Posted by Michael Calcagno on 4/1/07 2:44am
Msg #183209

I'm new to this...please excuse me

I'm trying get established and would like to do some closings, I'm not quite sure where to start, I'd appreciate any advice.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 4/1/07 3:20am
Msg #183210

Start by reading msg# 33325 using the search button. n/m

Reply by JanetK_CA on 4/1/07 3:47am
Msg #183214

And pray a lot!

You're probably going to need it. This is a tough market to be breaking into right now. If that doesn't scare you off, then be prepared to work your tail off and have other means of support for several months to a year while you get established. And if you are willing to make that commitment, then you just might be one of the few who will make it! Good luck!

Reply by Christine Serra-Mosher on 4/1/07 9:07am
Msg #183221

Re: Start by reading msg# 33325 using the search button.

I am new at this myself. I like to do this part time. I am listed as such. However, I get one to two signing per night for which I am extremely happy over. I belong to other webistes that advertise my services. I do get most of my work from this particular one. It depends how hard you market yourself, how far you are willing to travel, how competetive your price points are, and how populated your area is. I live in a densley populated area 10 minutes outside of Manhattan where real estate and refi's are still booming. Best of luck to you!!!

Reply by ZeeCA on 4/1/07 9:42am
Msg #183224

so, you take the lower prices? as you stated

"how....competetive your price points are, ."

this is what it sounds like and yes you can be busy and/or new if you are one that works for the ss that low ball the prices.

or did I mis-read your post?

Reply by Christine Serra-Mosher on 4/2/07 8:23am
Msg #183310

Re: so, you take the lower prices? as you stated

I am not exactly sure how you read my response. =} I am not the type to over or under charge anyone. I did my research and my pricing is middle of the road for my area. I am very comfortable with my rates and do not feel the need to justify that to people. But since you asked here it goes. I am not in the business of low balling anyone. I do not actively compete in that way. My only point was that if you over charge or are on a little on the high side and if the person using you knows this, they will cancel your appointments and use the next person in the list who will do it for less. I know people who have had this happen. Please note that this is not my full time job. I do not rely on this income. This is only for supplemetal income. I do VERY WELL at my day job and am happy there. I am a restless sole by nature and have this constant need to work or be busy all of the time. So if I am a couple dollars less than the next guy so be it. I just like to stay busy and making a few extra dollars to put away for retirement suits me just fine. That is just me. =} I know the full timers have VERY different views. I can respect that. =}

Reply by Lee/AR on 4/2/07 9:44am
Msg #183323

Only one comment to make on your approach to the biz...

a rising tide raises ALL boats. Wouldn't it be better to charge a higher price and realize your goals faster? You may not realize it, but you are hurting yourself as much as you are the full-timers AND contributing greatly to the lowering of fees.

Reply by ZeeCA on 4/2/07 10:10am
Msg #183327

I SOOOOOOOO AGREE and your justifying your taking low prices

is meaningless . . . . . no excuse for lowering the prices to encourage them to only offer these ridiculous prices.

you say it is not your full time job so you do not need the $$$$ but have time...well you are giving it away if you sit down and figure your costs .... or do you print at work so you have no costs but gas and time? still very disrespectful to the industry to take these assignments

jmo

Reply by Christine/NJ on 4/2/07 10:52am
Msg #183348

Re: I SOOOOOOOO AGREE and your justifying your taking low prices

Zee you are assuming WAY too much! You seriously need to chill! I have not justified that I am low balling anything. You are just looking to be combative and that is just waste of time as well. Are you that insecure about your business that you feel the need to attack members of this board? I am not asking for people's acceptance. LOL If you agree fine, if not oh well. You took one tiny thing in my original message, put your own spin on it, and just completely blew it out of proportion. Why would you feel the need to do so? Do you get enough work in your area? I am done talking about pricing. It would do you best to worry about your own business and pricing and not mine to which you have no clue!

Reply by ZeeCA on 4/2/07 11:46am
Msg #183358

i think you are way OVER defending your fees that you keep

stating are not high so of course we can figure it out.

Reply by Christine/NJ on 4/2/07 10:36am
Msg #183335

Re: Only one comment to make on your approach to the biz...

Sounds like a good idea but like I said I am very comfortable with my pricing and volume of business. It isn't too high or too low. People are just assuming I am charging low. They took one comment out of many from my original posting and went off solely on that tangent. It isn't worth justifying. But I like your metaphor! Thanks =} Also my goals are more than met. I am comfortable with that as well. So no worries on the goal thing.

On another subject, It is interesting, I do tend to get a lot of calls just for regular, non mortgage related notary stuff. NJ has very strict rules of what one is allowed to charge. ($2.50 per signing) You would be surprised how many calls with just one signature too. My commission makes me a public servant so I have to help those folks. I just do it at my convenience which is within the NJ guidelines.

Every state is different and NJ has to be one of the cheapest around with respect of what we are allowed to charge. Also we do have an over abundance of notaries in the area. Unless you are a signing agent taking only loans and refi's you really couldn't make a living in NJ just on basic notary signings. In addition, I am not supposed to turn those people away. I get tons of those types of calls because I am listed in this website and 3 others.

So I am always greatful to get mortgage companies (except SOX) calls. I do after all make more money that way.

