,

Didn't any of the Loan Signing Classes you took give you any information on how to market your business? Didn't any of them give you a list of companies or list of sites where you could start signing up as an independent loan signing agent and/or mobile Notary? Since you didn't ask, I assume you already are listed on a number of websites and have have 24/7 cell phone, Email address, fax number, laser printer, and supplies.

I will answer, "...what should I expect to get paid." You will get paid the fee the signing or title company wants to pay you. As an independent contractor, you can quote any fee you like. The scheduler may then reply, "We only pay $50." It is up to you to decide to take or pass on that assignment for that fee. If you pass, the scheduler calls the next person on the list until s/he finds someone who will take it.

Reply by sweetpea on 6/1/05 11:16am
Msg #41461

Re: Shame on you, Hugh ..

Thanks so much, but I never took a loan signing class. Where do I go to get this. I am in Alabama so let me know.

Reply by Charm_AL on 6/1/05 11:18am
Msg #41463

Re: Shame on you, Hugh ..

where in AL are you???

Reply by sweetpea on 6/1/05 11:20am
Msg #41464

Re: Shame on you, Hugh ..

Mobile, Alabama

Reply by Charm_AL on 6/1/05 11:23am
Msg #41465

Mobile...sweetpea

We're going down to Gulf Shores for a week in July. Maybe we could meet somewhere along the way if I can give you some tips on signing.

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 6/1/05 11:35am
Msg #41470

Re: Mobile...sweetpea

there are a few that do on-line courses. either use the orange search button here or google it...

Reply by Dogmonger on 5/30/05 11:32pm
Msg #41252

DANG HUGH

I had no idea you were so well connected to the corporate and political world:-)

Reply by mike-CentralCA on 5/31/05 2:25am
Msg #41262

See, Hugh isn't that smart !!!

Hugh has to get a job back to Steve Jobs at Micrasoft. Unfortunitly, Steve Jobs is at Apple. LOL

Foiled again Hugh!!!

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/31/05 7:17am
Msg #41263

Mike, You missed the point...

Handing over a list of Microsoft's client base to S. Jobs/Apple = Giving a list of clients belonging to Microsoft to Apple.

Request from a new NSA to provide "good" companies = Please give me your list of clients so I don't have to find them myself. If I am your competition, I will take your work.

Reply by Jurnei1 on 5/31/05 12:52pm
Msg #41306

That was cold!

KarenCA

Reply by Charm_AL on 5/30/05 12:34pm
Msg #41194

Where in Alabama are you?


and Mr. HH please forward a copy of that list to me also ;)

Reply by ERNA_CA on 5/30/05 1:15pm
Msg #41200

Use the signing service tab to sign up with SS listed on this site, then use the search feature to find answer's.
Good luck!

Reply by Sam on 5/30/05 1:20pm
Msg #41202

Read post 33325 - mandatory for all new NSAs. n/m

Reply by Stephanie_CA on 5/30/05 5:45pm
Msg #41237

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

Reply by LAArea_CA on 5/30/05 7:16pm
Msg #41241

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

Sweetpea:

Don't be daunted by the smart-alecks on this website...it seems many of them have no life at all and use this forum to as their fantasy lands...i.e. HH's wishful thinking out loud.

At this website you will learn a great deal from many of the experienced NSA's. Visit everyday, several times a day....it will help

Reply by HisHughness on 5/30/05 7:40pm
Msg #41242

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

LAArea_CA wisely advises Sweetpea:

***Don't be daunted by the smart-alecks on this website...it seems many of them have no life at all and use this forum to as their fantasy lands...i.e. HH's wishful thinking out loud.

At this website you will learn a great deal from many of the experienced NSA's. Visit everyday, several times a day....it will help***

Sage advice, Sweetpea. I guess I could improve on it in only one way. Rather than having to deal with smart-alecks who expect >>>you<<< to exert some effort to build >>>your<<< business, I suggest that you ask LAArea_CA for his/her e-mail address, and in the future, when you have inane questions, just send them all to LAArea_CA. He/she obviously would be most happy to help, and it will deny the smart-alecks a target.

Reply by TAgey on 5/30/05 9:01pm
Msg #41246

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

I think we should ALL remember that we ALL were "NEWBIES" once; and helping them will only market a better name for Mobile Notary Signing Agents. Otherwise, they would go out and try the business, making more mistakes and giving us a bad name. RANKING doesn't help anyone.

