Posted by SusanOH on 5/6/06 3:10pm
Msg #118125

Burn Out

Anyone have any suggestions as to overcome feeling burned out by this biz. Luckily next week I leave for Fla for 5 days that should help. But I gotta tell ya I am just fried, my brain is jello and it wasn't particularly a hard week although yesterday I had a purchase closing from hell. What should have taken a total of 10 minutes took 45. It was ridiculous., and I got to hear the buyer literally screaming at the escrow officer for what seemed like a half an hour. He made a real nice scene at Starbucks. That in and of itself wouldn't unnerve me but I think I'm just spent from last month which was very hard personnaly and professionally.

Any suggestions.?
TIA

Reply by PA_Notary_II on 5/6/06 3:20pm
Msg #118126

Susan: On the rare occasion that I have had a problem at a purchase closing, I have told the offending party that I was under the impression that a closing was to take place today. In the event I am wrong, I will pack up the docs and leave. Please have the title company call me when you are all ready to close. It takes chutzpa and a willingness to pack up and leave, but it has never failed me. If they believe you are terminating the closing, they will behave and sign the docs without causing further problems.

Reply by PA_Notary_II on 5/6/06 3:23pm
Msg #118127

Re: Burn Out.....Sorry...

You were actually looking for suggestions for treating your "burn out". I suggest you bring that up with Mr. Daniels. I have had many attitude adjustments with Jack and they work for me every time. Best of luck.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/6/06 3:38pm
Msg #118128

Re: Burn Out.....Sorry...I collapsed before I burned

out in the past, and then took a lot of time off for rejuvenating. For the next round of work after vacation think consiously about modifying your behavior....I'd suggest that you start refusing to allow that burning, churning feeling get into your head so that your body has to respond. Tell the emergency signals, "Uh, no...go away."

Move steadily at a pace you can live with.

Don't "should" all over yourself. (I should have done this...that...the other thing.)

Too much in too little time is usually what send me in a spiral.

Some have quite a bit of other income (retirement, etc.) but I am not at that point in life so I do have to work and I do need this work, but I will not jump and run to and from h_ll to breakfast for people any more. I simplify constantly to try to keep down the "stuff."

I think of Mr. Costanza (Seinfeld) and "serenity now" chants. I watch funny shows and ignore things designed to hype me up. I protect my body from responding to the rest of the worlds' emergencies...I pet dogs...I crochet (for the repetitive motion) and I just talk nicely to myself.

Burn-out kills me mentally. Now that I am very much here on "solo," I won't let anyone invade my personal (inner peace) space. It is critical that I keep it under control. I work at my worst weakness - planning ahead to keep me from rushing.

The statement from PA...**It takes chutzpa and a willingness to pack up and leave, but it has never failed me.**

is a great one. I believe in making boundaries for people and for myself.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 5/8/06 12:13pm
Msg #118343

Re: Brenda's good advice. . .and stuff

I have discovered that too much "stuff" in my life is also mentally taxing - moving it, cleaning it, storing it, stepping over it, looking at it, wasting it - so I am simplifying stuff, too. The Goodwill loves me. No more guilt over all those unfinished projects and unread magazines. Extra money from selling Grandma's pie safe because I just don't have room for it and all I did was stuff it with stuff.

Slow going, much relief.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 5/6/06 5:27pm
Msg #118142

Re: Burn Out.....Sorry...

That's ok PA, reminded me of when I was a realtor at a closing. An argument broke out between the buyer and seller at the closing table over some small point. After it went on for awhile the other agent (a tall lanky man) got up and made himself comfortable laying on the floor. Once he had everyone's attention he asked 'Well? are we closing or not?" It was so bizarre that it broke the pattern of the argument and the deal closed.
Sometimes thats what it takes when the parties are aguing for the last word.

Reply by MichiganAl on 5/6/06 4:19pm
Msg #118134

You have to work at a pace that's comfortable for you. Isn't that one of the freedoms we have being self-employed? I know it's difficult to turn down work. You're always thinking about what you could have made. But if you're starting to feel overwhelmed, force yourself to take some time off. Don't take appointments the first Friday of every month and give yourself a three day weekend. As I said in a post two days ago, don't take appointments that you know are going to make you crazy (lenders that always have problems, e-docs with companies that are always late, appointments that are too far away...) Take vacations like the rest of the world does. Most European countries mandate at least 28 days off a year, but in the U.S., we burn ourselves to a crisp. Susan, YOU control your schedule (now all that said, I've taken one vacation in three years. But that's the pace I choose and I love it. If I start to feel like it's too much, I back off for a few days).

As far as the appointment that you had, I literally tune out the borrower in situations like that. I'd have walked away, grabbed a double latte frappa mocha locca crapachinno and sat somewhere else until he was done. I NEVER take it personally when they're upset about loan terms. That's one of the great things about being independent. I can think, "hey, it wasn't me, scream all you want. " You've got to remind yourself that their anger has nothing to do with you. I find it funny thinking about the loan officer who tried to pull a fast one now on the other line squirming like a worm in the hot sun under a magnifying glass. I had a divorce situation yesterday. You should have seen the wife snipping and barking about everything. I just smiled, listened, empathized, and answered what I could. I didn't let her rattle me. By the end of the appointment, she was my best friend, asking me where I live, how I like my job, complimenting me on my patience. Ya gotta roll with the flow.

