Posted by Art_MD on 11/23/05 7:41am
Msg #78373

Will SSs ever learn???

Normal EOM.

After 5:00 PM last night, had 3 calls to do e-doc signings - 1 at 7, 1 at 8, and 1 anytime. Do they plan ahead? Noooooo. Do they really expect to find someone on such short notice at the EOM ?
But, I think part, if not most, of the blame is the lender/TC.

Art

Reply by SLB SIGNING SERVICES, INC. - Sherry on 11/23/05 7:45am
Msg #78375

I would have to say that all of the blame should fall on the TC/Lender (at least in my case)...We have gotten orders at 9pm for a 10pm closing at EOM..It is ridiculous! First of all, I find it completely unaaceptable to call someone at 9pm for a signing regardless of when it is and second of all, ditto to Art..dont these people plan ahead?

Reply by CarolynCO on 11/23/05 8:50am
Msg #78385

I turned down two for last night -- both low and slow paying. The second was VERY insulted and put out when I informed them that the signing was in the mountains, not a hop/skip and jump from me -- no matter how close it looked on the map had they even bothered to look at a map, but rather a just under 2-hour one-way drive, and no, there was no way, even if I were to accept the signing, that I could be there in 45-60 minutes.

Reply by Bonnie_CO on 11/23/05 9:33am
Msg #78389

For SS to read...Re: distances here...long

I get those too. I guess that if someone hasn't been in an area like ours, then they have no clue as to how long it would actually take someone to go a relatively short distance. They don't take into account mountain passes, and canyons like Big Horn Sheep Canyon going over to Salida, you can get through the canyon at a pretty good clip sometimes, but 98% of the time you get stuck behind a semi truck or someone with a camper, or someone that doesn't know how to drive curves,(read, flatlander), and the passing lanes in that particular canyon are few and far between, so it can take quite a long time to get to Salida and we know to plan for that.
Then again, I've tried to explain this to some SS that have called, and they end up saying, "so you can't be there in 30 minutes? It does'nt look that far on the map."
Then we have the wildlife to deal with, I was coming into the Silvercliff/Wetcliff valley, off the pass the other evening and almost wiped out an Elk, or he almost wiped me out. In various locations around here, at one time or another I have come close to hitting, bear, elk, deer, bighorn sheep and antelope. When we go to our signings in the rural areas, we plan in advance for things that are common to our area, we know where the passes are and if they are easy passes or PITA passes (wolf creek pass), we know the times of day that we are not able to drive as fast as we normally do, because of the wildlife and some of the areas where it's common to see wildlife on the roads. When we accept assignments, these varibles are taken into account.
I stay in the southern portions of the state because that's what I am most familiar with. I pretty much don't go north of Pueblo county because I don't know the areas up north very well. (Except to go to the outlet mall in Castle Rock! LOL)
So... when you look at a map or bring up mapquest, keep these thing in mind when you are looking for a Colorado notary. Just because it says "50 miles" does not mean we can get there in an hour.
Example: there is one lake we drive to in the summer, it's only about 15 miles from the nearest town, not far, but it takes about 3 hours to drive to it. (Not kidding!) But the lake and the veiw and everything about it is worth the sloooooooooooow drive up. (Plus EXCELLENT rainbow trout in it! )

Reply by Charles_Ca on 11/23/05 10:17am
Msg #78402

I really understand but...

That is the price we pay for living in beautiful places. I have much the same situation. I have a town 26 miles away from me that I get calls for all the time. I try to explain that it takes me an hour and a half to get there. They tell me its impossible even when I point out to them that the major roads are parallel to each other with nothing in between for a reason: mountains. I don't have as much of a problem with big rigs as I do in the summer with these huge motor homes and trailers these little old people drive. they are so petrified you can see the glow from their white knuckles a mile away. The few roads that go through the mountains follow streams and are windy, two lanes with no shoulders. In some places the redwoods are right up against the pavement. We have have warnings that suggest no one try to drive the roads with a trailer longer than 30 feet. And then there are the logging trucks and the lumber trucks from the flatlands: I can't tell you how many times I've come around a hairpin turn to find one of these lumber trucks from the flatlands rolled over with their load spilled all over the road.

Reply by Bonnie_CO on 11/23/05 10:29am
Msg #78407

Re: I really understand but...

Charles- But it's worth the price! I bet the logging trucks play heck with your schedule! That would not be too fun!
I have to agree about the knuckle glow! It's almost blinding sometimes! LOL! I hope if I ever get that petrified, my husband will take away my DL.!
Have a GREAT Thanksgiving!

Reply by BrendaTx on 11/23/05 10:35am
Msg #78409

More info for SS's

In Texas, we have open road, but often have to take a pig trail or a cow path to get to the house. At 10 miles per hour on a gravel road...10 miles takes one hour!

Signing services doing business in Texas are foolish to accept a low fee and then trying to make $$ from it when the county is rural. Nice sized cities are one thing, but rural is quite another.