Reply by Jeanie-fl on 5/30/05 11:21pm
Msg #41250

TAgey platitudes are so easy.....answer the question

Reply by Jeanie-fl on 5/30/05 11:42pm
Msg #41253

Re: TAgey platitudes are so easy.....answer the question

Swetpea. Sam answered your question. Do a search for post 33325. Newbie's ask the same questions all the time on this forume. It gets tiresome! Luckily for newbie's some of the most respected members of notary rotary listed their advise for becoming a knowledgeable signing agent. Their sage advice is listed on #33325. Look it up!

If you have a new question board members are very helpful.

However, don't expect to have your questions answered without doing your homework first.

Alway's perform a search before asking other SA's for the answer's.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/30/05 11:24pm
Msg #41251

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

TAgey

While I agree that helping "newbies"not make mistakes is good.

But, handing newbies a list of signing agencies and helping them market themselves, is not helping them avoid making mistakes and giving all signing agents a bad name.

I, myself, have no problem helping newbies with notarial questions or questions on loan docs. But I draw the line at handing a list of the companies I work for over to the newbies. They need to do what we all did, check out the listings on the various websites, and sign up with as many as possible, and check the various ones out on the message boards.
It has taken me several years to build up a good list of good paying companies and it is ridiculous for anyone to expect me or anyone else to hand over our hard work.

Reply by Mary Head on 5/31/05 12:18am
Msg #41254

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

I agree with that...but, I also think that people take this board a little too seriously...It is here to read and ask questions to people that are on it and have conversation about being a Notary ...correct ? why do some have to be complete...hmm... what word can I use? I am sure HH can help me out there ? anyway that is my 2 cents...

Reply by HisHughness on 5/31/05 12:43am
Msg #41257

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

Mary Head (it occurs to me that Mary not only -- probably -- has a good head on her shoulders, she surely has a good Head from the neck down, too) searches:

***why do some have to be complete...hmm... what word can I use? I am sure HH can help me out there ?***

Glad to do so, Mary.

"Why do some have to be complete fonts of wisdom, administered with a stern but in the long run, helpful insistence on initiative from beginning signing agents so that one of these days the newcomers, too, can become DAMNED CURMUDGEONS WHO ARE SICK AND TIRED OF AN UNENDING STREAM OF INANE QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO SHOULD EITHER BE TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL THEY DROPPED OUT OF, OR FLIPPING BURGERS."

How'd I do?

Reply by Ernest_CT on 5/31/05 12:46am
Msg #41259

Well said, as usual, Your Hughness! n/m

Reply by Mary Head on 5/31/05 9:58am
Msg #41274

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

Not very good im afraid...

Asking questions is how people learn something you arent sure of or need more imformatrion about. Have you ever heard "no question is a dumb question"

Some people have better things to do with their time then sit and correct people and slam thier last names as you do...

I think everyone has to start someplace and I really thought this was the place to learn .

I do understand when someone asks for lists that YES they should get that imfo themselves.
If you are tired of the questions that people ask...simple....DON'T answer them....

another 2 cents from me....Thanks

Reply by LAArea_CA on 5/31/05 10:38am
Msg #41282

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

Here, here Mary! "If you are tired of the questions that people ask...simple....DON'T answer them"

I can't believe this is thread is still active: Notice HH's post 12:43 A.M.

Reply by HisHughness on 5/31/05 12:48pm
Msg #41305

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

Mary whines:

***If you are tired of the questions that people ask...simple....DON'T answer them....***

And, Mary milove, if you are tired of the answers, don't ask the questions.

Despite your trite averral, there ARE dumb questions. Among the dumb ones are those that are asked immediately after the same question was propounded, elementary school questions in a Ph.D. setting, and questions that demonstrate the questioner has not devoted even the slightest modicum of the effort necessary to develop the answer himself.

I did not take either you or the original questioner to raise. Had I done so, I would long ago have pointed you both in the direction of a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a thesaurus, and the Internet, and told you to use those, and similar resources, before you take up other people's time.

You, in particular, might want to take some time just doing a little reading, primarily humor. Anyone who thought my remarks about your surname were a "slam" could use some perspective. I'd suggest you start with Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. After that, try a couple of Dave Barry columns. And try just downing that chip on your shoulder with a little bean dip. It would serve you much better as an hors d'oevre than an item of apparel.

