Posted by Cindi_TN on 12/19/06 8:50pm
Msg #166795

How do you handle this?

I see that many of you do two, three, sometimes more, signings in a day. How do you pull this off when the docs usually aren't even ready to print until an hour or so before the signing? I'm sure I'm not the only person experiencing this. Also how are you able to review and prepare when you've just printed and running out the door? I did a signing tonight where the SS specifically stated to have the BO initial every page that did not require a sig, which we did and 60% thru the package there are instructions from the lender to escrow stating that there are to be NO initials anywhere unless a space provided and marked as such. So I'm sitting there with my mouth open thinking Good God. Of course there was no one available anywhere to talk to so we completed as started and now I'm home panicking that I might have my first resign. Do you review the entire package before signing even if there are instructions in the front of the pkg? Was this my fault?

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/19/06 8:52pm
Msg #166797

Cyndi - it's too late to worry about it. It happens. I don't think you will have a re-sign. I think you'll be just fine. JMHO.

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/19/06 9:02pm
Msg #166798

I never review the documents beforehand

With very few exceptions, all of the packages I receive are complete.

How long do you spend reviewing each set of documents? 10 minutes? 15 minutes? If you do 60 signings a month and review each set of docs for 10 minutes then you're spending 600 minutes a month doing quality control for other people's work. That's almost TEN HOURS. I can tell you, I don't spend anywhere near 10 hours per month going out to correct mistakes. Most months I don't spend any time going out to correct mistakes.

Now what do you consider your hourly rate? $25 per hour means you're spending $250 per month hunting for problems that most likely aren't there. $50 per hour means $500 per month. Is the return you're getting on this time investment worth it? I can't see how it possibly could be.

If the SS gave you specific instructions to do something and you followed them, why would you even ask if it was your fault?

You need to get a lot more confidence in yourself and take control of your business. Don't put the burden of other people's mistakes on your shoulders. If they screw up, they can pay you to go out a second time and fix their mistake.

Reply by Cindi_TN on 12/19/06 9:11pm
Msg #166801

thanks for the replys ... but Cali

I get what your saying about the time to review docs adding up, I agree, so are you ever surprised with instructions buried in the pkg that throw you for a loop?

Reply by TitleGalCA on 12/19/06 10:12pm
Msg #166817

Re: thanks for the replys ... but Cali

Cindi, the point of his post (as I read it) shows that there are NO SURPRISES.

and if there is an issue about the documents? It is not the issue of the NSA. It's the fault of escrow or the SS or the lender.

Without speaking for Cali, if you get a set of docs with instructions that "throw you for a loop" it is NOT your fault. You need to segregate your role in the transaction. You are the signing agent and the notary, that is all.

If you find something out of the norm? Separate yourself from the transaction - you have a limited role. If they (the lender) doesn't do it right in the first place, it's NOT your job to fix it.

Make the lender/SS accountable for their own mistakes. A NSA that thinks they are a 'gate keeper' is not only inaccurate, but it lends a false impression on those that hire you. That false imprssion will carry over to other NSA's. A circle of false impressions is not good for the industry.

Hold your ground and limit your role to what is truly needed by your service.

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/20/06 1:51am
Msg #166851

Re: thanks for the replys ... but Cali

"Cindi, the point of his post (as I read it) shows that there are NO SURPRISES."

Exactly. The instructions in the loan package are for the title company and/or the lender, not for the signing agent. If there's something unusual that needs to be done, I expect it to be brought to my attention prior to the signing. I'm not going to go digging for it.

So the answer to you Cindi is that it never comes up because I don't read through the instructions in the loan package. And I'm almost through my fourth year doing loan signings, probably have completed over 3,000 of them by now, and not ONCE has it been an issue.

But even if you come across something telling you to sign in black ink after you've already done half the package in blue ink, how much longer is it going to take to have the borrower resign what they've already signed, either on the borrowers copy or a second signature on the main copy? 10 or 15 minutes? Isn't it better to spend that extra 10 minutes only when it arises instead of spending an extra 10 minutes on every signing to try to avoid it from arising?

It never ceases to amaze me how many people on this board spend so much time worrying about and trying to prevent every "what if" they can think of. I deal with "what is", not "what if". And my business is much more profitable because of that attitude.

Reply by PL on 12/19/06 9:08pm
Msg #166800

Do your best, follow the instructions and move forward n/m

Reply by ZeeCA on 12/19/06 9:15pm
Msg #166802

when i first started i went thru the docs.