Reply by Barb/MO on 4/2/07 1:31pm
Msg #183380

Are you sure you can't refuse requests? (long)

The reason I raise this question is that the three-lettered notary organization so often referred to on this site, in its Missouri Notary Law Primer, Ninth Edition, 2006, states on pages 11 and 12, under the heading "May I notarize for customers only?" that the answer to that question is "no." It explains that there is no such officer as a "notary private." It goes on to say that "[i]t is ethically improper--although hardly ever explicitly prohibited by statute [a CYA phrase, perhaps?]--to discriminate between customers and noncustomers ...." It makes several other points, and closes the section with the statement "Also, such discrimination can provide the basis for lawsuits."

I have checked the Missouri statutes and handbook and see no such directive anywhere therein. Further, I believe that such a requirement would constitute involuntary servitude, which is expressly prohibited under Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. I believe the explanation at this link backs me up on that reasoning: http://www.lectlaw.com/def/i071.htm

I didn't call my SOS to confirm this. I've done my homework and am satisfied that I am not required to provide my services to just anyone willing to pay me $2.00 a signature, which is almost never worth my time, even with the $25.00 maximum travel fee (to which, by statute, the customer must agree), plus mileage (if that's even allowed). I'm certainly not going to allow perfect strangers into my home, nor meet with them in theirs. (Mortgagors have been through the qualification process and have spoken to one or more parties before I ever visit them, so I feel safe in that situation.)

I have no idea what New Jersey's statutes and handbook provide, as to whether a notary can or can't refuse a request. If there is such a provision, I'd be interested to know that, just for the record.

Also for the record, I did not quit my job to do this work, but it is a complement to the others services I do provide as an independent contractor, specializing in regulatory compliance, among other things.

Finally, I charge what I believe to be the going rate for my services, and am sometimes turned down, but usually contracted by the TCs and SSs that contact me. I earn more per hour in some of my other pursuits, so I'm not about to sell myself short with respect to the SA work.

Anyone not in agreement with my findings is welcomed to do his own research. I would be interested in knowing where one might believe my findings are faulty.

By the way, I know where I appear in a search for notaries on that other organization's web site, and will be watching to see if my ranking drops following this post. And for the record, I attended that organization's seminar and signed up with it in ignorance, but it has turned out well for me. It was at its seminar that I learned of this NotRot site, where I've received such practical advice and training.

Reply by Christine/NJ on 4/3/07 12:32pm
Msg #183534

Re: Are you sure you can't refuse requests? (long)

I liked your post.

I believe the laws you quoted were for examples of let's say you work in a company and the company that tells you that you can only notarize for the company's customers and the company tries to tell you that you have to turn non customers away. But you are a public servant for the state not the company. So technically you shouldn't turn people away. You just don't do it during your working hours at the company. I believe this was also listed in the NNA's study guide as well and it goes on to explain what I just did.

I have read the NJ Notary handbook a hundred times. I was shocked to see how low the fees were. But you have to remember a Notary Public is a lot different than being a Certified Signing Agent. Most Notary Publics in NJ do not provide mobile signing agent services. The book does say that I have to provide general services to people if they ask and if they show proper valid ID and they are cognizant of what they are signing etc... It states we are a public servants and really are not supposed to turn people away unless certain circumstances dictate ( eg, no ID, under the influence or outside duress etc..).

However, we are not public slaves either. I liked the 13th amendment reference. Thanks for that one as I am not lawyer and that certainly sheds more light on to things for me. Anyway, back to the not being a slave thing, I have the right to honor those requests at my convenience not theirs so that I don't disrupt my day job or my signing agent business. I do not have to allow them in my place of business or my home on demand. I agree it certainly is not worth any notary's time to run around all over their states for a $2.50 signing. (It used to be $1.00 in NJ they upped it =}) At any rate, NJ laws do state that you can lose your commission if someone reports you overcharging.

I know I didn't read it wrong. It was pretty specific. I just have not read it or analyzed it to the extent to get myself out of general notary work. I get those general calls but what I find is interesting is that most of them wind up being no shows. They say oh ok I will call you back to firm up an appointment, and then nothing. I don't know. It is not a major part of my business. I just try to fit them in if I have the time just because I like to help people out when I can.

In the meantime, I do charge flat fees for my signing agent services. I have done my research and have networked with many signing agents over the years. I even talk to the ones who have processed my own personal refi's as well. I know what the ranges are for several signing agent's rates. I also know that certain states allow people to charge way more for just a general signing than NJ allows.

I liked your comments about your services being valuable, that you did your research and if not agreement with your findings you would be interested to know where your findings are faulty. Honestly, I feel the same way you do! I know my findings are not faulty. I am not looking for opinions on it.

I feel my services are valuable as well and that is why I do continue to do this type of work. Again people think I under charge but I don't. I think I have said it enough times. I laugh at the thought of it. This website was also great for my research as I read what people submit to collections on this website and know that my fees are just as comparable. No rocket scientry there!

Sorry this is so long. I have lulls in my day job at times and I do like a good chat! =}

Reply by Barb/MO on 4/3/07 1:05pm
Msg #183540

Re: Are you sure you can't refuse requests? (long)

Actually, the context is the 10 most asked questions, and includes nine other totally unrelated questions, like notarizing for a family member and certifying a birth certificate. I do believe the point being made is that we are obligated to not refuse any reasonable request, and I do believe that that contention is not supported by the statutes or handbook in the state of Missouri. I also do not agree that we are public servants of the state.

Certainly, you have nothing to prove to me, but I am truly interested in knowing where in the NJ statutes or handbook such language prohibiting refusal of reasonable requests is found because of the involuntary servitude question.

I am willing to agree to disagree, and thank you for being so "agreeable" in your response.