Reply by Mary Head on 5/31/05 2:03pm
Msg #41322

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

Hey... HH thanks for pointing me in the right direction ........

For anyone that is looking for a great list of SS's go to
WWW.fallguyiii.com
I am not sure of how many are there and I shutter to guess (because I am sure someone has counted them ) I just know there are a whole lot of them...
good luck!

Reply by TAgey on 5/31/05 1:00pm
Msg #41308

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

Thank you. . . That is all I was saying too. Not a hand out, but a point in the right direction.

Reply by Jon on 5/31/05 2:50pm
Msg #41327

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

I get so tired of the cliche "we were all newbies once". When I started in 1997, I had no board to go ask where do I get work, what's an acknowledgement, should I give the oath for a jurat, how should the borrower sign a POA, or can I use an expired license for ID. I had to find the answers for myself, as did many on this and other boards. "Newbies" should use the intelligence God gave them to do some of their own research.

Reply by Askiker MO on 5/31/05 2:54pm
Msg #41329

Hugh's an Ass

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 5/31/05 3:35pm
Msg #41334

Re: Hugh's an Ass

Hugh's writing is one of the most entertaining sence of sarcastic humor I have ever seen in my life. Truely enjoyable reading in the monoteny of the same handfull of questions that are asked and answered over and over month in and out. I can't believe I haven't fractured my rear from falling out of my chair each time I have read one of his dingers.

Reply by SamIam_CA on 6/1/05 10:00am
Msg #41428

ditto!! n/m

Reply by HisHughness on 5/31/05 6:15pm
Msg #41346

Re: Hugh's an Ass

So is Eyore. Everybody loves him, too.

Reply by Mary Head on 5/31/05 3:29pm
Msg #41333

Re: Help is needed I am NEW!!!It's not a game!!!

Being new to the Loan Singning Agent part of the Notary business myself...
I very much apprieciate having "NICE" and "HELPFUL" people on this board!
I have no problem helping someone and would hope the favor is returned to me...if not oh well...I enjoy reading the board and take alot of the advice and suggestions that these people write.
I am sure we all very l glad we don't have to work as hard as you did to research and get our answers as you did....Thanks to the Notary Rotary....thats what it is here for...Keep up the good work!
Thanks again...

Reply by Mysti_FL on 5/31/05 3:28pm
Msg #41332

Re: Sweatpea - Take only what suits you

There are many paranoid people on this site who are antagonistic simply because they fear for their small corner of the world, which is daily getting smaller thanks to so many newbies (of which I am one).

Just read as much as you can on this site. Ask questions (in fear) only after you have done a search and tried to figure out your answer. Many times, when doing a search, if you don't plug in the right words you may not find what you are seeking. Then just ask here. Although you'll get the paranoids, you'll also get those folks like Sylvia_FL, Paw_FL, and Erna_CA and a few others that not only know what they are talking about but are willing to help. You'll just have to skip past the derogatory messages.

Good luck to you. It isn't easy, but it will become fun in no time. Just keep an eye on this board (and others like it, such as gomobilenotary.com) and you will figure out most of what you need to know. Additionally, check your state's laws for notaries and you should be fine.

Mysti

Reply by BrendaTX on 5/31/05 5:55pm
Msg #41344

Respectfully disagree...

**There are many paranoid people on this site who are antagonistic simply because they fear for their small corner of the world, which is daily getting smaller thanks to so many newbies.**

Mysti_FL:

I respectfully disagree about the world closing in thanks to so many newbies.

This is IF you are refering to those newbies who ask non-serious questions here. These are but a momentary blip in the competition radar...a nuisance to the established NSA...and then a boon because it reminds the hiring entity that they should stick to those they KNOW can be trusted to be there for them even on the holidays...even on last minute notice.

A half-hearted newbie who isn't serious can make slightly fickle clients appreciate the ones who keep taking appointments and getting those packages out in thick and thin for them.

However, those you do NOT see here are the REAL competition. Real competition is not asking these first grader questions because they are busy doing their research and formulating a marketing strategy.


What I have seen over the past year + is that those who ask questions like

"What companies should I work for?"

(1) have not figured out yet what this job is all about.

(2) they have not been serious enough about getting started to realize that some form of a business plan/marketing plan is needed.

