Posted by PJM/MI on 2/10/07 3:51pm
Msg #175133

Borrowers copies

A friend of mine made a BIG mistake regarding bo's docs. (We'll not get into it.. it was a mess).
Anyway.. If it's edocs, I print off both sets and place 'em in a file folder. The bo's set has my business card stapled to to the outside.
I put both copies in a return envelope and on the outside of the envelope, where the address label goes, I write their name, date/time of closing.
If it's o/n docs to me, I open 'em up and inside the flap (FEDEX), I write the name/ date/time.
For o/n UPS, I just write the name/date/time on the outside of the envelope.
I NEVER EVER take all of my docs into the closings.. one set at a time. The rest stay locked in my vehicle.
Hope that helps someone.. would be nice to read how others handle bo's docs, too.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 2/10/07 3:57pm
Msg #175135

Pam, I do it similarly. If e-docs I print off two complete sets. One I hold together with a binder clip and it goes into a manilla file folder (legal size), that's the lenders set, the other gets a rubber band around it and goes into another manilla file folder with the borrowers name written on the front (and my card stapled in the upper right hand corner), that's the borrowers set.

If O/n docs, I write, the borrowers last name, date and time of signig on the UPS or Fed Ex envelope. And NO, the only docs that go in with me are that parties loan docs, others remain in my car. One set (X 2) carried in is heavy enough!!! Besides all the other possibilities that could occur, and a whole raft of them come to mind.

Reply by jojo_MN on 2/10/07 6:42pm
Msg #175150

Are you saying that you leave the borrowers copies in the car? If you or the borrowers make a mistake, wouldn't it be more handy to have them with you so you can swap out? Also, isn't there a chance that you could drive off and forget to take the bo's copy into the house?

When I print docs, I make two copies. Put a binder clip on each. I then put the bo's copy in a manila envelope with their name, address, date and "copy" stamped on it. The original I put in the FedEx or UPS envelope that I will be mailing the docs back in. I then rubber band them together with my confirmation on top with the signing and location. After the docs are signed, I leave the manila envelope with the bo's. If they don't sign, I take it with me.

I find this works best with me. Everyone needs to decide for themselves which method works for them.

Reply by christiSocal on 2/10/07 7:18pm
Msg #175152

I read it to mean docs for other signings..

Reply by PJM/MI on 2/10/07 7:27pm
Msg #175155

No.. I leave OTHER borrowers docs in my vehicle. I take BOTH sets with me into the closing.
Sorry I wasn't clear.

Reply by jojo_MN on 2/10/07 7:39pm
Msg #175158

I was hoping that's what you meant. Sorry. N/M n/m

Reply by Julie/MI on 2/10/07 8:31pm
Msg #175161

Awwwwwwwwwwww come on PJM, tell us your friend's story!

It would help to the relevance to your story. My best guess is that your friend gave someone else's copies to the wrong borrower and their confidential info was compromised. Was I right?

Personally, I print both sets, stick them in my brief case and give them to the borrowers when we are done. I never leave anything in the car because I don't lock it.

I don't leave business cards because I don't want them calling me for general notary work and because I truly cannot help them anyway.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 2/11/07 7:15am
Msg #175191

Julie/MI: I'm confused.

"... I don't want them calling me for general notary work and because I truly cannot help them anyway." makes no sense to me. You won't do general Notary Public work?! You'll only do Notary Signing Agent (loan) work? Are you so busy that you can afford to turn down lucrative work?

Reply by sue_pa on 2/11/07 7:40am
Msg #175192

Re: Julie/MI: I'm confused.

I also don't give a business card. If someone has a question on their loan once I pull out of their driveway I don't want them to call me - even if all I do is tell them to call their LO. They've already been told that.

I also don't want anyone calling me for general notary work. Where I live there are notaries everywhere with offices open from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.. People who want a mobile notary generally have some type 'problem' anyway - "lawyer says get it notarized on one of his 'good' days", "grandma has her medicare card but no current photo id", "debtor can't get to his 341 hearing - seems there is another issue - he also has no current photo id that trustee requires - but if a 'notary' goes out to the debtor, the notary only has to be satisfied the person is who they are. Show up at the local VFW and seems 2 of the officers couldn't make it in - they already signed the papework - why can't I notarize, I know them. I need you to notarize some retirement paperwork for me - show up and they need a medallion guarantee. Had a man the other Saturday wanted to pay me $10.00 to go to the hospital to notarize a POA for a family member - he actually thought I would come for free. Also, the few times I have scheduled 'regular' notary work I have almost always ended up getting a phone call for a loan at that time - and I then must make phone calls rescheduling the 'regular' work. Where I live no one is going to pay me $50 or more for 'regular' work - not worth the liability or the time at all. By the way, they're not coming to me either - I don't want strangers in my house for any reason.

