Posted by HisHughness on 4/9/06 2:19am
Msg #112300

Things that give you pause

Went to a signing Friday. Columned English Tudor house out by the lake, high up on a hill, upscale upscale subdivision, price of home probably in upper 15 percent of Austin homes. Parked in the cul de sac, heaved my way up the driveway. Leading from the driveway, up the sidewalk, up the steps and onto the porch was a trail of blood.

Rang the doorbell, after some hesitation. Husband came to door. Wife followed. Neither brandished either knife or gun, and neither displayed any wounds. Thought about mentioning the blood outside, but then thought better of it. Signing took only five minutes. The blood was still there when I left.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 4/9/06 7:29am
Msg #112308

Your experience far outweighs mine...holy cow!

Reply by Janlee_MI on 4/9/06 7:33am
Msg #112310

Boy the signing went quick. I wonder if they had something to hide!

Reply by DW_TN on 4/9/06 7:37am
Msg #112311

Did you check the basement to see how many previous notaries were stacked up done there?

Reply by FlaMac on 4/9/06 8:04am
Msg #112313

Glad nothing went wrong..scary stuff for sure but when...

we have to deal with the general public anything could happen. I had a similar situation about a month ago. As I was leaving a bad neighborhood in Orlando; there was gun fire at a neighbor's front yard. You described the experience perfectly with " things that give you pause". Glad you're okay

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 4/9/06 10:41am
Msg #112332

Re: Glad nothing went wrong..scary stuff for sure but when...

Well, I only had a repeat of my previous reverse mortgage signing that took place last Monday, once again yesterday. New folks, of course older, very sweet, clutter clutter clutter. I could barely walked through the door, no table for us to use, all were clutter. I stood the entire time, placed the papers on the floor after being signed. Mr. Mrs. Bo used a TV tray, that was so nasty the papers were often sticking.....Again sweet sweet couple, I high tailed it out of there, stopped at the nearby Starbucks, set up office and begin my work. I had no surface for stamping anything at the the home, the folks said oh you'll have to stand(me yeah I guess so)they barely has a place to sit.....Oh my goodness. On the bright said my Starbucks was good.

Reply by FlaMac on 4/9/06 10:50am
Msg #112333

We should write a book about our experiences...

it would be very shocking and funny..lol. I had one last week that had dogs which is pretty normal for us. But, he was barking SOOOO loud that the BO's couldn't hear a word I was saying. So, I asked them to let the dog out of the bedroom so he could be with us. Mr. BO didn't want to because he said the pooch would lick and smell me "everywhere". I nicely told them we had no choice cause he was being too loud.

So, they let Fido out....and sure enough...no spot on me left unsniffed or unlicked. Took him about 5 minutes then he went and laid down in the foyer and never made another peep the rest of the time

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 4/9/06 10:56am
Msg #112335

Re: We should write a book about our experiences..Yes FlaMac

My reverse on Monday-the owner had a total of 8 parakeets, not all were in the room with us for the signing but enough were to make such a racket(nonstop screaming) and I do adore animals. The BO went over every page and four hours later when I was finally out of there (she was very sweet) but animal lovers as well as owners of children and I have two grown myself, need to know when to hold um......to quote Kenny Rogers from his song the Gambler.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 4/9/06 11:25am
Msg #112341

My "mantra" on the borrower AND their home...

I see things a bit differently than the majority here...my borrowers are paying my fees therefore they get my undivided attention. Their home becomes my "office" by virtue of the field I have freely chosen to go in to. Alot of the folks I sign aren't really happy about me coming to their homes but it is a service and more importantly a "convenience" for them and I certainly don't expect them to get the Merry Maids in for a 1 hour appointment they're paying dearly for. Sheesh, we complain about the offered fees, the drive, the cost of gas, the borrowers housekeeping habits, the borrowers pets, the neighborhood...why on earth go into a field that all ya want to do is moan and complain? I'm thankful for the borrowers, thankful I have contacts, thankful to be able to pick and chose when I work and where. Believe me, it could be 1,000 times worse. Look at that glass as half full as opposed to half empty.

