Posted by MelissaCT on 8/24/06 1:34pm
Msg #140598

My week...

Working every night with signings after my FT job. Been having 2 each night for the most part this month.

Monday: edocs, problems printing (gotta love Adobe version 7). Uninstall v7, download v6 on main computer, due to ongoing v7 problems. Switch to backup computer to print docs.

Tuesday: edocs, "new" package sent minutes before I have to leave to make appointment on time. Talk to title, only HUD is changed (luckily). Print new HUD & TIL, just in case. Get a call late afternoon for 2nd signing closer to home. Waiting for docs. No confirmation arrives. Docs arrive late. Call title to get phone number so I can call borrower to inform. Title doesn't have docs, so can't provide phone #. Go to 1st appt (which, by the way, was supposed to happen last Thursday, but docs arrived late & bwr was at work. LO even called next day to see if I would backdate, as a "favor". Not happening). Call on way back from 1st to title for 2nd appt, get phone # for bwr, they give me the name. (docs just in). Use cell to look up phone number listing by name. Call bwr, leave message. Rush to office to print. Just finish printing, bwr calls. It's too late (8pm) for signing tonight, how about tomorrow. Call title to inform & see if docs are date-sensitive. No call back. Reschedule with borrower for next day, pending sensitivity question.

Wednesday: double signing, overnight docs (yea!!), no problems; call when heading out to rescheduled one from previous night. Bwr states that someone else just finished her signing. Company reassigned without letting me know. Glad I didn't turn down any potential business thinking I was already booked. Oh wait, yes I did.

Thursday: edocs, assignment canceled. Received a call early afternoon for assignment (edocs, of course) this evening. Waiting for docs -- think they'll be here in time for me to print & drive??

This is a typical week in this business. I carry slim-fast shakes in the car, because most often, I won't be eating dinner until 10pm, unless I do a drive-thru heart attack in a sack.

Anyone who thinks this is "easy money" and only 1 hr per appointment: reality is listed above. Think about it when you're developing your business plan & researching this industry.

Reply by Brooke Squyres on 8/24/06 1:53pm
Msg #140601

I feel your pain, Melissa, and I do this Full TIme!

1

Reply by LeNelle Stephens on 8/24/06 2:09pm
Msg #140605

I too, do this Full TIme!

No one can understand what we do until they have done it themselves. It takes alot of patience and organization for what we have to juggle - and when they don't want to pay us because "all we do is watch them sign" ggrrr. Hope the rest of your week goes smoother.

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/24/06 2:24pm
Msg #140608

This was posted more for information than for venting. I'm used to this type of week by now, but for those just starting out, it can be nerve-wracking. Hey, I'm having a pretty good week, but I also have to hope that I'll get paid for the printing of signings that have canceled or been reassigned. Another reason to develop a business plan to cover these types of circumstances. $40 signings don't do it.

Reply by Life Saving Services - Doug on 8/24/06 2:34pm
Msg #140611

Melissa, what do you do with the companies that do not want to pay you after you printed docs and they re-assigned without telling you ?

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/24/06 5:13pm
Msg #140636

bill them for printing, keep reminding them & hope to get paid...It doesn't happen ALL that often, but that's why it's especially important to set your base fees high enough to begin with, to absorb costs like these. If I get paid for printing, it's almost a bonus, although I should be paid for work done & supplies, etc. such as printing or travel.

I do keep track of who owes print fees and I will adjust my fee for future work to include payment for deals like this that do go south. Unfortunately, it's not industry standard to pay print or travel fees. It's absorbed into the cost of doing business, more often than not.

That's not to say it shouldn't be industry standard, but that's just reality. I do have disclaimers that full fee is expected for work performed, etc.

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/24/06 5:17pm
Msg #140638

Good question n/m