Posted by Pat Eardley on 4/11/06 6:31pm
Msg #112818

Help, how do I get started?!?!?

I'm really new to this. I've only had my commission for a couple of weeks. I don't understand the levels and what certifications I need to have to do what and how I aquire them. I just want to do this for a little extra income. I became interested when my husband and I refinanced and a notary came and said what she made for about 2 hours of work and I couldn't believe it. So, here I am!!!

Reply by SueW/Tn on 4/11/06 6:38pm
Msg #112820

psstttt...don't believe everything you hear n/m

Reply by cmd_NH on 4/11/06 6:40pm
Msg #112821

You need to research, research, research....and then research some more. Start with the orange search button and read message # 33325. I'm curious to know how much this notary made for "2 hours work". This is not a get your Notary Commission and make the bucks. There is a LOT more to it. Also, how saturated is your area with notaries??? Good Luck!

Reply by LilyMD on 4/11/06 6:45pm
Msg #112823

Research and study is very important. Know your state's laws. Familiarize yourself with affidavits, jurats, and just about every mortgage related document and term you come across.
And by the way, that notary that told you what she made for 2 hours work, broke a cardinal rule of the business. Don't discuss fees, ever.

Reply by Becca_FL on 4/11/06 6:47pm
Msg #112824

Gee - I just had surgery and found out how much my doctor made off my procedure so I decided to get into surgery for a little extra cash.

So, here you are! Did you EVER consider learning about the profession BEFORE geting into it?

With your gim'me attitude be preparred to fail. Please help yourself to the wealth of information offered here and elsewhere, but don't beg for the answers without putting forth one once of effort.

BTW, I hear lawyers and CEOs make good money too, why not check into that?

Reply by Janlee_MI on 4/11/06 6:57pm
Msg #112835

Becca, You always know what to say. n/m

Reply by Pat Eardley on 4/11/06 7:51pm
Msg #112850

Wow, thanks for the welcome I hope that made you feel good. Glad I could aid in making your night. I hope everyone is not as pleasent as you.

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/11/06 8:04pm
Msg #112852

Well perhaps if you had bothered to read the bright yellow box that came up when you went to post your message you'd have gotten a nicer welcome. It states:

Important Notice
If you are going to ask a question, please consider consulting the Search feature before doing so. Many questions have been asked and answered repeatedly on this forum by expert notaries: Should I buy a laser printer? • What are e-docs? • What is a signing agent? • How much should I charge? • How do I get started? Answers to questions like these are just a few clicks away!

So why don't you tell us what you already HAVE done to learn about the business? Or did you just expect us to tell you everything you needed to know?

Reply by Charles_Ca on 4/11/06 9:13pm
Msg #112877

Re: Help, how do I get started?!?!?You were lucky, you got

the nicer ones. All the real grouches are busy making $100,000 a year at this business so there is no more money left!

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/11/06 9:16pm
Msg #112879

Re: Help, how do I get started?!?!?You were lucky, you got

**All the real grouches are busy making $100,000 a year at this business so there is no more money left!**

LOL...I can see I need to ratchet up my grouchy.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 4/11/06 9:21pm
Msg #112884

Re: Help, how do I get started?!?!?You were lucky, you got

After being nominated the Queen Mother you now want to be the top grouch too! Some people are just natural over achievers. Too bad for the rest of us nebbishes!

Reply by Kiso on 4/11/06 6:57pm
Msg #112837

Look into getting certified as a loan signing agent. You can check out the NNA's website, they have classes for that. It costs just about as much as a notary class would cost. It's worth it though, if you're going to be serious about it. Not all notaries make the amount that you probably heard from the notary that closed your loan. (And yes, they did break a rule by telling you what they made.) It could be more or less. It takes time, too. I've been doing this personally for a year and a half, but I've been in this business for 4 years...I've seen notaries that make a lot of money but they have a lot more time to do this during the day than I do. Give it a shot; my motto is the infamous "you never know until you try."

Reply by Pat Eardley on 4/11/06 7:56pm
Msg #112851

Thanks, I appreciate the help. I started this whole thing for my job but who knows maybe it will be something I can be good at too. I did look at the NNA site and that's why I posted to this site. There wasn't much information for VA. I'll check back maybe I missed something.