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 4/9/06 11:33am
Msg #112344

Re: My "mantra" on the borrower AND their home...

I'm sorry you saw my words as moaning and complaining, your way off base. I see each and every experience in life as a learning situation. I actually don't believe in Merry Maids... and my glass of water is always filled to the brim. I was simply sharing a day's event as another did with blood on the porch. You would seldom if ever see me seriously complain about anything on this board. I'm not a complainer or one who whines....Again sorry you totally misread my words.....Life is rich and full and that is exactly through the eyes in which I watch it......End of story.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 4/9/06 11:55am
Msg #112347

So noted...

I apologize if you feel I directed my post to you, wasn't intended...just a general observation of the flow of the board with regards to the interior of our client's homes. Again, sorry for the miscommunication.

Reply by John_NorCal on 4/9/06 4:42pm
Msg #112368

Re: My "mantra" on the borrower AND their home...

>>Alot of the folks I sign aren't really happy about me coming to their homes ......<<
Not to offend anyone but I'm wondering if this is a southern thing or encountered in other states? I seem to have seen this voiced before, I've never encountered that. When I go out to a signing, the borrowers are more than happy that I went to their house or met them elsewhere if that was not convenient. I've never had anyone voice their reluctance in having me go to their home. Just wondering.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 4/9/06 5:12pm
Msg #112371

In reply to John....

I can't honestly answer that John. Alot of the single male borrowers would prefer to meet outside their home, several borrowers have asked to meet at the local coffee shop because "children are sleeping" and I've had two that stated "this is a shoeless home" (meaning no shoes allowed) and would rather meet elsewhere. I always remove my shoes, children sleeping don't bother me in the least and frankly I'm not concerned with single men. The south prides themselves on privacy, they don't want their neighbors "talking". They are more than courteous which could explain those that don't want to actually tell a visitor to remove their shoes. I've learned to sail whatever sea we've got going at the time, it all works out. Respect given is respect received. Whatever makes them most comfortable, whatever is most convenient...I'm good with it.

Reply by NCLisa on 4/9/06 7:41pm
Msg #112378

Re: My "mantra" on the borrower AND their home...

I don't really think it's a southern thing. In NC were were strictly an attorney state until about 1.5 years ago. Some people here still think it is an attorney state, so they are surprised that a)I'm not an attorney, b) that an attorney had nothing to do with the closing, c) that they had no idea someone was coming to their home until I called them, d) that they are letting a stranger in to their home in this day and age. Most are upset that an attorney had nothing to do with the closing more than anything. Lately I've gotten 2 types of borrowers, those that are afraid that I'm some kind of axe murderer and have me meet them in a public place, or those that have me come into their home and tell me how dangerous my job is and that I need to carry pepper spray.

You really can't blame people. We live in a scary world.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/9/06 10:31pm
Msg #112393

Re: My "mantra" on the borrower AND their home...

>>Not to offend anyone but I'm wondering if this is a southern thing or encountered in other states?<<

It seems to me the reluctance about me coming to the home is when I call the bwrs and they have not been informed ahead by the LO or the TC that I am going to come to their home. It is the idea that a stranger calls them and tells them "I will be coming to your home." that seems to set them sideways.

Reply by Anonymous on 4/9/06 10:08pm
Msg #112392

Re: We should write a book about our experiences...

Try to tell people that I'm fine with getting sniffed and once the dog sees I'm sitting down and no threat they will go away. Some believe and it works and some we have to listen to barking for an hour.

Reply by Julie/MI on 4/9/06 1:00pm
Msg #112355

Did they have young children?

My boys have tubes of fake blood left over from bk'ed dollar stores and the 1/2 off the 1/2 off Halloween USA stores. They LOVE to freak people out with this stuff. I don't care so long as it doesn't get tracked into the house. In a pinch, they use my frosting gel in the tubes. Maybe someone had prankster grandchildren....then again, maybe not!