(3) they have been conned by their own obstinate reluctance to crunch numbers and to do projections...they rely on NSA legend and folklore about all the money that can be made in comparison to doing the legwork and crunching numbers.

(4) they have not yet figured out there are only so many loans to go around. Without a little bit of study on their entire market vs. the share of the market they can garner, they are not going to survive without some reserves ahead to get them through the tough time.

(5) they will not be here for the long haul. THESE will not be the competition anyone fears.

Given the above, newbies will charge too little without enough cash on hand to make this into a profitable business because they figure undercutting the others will give them an edge they can use to get started.

While this is partially true, it is also true that you have to be able to stay in business--You cannot stay in business if you don't have a profit or a start-up cash reserve. There is NO WAY.

If you start out part-time, you can build up the cash reserve, however, without a game plan - forget it.

Pretty soon, the business is nothing more than a thankless, demanding pain in the rear and it's just not worth the trouble. And, you move on because you figure out that you spent a lot more than you made in the final analysis.

New people absolutely must take this seriously, or they will not be taken seriously.

Asking completely non-business minded questions which reveal you are unprepared for business will not get you the answers on how to be in this business.
- - - - -

Now, having said that, all who believe that the question asked by the original poster is a serious question that deserves a serious answer, prove your point and materially invest in your belief by responding to this:

Please post all the companies you work for and what you charge them.

Reply by Mysti_FL on 5/31/05 8:44pm
Msg #41361

Re: OK, I agree to some degree:

BrendaTX, I totally understand what your saying although I don't agree with all of it. I do however, appreciate the explanation. And that, really, is my whole point.

I got beat up on this board when I asked my first couple of questions. The reason? Since I wasn't educated by osmosis on how to "work the board" or even that it was step one on self-training, I stupidly asked questions that on other boards I have joined, never would have generated the nastiness shown here. People could either simply tell you to do the search or the best way to figure something out is check out X area of Notary Rotary. Can the questions here be redundant? Of course. Heck, I would hate to be the one answering the same questions over and over. But why rip into the person?

I may be naive, but it amazes me that the people who provide lengthy, nasty replies have so much time to read the question, read through all the answers, then think up those long, >>>>fanciful>>>> nasty, posts. Yet, maybe that person asking the question didn't want your whole life story. They just wanted a bit of guidance.

Instead of "you jerk, go away since you are not worthy", How about "newbie, check out the posts" as some have so kindly said. Or, "Once you have searched and read and you are ready to sign, hit the tab button and sign up with those, then do an internet search and sign with those." Or, if that isn't your cup of tea, why not refrain from thinking up ANY answer! Why is that so hard for some to do?

There are so many internet savvy people that post here, I guess you just assume that everyone is as computer/internet savvy as you.

I wasn't. Thank goodness I had some helpful folks here respond and found outside sources to guide me (not present me with all the answers).

And so, we could go on for hours, back and forth, but what would be the point? That is my fight for injustice for the week!

Mysti

Reply by HisHughness on 5/31/05 9:49pm
Msg #41370

Re: OK, I agree to some degree:

Mysti_FL says...well, whatever she says, she says it at great length.

Mysti, you just don't get it. I don't care if some green behind the ears notaries public decide that they would rather spend their days choosing which brand of bubble gum to focus on today, rather than confront me on this board. Actually, I DO care. I'm hoping that's exactly what they will do. That way, after we have told them to learn the difference between a jurat and acknowledgement, we won't have to waste further time telling them how to fill out an acknowledgement once they have learned what one is, or explaining the difference between E&O insurance and their bonds, or telling them that yes, they do have to complete a Schedule C for their income tax return, and that $40 for a signing -- with e-docs -- is a trifle low.

I'm not interested in this board as a signing agent kindergarten, and I'm not interested in potty training the pre-Ks. I'm interested in this board as a place where serious professionals can ask serious questions and get serious answers from other serious professionals -- which is what it was a year to 18 months ago. If in the process of responding to some of the inanities I see bruited about here, Junior gets his feelings -- both of them -- bruised and elects to take his stamp and go elsewhere, I regard that as a positive development. When he is ready to rejoin the adults, I'll welcome him back, provided he leaves his sippy cup and dumb questions at the door. If he doesn't, he likely is once again going to get my barbs tossed at him.

To paraphrase you, that's my fight for sanity for the week!