I have been requested to lower my fees to the rural places by schedulers but I just cannot. Offering $125 for edocs for 60 miles away is far too little. It should be at least $175 and if it's dirt road...think about another $25-$50.

What are these people thinking? I guess it's hard to realize the notary you need at EOM has to keep a business running all month...just like them. We cannot suddenly just materialize to do the job IMMEDIATELY if we are not in business. I flat out told my schedulers that I cannot stay in business with a dwindling volume if they don't pay enough to cover expenses and provide a profit to me...PROFIT people, is why we are in business.

It's going to be interesting to see how things shake out in the long run. Serious mobile notaries in Texas will need to figure out a way to supplement their income. Rev morts will come up a bit, but we cannot do HELOCs in homes (need a title co. room/atty office/lender branch) and REFI's are just about gone. I mean, where will that leave the smaller SSs...maybe it will not be a problem to them, but I think as things slow down scheduling will go back in house with the title company.

Reply by Anonymous on 11/23/05 11:04am
Msg #78415

I totally agree with this ananlogy

Reply by LawrenceOK on 11/23/05 11:17am
Msg #78418

Re: More info for SS's/ Same here Brenda

Same here in Oklahoma Brenda. 30 miles takes approx. 50 minutes to drive if it's dry. I just love it when an SS tells me "but it's only 2 inches on the map" Just because an address is within the City Limits, it does not mean you have curbed, paved streets to drive on. I have driven on city and county roads that couldn't even be classified as an animal trail. Borrower's homes and driveways 1/4 to 1/2 mile back off the beaten path, and then the SS's cry robbery when you state your fees.

Reply by Nate_MN on 11/23/05 11:44am
Msg #78423

Re: More info for SS's

I am amazed Title Companies don't schedule their own signings already. I believe they could easily handle it for less than they pay the Signing Services. They could save money, save the borrower some money, and pay the Signing Agent a little more. Some one please explain to me what value is added by the Signing Service.

Reply by LawrenceOK on 11/23/05 11:56am
Msg #78424

Re: More info for SS's

I am still asking myself the same question. Other then having a database of notaries in any given area, NONE. now let the flames Begin.

Reply by christiSocal on 11/23/05 1:16pm
Msg #78438

Living in a big city dosen't mean they always pay attention

to the distance. I got a call a couple weeks ago for a signing in Palmdale, which is all frwy and even with no traffic is easily an hour away. w/traffic could be 2 or 3 plus! I told him I'd take it if he'd pay enough. He decided to call someone closer.lol

Reply by BrendaTx on 11/23/05 8:55pm
Msg #78495

Two country roads this time...


Today's couple was an adorable pair 42 miles away. She was really cute...red hair, lime green blouse and capri slacks...but oh my! I could not get control of that fiesty gal.

Yes, yes...I tried to take control...however, I had lost it the night before when I did not want to get directions from her at the time and she insisted I take them down.

Usually my rev morts bwrs are very informed...I never heard so many questions in all my life as at this one. Questions that were not in the docs so I could point...questions that never stopped...

They were nice kids, I liked them a lot, but they wore me down asking questions about the loan, about me, about my son...my town...my parents...my dogs...PEOPLE GET A LIFE! WATCH THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE--SOMETHING.

I was SO stressed by the time we signed that last page...arrived at 3:00 pm and I got into my car at 5:15 pm. I was most assuredly fit to be tied. The LO on this one gives me lots of them. I was really in a position where I knew I could either put in the extra hour and continue to please this lady, or I could be blunt and tell them to sign and no talking and possibly lose business.

I build a little extra into my rev mort fees...Please tell me you all do not do rev morts for $50, $65, or even $75 ...

Reply by BrendaTx on 11/23/05 9:06pm
Msg #78498

Re: Two country roads this time...addition

I forgot to mention that I hit two different unpaved roads on this little trip for the day.

One was gravel and one was dirt. Yep...one mile - three minutes on the dirt...I could do about 20.

I was clipping along at 35-40 on the gravel one and his a hairpin turn so sharp I almost went off the road. Slowed way down after that...again.

Before I got to the dirt and gravel trails, I was on a long stretch of deserted country road...a few nice curves to go around pseudo-fast...on the straightways easily doing 70-75 and nothing coming as far as I could see...then, all of a sudden, there is a sign: Uneven Tracks Ahead. I got 'er down to about 55 before I sailed over them. There was a big thump but I think the car is okay. I took the longer way home.

Reply by LawrenceOK on 11/24/05 8:58am
Msg #78533

Re: Two country roads this time...

Absolutely NOT!! I charge extra for those as well.

Reply by DeeB/Fl on 11/23/05 6:26pm
Msg #78464

I got a call from SS that they needed people tonight...despearately...they had 30 closings that had to be done tonight...it was like gosh don't ya know its THANKSGIVING!! people have plans to be away (at least most do). not sure if she found anyone. I couldnt do it cuz of my back and with us going up to orlando.