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 5/6/06 4:49pm
Msg #118139

Re: Burn Out...All of the above are such great suggestions

You need to find something that brings you great happiness in your day, in life and when the moments of stress begin to stir, go to that place. This could be your dog, your home listening to music but something that brings you great joy, lunch with a friend.
I decided to for myself perhaps two years ago not to allow things to get to me, you know make me crazy. People, the kids even though grown, on their own and doing ok, there were days say two years ago I found my stressing over this or that. No more, I put everything and I do mean everything in it's place and especially people(in my mind). I also say to myself ok can I change this, can I live with this, if I can do neither I either choose to accept or let it go. Life is way to short to be stressed about anything. This in itself takes chutzpah!

Reply by Julie/MI on 5/6/06 8:11pm
Msg #118159

Every now and again I threaten to get a "real job", then I have a $800+ day and realize I wouldn't make that money 9 to 5.

Sometimes I worry that I won't meet my self-set quota but have to learn that the business has changed from it's heyday 3 years ago.

I keep the table talk to a minimum without being rude, dress professionally in a suit, ESPECIALLY for a purchase and keep my eyes down. Don't start making a ton of eye contact and get too personal in these troublesome closings. Also, if trouble starts I tell them I have another obligation/appointment and they better get things ironed out. Another phrase that works is that you have to have the docs out via asap so the loan can fund. Some how a delay in funding gets things rolling along.

Five days in FL should revive you for what should be a great month end.

Reply by SusanOH on 5/6/06 9:50pm
Msg #118165

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. Tonight I went to my little dive bar where evryone knows my name and I played a game in the bar which happens to be a great stress reliever, it was this months tournament game and I'm in first place. Lat month I had a very hard month, surgery, putting my cat down, and not meeting my goal that I had set for myself, every other month for a year I've met my goal. So I guess it was everything all at once and it was just a little overwhelming to say the least. I'm looking forward to my trip, I think it's coming right at the right time. Have a good rest of the weekend.

Reply by MichiganAl on 5/7/06 2:46am
Msg #118177

If you're still managing to squeeze in $800 days, then things haven't gotten that bad.

I have the exact opposite approach you do when someone tries to give me a hard time. I keep smiling and I do NOT keep my eyes down. No freaking way. I look them dead square in the eyes and I do not flinch. I make sure they know they are not going to intimidate me, scare me, fluster me, or control MY signing. If they want to be like a little kid testing their boundaries, then I'm going to be like a parent and draw the line.

Last week a loan officer sat in on one of my purchase closings. Afterwards, she made it a point to tell me how impressed she was with how I controlled the signing. She said I made them comfortable but commanded respect from them. That's how you handle troublesome signings in my opinion. You command respect.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/7/06 9:24am
Msg #118181

Re: Burn Out - Julie . . .LOL - $800 days!

Taking a quick turn to Texas....

I am happy with a $200 day! In Texas there are very few $800 days left for anyone who is not doing loans illegally in the wrong location, or a signing service sending loans at a pittance...or doing rev morts or not connect with a title company or law office. I have one Texas network associate who can do all the HELOCs she wants in her connections' offices. She lucked into it.

Helocs are out of our hands...there are a few ARMs left, some purchase/sells coming from "B" Paper lenders, a few certain types of HIs, but when you cannot do a HELOC without finding the location (or knowing you have it when they call) you cannot do this full time any longer in Texas.

In Texas, for those who are new, you cannot do a Heloc in a home. Period. You cannot do it in a setting in town...you cannot do it at Starbucks. YOU MUST do it according to the the Texas consitutions requirements if you are interested in being lawful.

Lawyers often do not want the liability of you using their office or even a storage room to do these. Texas title companies are very tired of notaries using their room (borrowing the room) so that the notary makes the money, the national title company makes money, the lender makes money and they are not making squat.

The lawyer I have worked long and hard to find to allow this with me is taking in HELOCs and charging $300 to do the job. He's getting it because it's so hard to get HELOCs done in Texas. Hmmm...he's only getting a few $600 loan signing days. I told him to stick with me and we'll try to fix that. A good living on SS income is scarce as hen's teeth in Texas.

Reply by Julie/MI on 5/7/06 6:21pm
Msg #118266

That's too bad, Brenda.

It seems I can recite all about CA credible witnesses, MD title producers license required, etc, but the TX heloc practice must have passed me by!

You know though, $800+ per is what many many of the veterans, whom had the drive, were making. This is why many of us are so livid at the undercutting and NNA and other signing agent classes and rise of interest rates have done to us. It was a great wave to ride, but a real job for me is still not out of the question.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/7/06 6:38pm
Msg #118270

Re: That's too bad, Brenda.