Reply by Julie/MI on 2/11/07 8:34am
Msg #175195

Ernest

Yes, I don't want general notary work, nor do I get many calls for it. If I do get a call, I tell them to go to a UPS store, because half the time they don't have proper ID and I've wasted my time anyway. I DID recently receive a call for a death bed quit claim deed, and I told them to use notary rotary to find a notary closer to them--the hospital was 30+ miles away and I don't want to make profit on a death, I wouldn't have the heart to charge them. I do adoption paperwork for free, but again I think I have only had 10 requests for general notary work in the last 6 years that I have been mobile.

I did a yellow pages ad and I used to get calls from men with thick heavy foreign accents asking me to "notary their driver's licenses." When I said I couldn't do that, they said the other notary did and I told them to go back to the other notary.

I guess it depends where you live, but in SE Michigan, most can go to AAA, an insurance company, bank or credit union, tax preparer's office or UPS store for notary work.

Yes, Ernest I am busy enough that "lucrative" notary work is not worth $10 bucks to me. I have been a notary for more years than I can can remember and general notary work is not the norm here nor is it any any way shape for form close to lucrative to me.

What I meant, by not helping them (the mortgagor), is when you leave a business card for a borrower, they call you FIRST because the loan officer's number is buried on page 3 of the 1003 and my number would be the first one the borrowers would see.

I will not and do not remember the people after I close their loans. If they call me because of taxes not paid, no bill received, they need to know to whom their mortgage was sold to because they threw away the envelope, I truly cannot help them and I truly don't want to waste my time. So no point in irritating a borrower when they think I'm weaseling out or passing the buck, because I wouldn't know them from Adam when they call. So therefore, in my 6 years of mobile closings, I purposely do not leave a business card with the borrowers.

Just call me outside the box from the rest of you, but it works beautifully for me.

Reply by John_NorCal on 2/11/07 9:28am
Msg #175198

Re: Can't argue with your logic Julie

For general notary work, I have people come to my office (not my home) and I will be glad to accomodate them. The only outside calls I ever had for general notary work were ones where it didn't make sense for that person to pay my travel fee when they could just as easily gone to a Postal Annex, UPS store, etc to get their task accomplished.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 2/11/07 11:25am
Msg #175213

Me too, Julie

I don't solicit general notary work and have only done it in a few times. Mostly because they don't want to pay my travel fee plus notarization. And it seems as thought they ALWAYS call between the 15th and the 26th of the month.

I don't have an office and I don't want a bunch of people coming to my house. The only exception I made was at 10 p.m. one night a man called me very frantic because his wife was leaving at 6 a.m. the next morning and needed a permission to travel form notarized. I said yes as I was still up, he brought all the paperwork and it's the only time I've gotten a TIP! But mostly, they just don't want the inconvenience of going to the bank or UPS store. But I'm not going to give up a loan signing or the possibility of a loan signing or even a rare evening at home to go out and notarize something that they can take care during normal business hours.

Reply by MichiganAl on 2/11/07 1:46pm
Msg #175229

I had a Yellow Pages ad my first year

It was a big waste. Nothing but PITA calls. I don't completely turn away general notary work, but I don't encourage it or spend a penny advertising it anywhere. I'll make sure they're aware of the other options like UPS and their bank. If they still need someone to come to them, I'll do a job if it's close and I can easily work it in to my day. But I don't break my back for it. It's not a significant part of my business. More like occasional beer money.

I agree with you about the business cards as well. They end up calling you for other issues related to their loan. No thanks.

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/11/07 10:34am
Msg #175203

Re: Julie/MI: I'm confused.

Julie's got a point. I handle general notary work differently.

I tell them, "If you can do this between the hours and 8 am and 6 pm you can go to the UPS store. They will charge you $6 per notarization. My business is set up with a base charge of $50.00 cash for travel and convenience, plus $6 per notarization for any over notarizations over two."

I can always go down if I feel it's a job I really want to do, but that's the acid test.

Reply by SpinClose/MI on 2/11/07 12:56pm
Msg #175224

Re: Julie/MI: I'm confused.

Just to add some more experience. In the past I always attached my card to the borrowers copy, just as I observed at the title company where I was trained to do loan closings, but not any more. More than once I've received calls from borrowers with questions "where is my money?". One time, after a closing at an attorney's office, I received a call from a very angry borrower who, after the closing left for a tour of Europe only to find their funds were never deposited as they had requested. "Stuck in Europe with no money" she screamed over the phone. Hey, I included a voided check, mentioned their request in my closing confirmation, but I am only the signing agent.
As far as stops at hospitals and nursing homes, I try to make this work to everyone's convenience. Most are home bound (or hospitalized) and are extremely greatful. This is usually a 5-10 minute stop and has lead to additional refferrals. If it's an attorney that calls for this service I double the usual trip fee. Addoptive parents need physical's notarized at doctor's office and I always request a trip fee.

Reply by David Kral on 2/13/07 12:51am
Msg #175457

Print PINK PRINT ENVELOP

Print one set
Bright pink piece of paper
Print second set
Slide whole thing into a cardboard Fedex envelop

I too never take more than one borrowers documents into their home. Leave the other clients
in the car.

No binder clips
No manilla folders
No business cards to borrowers