Posted by Rebecca Hernandez on 8/25/07 11:04am
Msg #207651

New Notary

I've just completed my profile and am curious as to how much I should charge for notary fees, mileage, etc. I have no clue and would appreciate your input! Also...any tips on marketing?

Your suggestions are much appreciate!

Have a splendid day~

Reply by John_NorCal on 8/25/07 11:07am
Msg #207652

Re: New Notary Before you get beat up too badly.....

Use the orange search button, all the questions you asked have been discussed ad nauseum.
Search for message 33325 and start there.
Better to stay in the background for a while to see what is going on then ask intelligent questions.
Good luck.

Reply by Becca_FL on 8/25/07 11:36am
Msg #207656

Why???? n/m

Reply by MichiganAl on 8/25/07 11:47am
Msg #207657

Those are ?s to have answered BEFORE becoming a notary. n/m

Reply by Todd/OH on 8/25/07 11:59am
Msg #207658

I suggest you use the orange search button and research the issues you are curious about. The issues a new notary would ask have been hashed over time and again. This post is less than tolerant of the "same old".

The first thing you will be told is that this is about the worst time to start in this business. Sub prime lenders (and even the good one's) are filing bankruptcy everyday and veteran notaries are looking for new lines of business.

The most important key is marketing but you need experience to back up the marketing. Even with great marketing, there is just less work out there. That being said, some veterans on this board will view you as competition and give you no information. I suggest you just sit back, read comments and do your research; learn.

The market will come back and I hope you are around to ride the tide.

Reply by MichiganAl on 8/25/07 12:36pm
Msg #207663

Todd, the veterans don't view newbies as competition

And many of us spend a lot of hours helping, teaching, training, educating, and advising new signing agents. I don't think veterans are worried about competition from people who don't know where to start, don't know how to price themselves, don't have a clue how to market themselves, and haven't read a newspaper in the last year. Honestly, in what other profession does someone decide on their occupation without having a clue about how to market themselves, how to price themselves, how to distinguish their services, and about the conditions of the industry. I don't find newbies a threat in any way. I just find some of them to be lazy, clueless, unprepared, greedy, and sometimes just plain stupid.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/25/07 12:45pm
Msg #207664

Re: Todd, the veterans don't view newbies as competition

**and haven't read a newspaper in the last year. **

Amen, Al.

I once new a wise man who said the secrets to wealth were buried in the newspaper. Some people read black and white words...entrepreneurs take a newspaper of any substance and emerge with two or three ideas for new businesses.

A person who reads the news with a critical eye and thought process will come away with a clear picture of the business not to start as well.

Reply by kcg on 8/25/07 1:09pm
Msg #207666

Re: Todd, the veterans don't view newbies as competition

Brenda - many people pride themselves on NOT reading the newspaper or watching/listening to the news.....they say "it's too depressing". As a matter of fact, didn't the doofus in the WH once say "man, I don't read the newspapers"?

Obviously, those who are jumping into ANY area of the housing industry from broker on down the signing agent are NOT reading or perhaps not comprehending the current slump.

I'm not sure what XYZ is advertising these days - as a matter of fact I've never even seen their proclamations of how much money one can make in this business but if they're still promoting this they should be sued for misinformation.

JMO

Reply by Charles_Ca on 8/25/07 1:02pm
Msg #207665

Excellent statement Michigan Al. I have not heard is put as

well and I think it should be added to the frequently referenced post and maybe all of it should be made into a FAQ. Your comments should be at the top.

Reply by Todd/OH on 8/26/07 11:22am
Msg #207727

I've recently seen slamming - -

that I thought was a little rough. I've learned plenty from this forum in a way that allows me to work smarter. When I first started, I read and read and learned from notaries from all over. It can be hard work considering the low fees, travel time and edocs that never arrive. It's just too bad the market has headed south and I have to find a full time job. There's not enough work in my area.

Reply by Lee/AR on 8/26/07 12:21pm
Msg #207733

Re: I've recently seen slamming - -

Maybe the information wasn't coated in sugar, but the message was right on. This is not a good time to be in this business; quadruple that advice for a newbie. If the vets really got nasty, they'd encourage the newbie to buy all kinds of equipment, pay at every advertising site, direct mail their info to every TC in America... and let 'em starve faster. Sometimes the truth hurts.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 8/25/07 12:32pm
Msg #207662

Almost every question you have

can be and has been answered on this forum. In direct response to your question regarding fees, check under the "Library" tab. Search, search, search is the key. If this site and google are not your best friend and you don't make them your best friend, I'd suggest you seek another line of work because without those tools it is very difficult to do this business.

Reply by Ndwa on 8/25/07 3:24pm
Msg #207670

Priceless wisdom, Brenda... ;-) n/m