Posted by BarbaraL_CA on 7/26/06 8:13pm
Msg #135447

Notary dropped out of the business ... trend???

No, not me! Had a call from a large lender who's NSA dropped out of the business and he's going to use me for his loans (yeah!). Just found it interesting that notary "dropped out of the business" ... could be the start of something ... who knows?

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 7/26/06 9:25pm
Msg #135452

This business of our requires people that are self starters and know how to market themselves.

You don't have a boss to tell you what to do!
For instance when your printer goes down, you need to know in advance where you can get docs printed at the last moment when this happens and it will happen eventually.

For people with children: what are you going to do when you have problems concerning the kids? Do you have a nearby notary that you can call at the last moment and have him/her take over the signing (with the companies approval?)

Where do you go when your Internet goes down? Do you have a friend that has a different Internet provider than you have?

The marketing part is easier.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 7/26/06 9:45pm
Msg #135458

A full time Notary in my office was talking today about the huge drop off in her business. In my area, she feels she's lucky to have the contact with a subdivision E/O, as that one contact is keeping her going.

Reply by Shelley Weinman on 7/26/06 10:28pm
Msg #135470

2nd jobs for other Notaries - a trend?

I had to take the pay check too. I used up my three month reserve and went back to a job. I will be working for the SBA - Disaster Recovery Center as a Loan Officer.

When I was a SS recruiter; I ran across a few other notaries who were working as Loan Officers, in the field after Katrina hit.

My group is still in training, and we should start working on the floor Tuesday. What I like, is I will be helping others get their life back together; and they will still let me do closings after 4pm and on Sundays. Of course, all bets are off if we have another big Hurricane hit the US this year. :>

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 7/26/06 10:27pm
Msg #135469

Barbara, I think it is a trend

I keep hearing how slow it is, yet my phone keeps ringing. I had to turn down several the past couple of days and the lenders wound calling me back to book me for the next day or two as they could not cover the loans.

Survival of the fittest ..........

Reply by ME/NJ on 7/26/06 10:50pm
Msg #135477

Re: Barbara, I think it is a trend

Sales are up compared to 2005 (very small percentage) but cost of doing business is up even more.

Gas
Office supplies
Rent
and so on..

This is a tough business if you do this full time and subtract all the expense's and taxes it doesn't leave much left. I thank god I don't need to pay for healthcare bennies (family healthcare plans in NJ can run from 1000-1500/month)

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 7/26/06 11:51pm
Msg #135497

Re: Barbara, I think it is a trend

I agree with Glen as my phone rings constantly; I usually get 5-7 calls per day and this hasn't changed much since I started. Glen and I are in Calif and we are in the boom part of So Calif: Inland Empire/High Desert area.

If your not getting hired in these 2 areas, in particular, you need to market yourself better.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 7/27/06 11:25am
Msg #135537

As far as marketing ...

Joan, right now, I am not doing anything ....... just the profiles on a couple of boards and a couple of regular lenders. Still, this month, 3-5 calls per day ......

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 7/27/06 11:28am
Msg #135538

Re: As far as marketing ...

That's the average ...... past couple of days it's been so busy, I had to have my wife answer the phone as I was printing and organizing the docs .....

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 7/27/06 5:55pm
Msg #135631

Today Thursday...

I was walking my dogs at 8:am and had 4 calls in a 20 minute period. It is absolutely crazy!

Reply by Calnotary on 7/27/06 11:29pm
Msg #135685

Re: Today Thursday...

Good marketing Joan, you keep saying that business still great.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 7/28/06 2:17am
Msg #135712

Glad you asked?

Yes
My phone is ringing off the hook because I know how to market myself and I also get the loan signed error free!

If your not working you should be marketing yourself!!

What are you doing on your lunch hour in Calif? Call the companies back East that you have signed up on the Internet and ask if you have been put on their Vendor list for notaries.
Its 3 hours later back East and you will not be annoying anyone.

Just do this between the 7th-12th of each month when companies are not so busy!

When has Calnotary helped anyone get a job or a marketing tip?