Now I just fan thru them quickly looking for any red flags but doing it quickly does not mean i will see it....More it is w/ edocs to see all are printed correctly by fanning thru it....

also, get ANY AND ALL instructions in writing in an email or w/ the docs and if it is not signed KNOW WHO GAVE THE INSTRUCTIONS

we are to follow directions not make the decisions so you are prob just fine

jmo

Reply by David Kral on 12/19/06 9:19pm
Msg #166803

1) Cofirm the time.
2) Ask for copies of id and insurance.
3) Warn documents may be late. Need address history for 10 years.
4) Leave your number so borrower can call you if you do not reach them live.

I prepare the return Fedex while the documents are printing, try to scan the instructions, but often read them a the client's house. If I did not get adequate notice on a document(divorce decree), note it on a piece of paper and also on the confirmation I keep, and send it back.

Reply by Cindi_TN on 12/19/06 9:27pm
Msg #166805

Thanks for the responses. Must be the nature of the beast! n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/19/06 9:40pm
Msg #166811

Hi, Cindi - Relax. Many times I have seen, buried deep in

the stack, some instruction or other. Sometimes it pertains to blue/black ink. Sometimes it pertains to initialing pages. Or making copies of signed docs!

My feeling and practice is, if there are no instructions up-front, I am not going to pour through a stack to find the buried stuff. My particular practice is to have borrowers initial every page that does not require a signature, except for the 23 page Countrywide internal instructions. It is the way I closed my personal properties in Idaho at title companies over the years, and I was told it was for my protection as a borrower. Every page in my file has been in my hands, before my eyes. No future page can be inserted into my file that purports to be a part of the signing stack. No one can say 'you agreed to this' when I hadn't. That made good sense to me.

I have used that comfortable feeling to guide me in this business. I get the initials, explaining that it is their assurance that they have seen every page, that I have not withheld any pages, and that seems to satisfy everyone so far. I have never had a stack rejected for having initials.

If the SS that contracted with you for the signing says on the confirmation - use black ink - and you don't, well, then you haven't followed instructions. That said, if the confirmation says 'no initialing', I call them, tell them my practice and its rationale, and have not encountered a problem. Occasionally you'll see 'borrowers must use the same pen throughout the signing.' Well, that's not always possible, either. Kids take pens, pens run out of ink. Lots of things happen.

Hiding instructions in the stack, to me, is sloppy work. Or, one might think it was purposeful, to test the NSA's ' scruitnizing the pile for 'all required documents' or some such. Not my job to decide that should/not be included in a package.

Of course, if a document I think should be there, like a HUD or DOT, and it's not, then I call for an explanation before leaving. I leaf through. Scan. Fast. When I have time.

So, relax!

Cheers,
Susie

Reply by immanuel6_CA on 12/19/06 10:49pm
Msg #166824

That is the exact reason why I will not take a signing if I am going to be rushed. I must be able to review the entire package. How are you going to know where the borrower is to sign without review? I am losing trust in all SS. There is just no way that I can pull it off and feel confident that I have performed my job if I can't review the loan package. I only do one signing a day.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/19/06 11:20pm
Msg #166829

You do one signing per day....well at that rate, you should

be familiar with loan packages any month now. True, when I first started, I put little sticky 'sign' arrows, 'notarize' arrows, 'initial' arrows...but that lasted about three packages. I mean, at the table, when you pick up a page, it's pretty clear where the borrower has to sign/initial. Pretty soon you can do a signing in your sleep. What on earth can take you all day? But then, I'm in this for the money, the freedom, the people, and the fun.

Reply by cassiewi on 12/20/06 8:16am
Msg #166874

Ha Susan, that sounds just like me.

And I lasted about the same amount of packages and said forget it!

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/20/06 1:42am
Msg #166849

"How are you going to know where the borrower is to sign without review?"

Ummmm, the same way you know where they sign with the review?

I would love to know the total time you spend on your one signing per day and what your average fee for that signing is.

Reply by sue_pa on 12/20/06 6:28am
Msg #166860

you know where they are going to sign because 99% of the time their name is typed below the line on every document. The few documents that don't have a name typed below the line you should be able to scan in seconds to determine if it is for the borrowers. That said, if you're only confident doing one a day, only do one a day but once you are experienced, double digits a day are possible - naturally dependent upon doc delivery.

Reply by MonicaFL on 12/20/06 10:41am
Msg #166897

If you had time and the borrowers didn't mind, I would have exchanged the pages they had initialled out of their package and put them into the one going back. JMO.