Posted by PJM/MI on 10/23/06 2:48pm
Msg #154519

Newbies.. PLEASE find a mentor!

For all the newbies.. you may have taken a "certification" course from any number of places, but you're best bet is to find a mentor and work closely with them. (Good idea to NOT call a closer in your area..someone an hour or so away).
The course you took may have taught you a thing or two, but an experienced closer can teach you what you REALLY need to know.
Case in point: Newly certified closer goes to closing, brags to borrower (who is a loan officer) how she LOVES this job, LOVES being certified, does not explain the docs to the borrower (I don't care if borrower is a loan officer, lawyer, whatever..I explain the docs), then sends the docs back to the tc (title company) UNSIGNED. Her excuse? "I didn't know I was suppossed to sign anything".
Before you plunk down your hard earned money to become "certified", see if you can find someone who will be willing to help you learn this business. Mistakes can be very costly if you do not know what you're doing.
If a mentor charges you, so be it. You are asking them to teach you from yrs. of experience. Just as you did not get your certificate for "free", please don't expect a mentor to be free.
JMHO. (Just my humble opinion).

Reply by MavsFan on 10/23/06 3:30pm
Msg #154535

Frankly, If anyone goes to a signing & doesn't get things signed because they "didn't know", maybe they're in the wrong business to begin with. A mentor can't imbue someone with common sense.
As far as explaining things, PJM, I hope you don't give anything that could be considered a legal interpretation. There is a reason Title Companies are looking to farm this stuff out - legal actions resulting from their employees "explaining" things to the borrower.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 10/23/06 4:12pm
Msg #154546

I interpreted that remark to mean expalin the function of the document, which is a role of the NSA. We cannot interpret the doc, and I think PMJ is aware of that.

Reply by Mike Photon on 10/23/06 6:50pm
Msg #154612

Amen, PJM.
Getting ten certifications are nothing compared to getting a knowledgeable mentor(keyword here is knowledgeable). But get the certification anyway. You will learn a lot of basics there.
But every loan package is unique and you will see all kinds, especially when you start out. A mentor who has seen all kinds (well almost), will come handy if you are lucky to have one.
And mind you, it's not easy to get a mentor who is knowledgeable and willing to help whether free or for a fee. If someone offers to help, unless you know them personally, how do you know the he/she is knowledgeable and only has good intentions for you, (especially if the offer is for a fee)? It could end up like another certification.
Another thing is you could look for a mentor here but don't expect to find one here. And if you couldn't find one don't even think about coming here weeping or to let out a sigh - because some 'veterans' would think you are demanding 'their' help - specifically.
I had requested for a mentor here in the past and one person offered to help me. I am sure the person from Ohio who offered to help for free had the best intentions for me and gave me confidence to do my first signing. Though, I didn't have to trouble her because the first signing went smoothly, I had the confidence to do it because I knew she'd be there if I needed help. Thank you - you know who you are.
And to paying it forward -- being a 20 loan wonder, I am not the best bet out here, but if you couldn't find anybody who is willing to help, feel free to call me. If your situation is something I had come across in the past, I would be glad to help you. For free. And don't worry if you are my neighbor, I'd still help you if I can.
Here is a very very valuable piece of advise for newbies from a newbie -- Never assume anything! Use your airtime! It's worth it!

Reply by MistarellaFL on 10/23/06 7:03pm
Msg #154615

Mike, do yourself a favor

You might increase that number if you would go to your profile and put some information about yourself, and if you accept e-docs, etc.
I am consistently informed that my profile has induced companies to call.
That is a valuable piece of free advice, friend.
JMHO.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 10/23/06 7:03pm
Msg #154616

Mike, do yourself a favor

You might increase that number if you would go to your profile and put some information about yourself, and if you accept e-docs, etc.
I am consistently informed that my profile has induced companies to call.
That is a valuable piece of free advice, friend.
JMHO.

Reply by Barbara O on 10/23/06 6:58pm
Msg #154614

I would add a warning to this advice. I think it is good advice, don't get me wrong, but there is no guarantee that your "mentor" will have a clue. When I started out, I went and found a mentor outside of my "business area". This person had been a signing agent for years at this point so I felt their qualifications were good. I had two mentor sessions with them and tried to learn everything I could at the signings and afterwards at dinner. Before I began doing actual signings, I did my own research and then did the certification on the NNA. Through the books I read to be prepared for my certification test I learned SO many things that my mentor taught me were dead wrong. Like.. "highlight where they are supposed to sign beforehand", "do your notarizations at home before/after to save time at the closing", etc etc. I was shocked and glad I had done my own research. So, newbies, I would add to PJM's advice and say, do your research. READ notary handbooks, state law, and more before your first signing. Mentors are great, but just because someone has been doing this a while or is willing to let you "mentor" with them doesn't mean they have an inkling of what they are doing.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/24/06 3:19am
Msg #154665

This is some of the best advice I've read here in a long time! I think inherent in what you are saying is something I'm always repeating here: be careful who you listen to! I'll never forget years ago someone describing a third party we both knew as "often wrong, never in doubt!" I've met many other people who could be described that way since. ;> I'm not directing that comment at anyone in particular here, but I can't count how many times I've read advice here, given with a great deal of confidence, that I strongly disagreed with. Sometimes I'll add my two cents, but that's not always possible.

Additionally, what a person learns from their own research they are more likely to retain and who knows what other useful info they might come across in the process...