Reply by Becca_FL on 4/11/06 8:40pm
Msg #112869

The reason why there wasn't much info. for VA on the NNA site is because the NNA pulled their certification for VA because of new state laws concerning loan closings. Had you done your research, you would have known this. Hell, I'm in Florida and I know this just from roaming the Notary sites and reading news letters.

I don't want to mean, but want to help educate you on what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Please don't expect others to do the work for you. This isn't a government job.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 4/11/06 10:14pm
Msg #112897

In almost 113,000 posts

I'm sure you will find all the answers to all the questions you can come up with. Did you read ANY of them before you posted? Or the yellow box that comes up when you post as Cali asked. What you did was walked in and right away started asking questions. Would you walk into any nice club or any other social gathering or even a Chamber of Commerce meeting and start asking people how they started doing what they are doing and by the way "how can I learn to do what you do?" I'm sure you would not be so rude. Did you also ask your doctor, dentist, accountant, banker, etc these same questions. Please don't take offense at some of the answers you've received from some on this board. Lately business stinks! There are much fewer refi's and purchases all over the country (guess maybe you don't read the newspaper or listen to the news on TV or radio either). And the NNA is still churning out notary signing agents by the hundreds, if not thousands; telling people what a fabulous JOB this is. Well, most of us do not consider this our JOB, but our PROFESSION! We are professional loan signing agents and let's face it, by your own admission you are a HOBBYIST! Come to think of it, can't even believe I would take up a hobby without doing at least some research!

Reply by Mary_in_VA on 4/11/06 10:46pm
Msg #112906

If you are in Virginia, plan on also getting a title insurance underwriter's license soon. That is why NNA is no longer certifying signing agents in Virginia. (Try searching under "Virginia" on this site.)

By the way, did the notary public/closing agent who came to your home tell you how much time she spent on your file/case, or did you assume it was just two hours work? (Maybe she got lucky and got extremely well paid for a total of just 2 hours work, but believe me, it's rare!) Remember, all told, you will probably lose about 50% of any fee to expenses and taxes! Also, you will have additional time involved in marketing and accounting (those pesky self-employment tax forms, which can also result in extra expenses - to prepare them!) [How good are you at computer and printer trouble shooting! Do you have high-speed internet access and a laser printer? What would you do for backups? (I have a desktop, a laptop, and two printers!)]

You will find that most companies want people with some real estate background, and with the downturn in the industry, they can get pickier and just use their "top" notaries.

I do wish you luck! (Just remember to use the "search" function before asking questions!)

Reply by BP/WV on 4/11/06 9:03pm
Msg #112875

Help yourself first!


I cannot believe that a closer actually revealed what he/she makes. That is a big no-no in this business. It is unprofessional, and disreputable.

No one here is going to help you because you choose not to help yourself. You proved this by jumping on the forum asking questions first instead of researching.

Here is something I bet your notary did not reveal:

This is not a business to jump into right away. It does not just take a notary commission.
You need to research, learn and market. I suggest you start with learning your basic notary laws back to front. You also need to think about start-up costs …yes, you will need to spend money to make money.

I operate my business full time as do most agents on this forum. Do not be too offended by the lack of openhandedness for those who “just want to do this for a little extra income.”

Reply by MichiganAl on 4/11/06 11:30pm
Msg #112915

What, no FlaMac "ignore the meanies" post?

Pat, most of us would have done some research BEFORE getting our commission. I'm sorry, but "where do I start, what should I do" type of questions don't cut it here. Show us you've done a little work yourself and we'll give you all the help and advice you'll ever want. Show us that you've thoughtlessly and haphazardly jumped into something without any reasonable business sense, and well, you see the results.

Try questions like this: "I've researched several different certifications, X, Y, and Z. Which one would you recommend? I found several sites to list my services. What do you think of these three? Here are my marketing ideas, which ones have worked for you in the past?"

I hope you can see the difference between that kind of approach and "Hi, I heard you guys make a lot of money. I want in so here I am."

Go back a few months on this forum and just start reading (avoiding the occasional nonsense). All answers will revealed.

Reply by Korey Humphreys on 4/12/06 10:11am
Msg #112968

(sshh!) maybe she finally decided to stop the nonsense n/m

Reply by Anonymous on 4/14/06 1:22pm
Msg #113629

There is a wonderful blue signing agent cd rom that sells in ebay.com
key word notary public or signing agent, good luck