Posted by GoNotaryVA on 1/5/06 9:11am
Msg #86205

Slow for Anyone Else Right Now??

Is it just VA, or are all states slow right about now? Since I became a NSA, it's been going steady (about 7 months now)..All of a sudden, no calls so far this month and only about 15 in December.

I'm getting worried. I did a search on slow months, but nothing really came up. I'm probably putting in the wrong search words. Anyone care to comment on which months are typically slow? I'm sure it's been discussed before, but I can't find anyting under the search button!

Thanks In Advance. I love this forum and all the advice I've pickup up from all!

Reply by Barnes - James on 1/5/06 9:15am
Msg #86209

It's always slow in the beginning of the year, the part I would be concerned with is that you were slow in December, use this time to sign up with companies, use the signing services tab or 50statenotary has a good place to sign up with places too.

Reply by Mike_IA on 1/5/06 9:26am
Msg #86212

You're self-employed so your income is always going to vary and there's no way to know in advance what your income will be next month or in six months. You're not an employee with a regular paycheck. If you need, or want, a regular, steady and predictable income you should be someone's employee and getting a paycheck every two weeks. There's nothing wrong with that. This business is not the easy money the NNA makes it out to be. You are running your own business. And in answer to your question, there are some general patterns to when this business is slow but even those don't always hold true I have observed over the past five years as a full-time NSA. Now quit posting and instead sign up with some more companies if you want more business.

Reply by GoNotaryVA on 1/5/06 9:32am
Msg #86216

Wowwwwwww Mike. Appreciate your feedback, but I am aware that I am self-employed and income is always going to vary. I didn't decide to sign up based on info from the NNA so not sure where you're getting that from in my thread.

I simply asked for comments on slow months. That's all.

I am aware of everything you stated. Did lots of research before deciding to quit my job and start doing this fulltime after many months of doing it part time. When I'm ready to get a steady paycheck, trust me, I will go back into the job force, but as of now, I'm haning in there as I like what I do.

But I do thank you for your comment.

Reply by wendy_wa on 1/5/06 9:50am
Msg #86224

wow sorry for the onslaught, which is why I rarely post...anyway, it seems like market areas are hugely different too. December was one of my busiest months from day one. I worked almost everyday, all day. Which is great because that means my January will be wonderful. I worked on Xmas Eve (3 appts all before noon) and New Years Eve (just one but I charged $300). I even worked on the 26th and the 2nd. Plus so far this month I have worked everyday, although it is only the 5th. I think it depends on who your clients are. When I first got started, I did mostly gov't loans and that meant alot of end of the month stuff. Now I am very diversified, so I get alot of work. Plus I do alot of stuff other SA might complain about; multiple fax backs, split packages, split signings (borrower A here, borrower B there) - now granted, I charge alot more but my clients know I will get my job done and correctly. So be patient, it might just take some time.

Reply by GoNotaryVA on 1/5/06 9:58am
Msg #86225

Thanks Wendy for your comment.

December could probably have been busy for me, but because I refuse to take $50 signings and some of the calls I received conflicted with me not have a sitter for 7pm or later, is why the signings were so few for me. But now that my husband is on the midnight shift, I can take all the signings I want!

Also, it's not that I'm not patient...I just wanted to know what months are slow so that I can prepare myself. My husband is my back up for slow months. I just wanted to be sure the business was not dwindling down already due to high interest rates, etc...

I am marketing myself everyday all day that I sit here with no signings. It's so peaceful with the kids off to school and my husband fast asleep.

Thanks again for your comments.

Reply by Leslie_Mo on 1/5/06 10:36am
Msg #86236

Wendy,

I really think that your location and the companies you do business determine how busy you are. December was my busiest month yet. I've already had 10 signings so far in January (some may not consider that busy but I do, especially for the first week of the month).

Which months are usually slow was discussed a month or so ago. I think the answers were mixed but for the most part December - February were said to be the slowest months of the year. As I said, that hasn't been true for me so far but results really do vary.

I guess the best thing to do is to continue to sign up with a lot of companies and market yourself when business is slow. Good luck!

Reply by Stamper_WI on 1/5/06 12:58pm
Msg #86280

Be Patient

As I stated before, I expect to get real busy next month. Ditech and other similar companies are plastering cable and radio in this area to help folks get rid of high credit card debt and the double payments that started this month by tapping into their home equity.
I often ask borrowers how they found their lenders and it is usually through the media and mailings.

Reply by Anonymous on 1/5/06 1:55pm
Msg #86299

I am from Missouri and it is slow but there have been a lot of cancellations for CNSA agents in the area they have quit or do other jobs so this is a fulltime job for me it is slow this time of year but I still make about 3-500.oo a week so it isn't bad