**but a real job for me is still not out of the question.**

Julie - Can I stand up and clap for you? A real job is so much better than the utter stupidity of those taking the $50 jobs in Tx where it's the size of an AQ package every day of the week.

I cannot believe people getting all fluttery over being able to get $75 for an edocs job within 30 miles of their home in Texas...you cannot get the volume to make that work.

Even Texas people who have read this board were not "getting it" a year ago. I'd tell them, better figure out something else to do...signings will never support us like it will support other states. Refi's will fizzle out...Texans do not like ARMs...not that many...find another sideline...develop another business to go along with the signings. Focus on Rev Morts...and they'd grumble about rev morts being such a pain in the butt...so high in closing costs...so bad for the borrowers. They were lazy.

And, they just gave me this puzzled silence...totally in denial.

I'd get calls from women who were STARTING this business in Texas. "Do what? There is no refi boom left. You will make no money. I have a decent business left that will not completely die out and may rise again with my experience and fuller knowledge of the industry...from hustling and contacts I have made. You should do this part-time if at all. Do not quit your day job just yet." But, they would.

If you have no contacts, now is NOT the time to start this in Texas.

Reply by NCLisa on 5/7/06 7:02am
Msg #118178

I guess I'm the opposite of you. I'm having a hard time staying focused because doing this fulltime doesn't involve enough stress and deadlines. I loved being and escrow officer in CA. Love the stress, love the deadlines, love the multitasking, love love love preparing the hud and dealing will all that paperwork from start to finish. I loved being a RE Paralegal in NC, but HATED working for most attorneys. While I did all the work, took every call, did everything, the attorney would take the credit and get the big paycheck. Last straw with attorney's was when our Xmas bonus for 2005 was the cancellation of our medical insurance so he could take a 3rd island vactation every year, 2 island vacations just was not enough for him.

I so want to get back in the saddle, but I still haven't met an attorney that wants to admit that the RE Paralegals know far more about RE closings that they do. I still haven't met one that could do a hud or even knew how start the software.

Reply by JaxNotary on 5/7/06 8:19am
Msg #118179

Coming to sunny florida?

Look me up when you get here. I posted a thread a few days ago about this very subject. Interesting responses. Burned out? Solution:........watching the sunset/rise on the beach in Florida (yes you can do either depending on what side of Fl you're on). MY contact info is on my profile... JaxNotary

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/7/06 9:49am
Msg #118184

Re: Coming to sunny florida?- Jaxnotary

Michael, I just looked at your website.
Florida notaries cannot charge $10 per signature, we can only charge $10 per notarial act. When you sign and put your seal on the document that is the notarial act and no matter how many signatures we are notarizing on that document we can only charge $10.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/7/06 10:55am
Msg #118193

Re: Coming to sunny florida?- Jaxnotary - Sylvia...

Another casualty of the NNA's old book on Florida perhaps?

Can I mention that the NNA's info is not always the right answer for every state? Call your state for the correct information.

Sylvia, if you do not mind if I post that on your thread, please advise...

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/7/06 11:04am
Msg #118197

Re: Coming to sunny Florida?- Jaxnotary - Sylvia...

Probably.
Remember the thread on here maybe about a year ago when the NNA were told that the info was incorrect. One of the members got an official response from the FL SOS, and the NNA said they disagreed with the FL SOS!

Brenda - post anything on my "threads" whenever you want - although this discussion wasn't really "my thread"

Notaries who are charging more than the $10 per notary act could find themselves in deep doo doo, if a complaint was made against them for overcharging.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/7/06 12:32pm
Msg #118210

Re: Coming to sunny Florida?- Jaxnotary - Sylvia...

It's so very good to have you back, Sylvia. We missed you very much. Common sense posts are often buried too deeply in these threads.

Reply by JaxNotary on 5/7/06 9:36pm
Msg #118292

Re: Coming to sunny florida?- Jaxnotary

Thanks, it's now changed. Have a great day.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/7/06 10:14pm
Msg #118299

Re: Coming to sunny florida?- Jaxnotary

The other notary advertising on your site also has incorrect fees ($8 per signature). I would have her change hers too

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 5/8/06 2:21pm
Msg #118356

Re: Sylvia, can Florida notaries charge LESS than $10?

In PA, we can charge less, but no more than, the statutory fee of $5. Is it that way in FL?

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/8/06 3:45pm
Msg #118368

Re: Sylvia, can Florida notaries charge LESS than $10?

The Wise Notary Sylvia meant they should change it to "$10 (or $8) per notarial act." While we all like the other way better (2 sigs x $10) for the notary...Well, Marlene... that dog just won't hunt.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 5/9/06 11:25am
Msg #118589

Re: gotcha, Podnuh n/m

Reply by PAW on 5/8/06 6:30pm
Msg #118404

I'm not Sylvia, but yes we charge UP TO $10 per notarization n/m

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/8/06 8:06pm
Msg #118425

Re: Sylvia, can Florida notaries charge LESS than $10?

$10 is the maximum we can charge per notarial act. So, we can charge anything up to $10