Posted by Ndwa on 2/14/07 3:47am
Msg #175585

What would you prefer?

To have an appointment already set when a company call or to have them tell you that it's open time? How do you manage 3 open time signings with the assumption (to be true) that all borrowers will want to sign at the peak hour?

I know open time means not loosing a signing due to schedule conflict, but there go the pitfall unless you have a backup, a partner or a good juggling act. I made it through today by being honest upfront about the situation then asked/begged the borrowers for cooperations while acknowledging their time of preferences. The trick is not to confirm a time until I've talked to all borrowers in knowing their flexibilities. I don't accept open time signings at EOM as I experienced they are nothing but nightmares.

Reply by Lee/AR on 2/14/07 6:12am
Msg #175588

Open time. Not that this is a major problem in my rural area except at eom, but... if you don't have docs, it isn't happening~ Yes, call them all, find out how flexible they are & set 'tentative' times. Always keep 'em up to speed on time. If there is a time conflict, fudge & blame the net or FedUps. In my area, about half of the 'docs to borrower' appointments end up being rescheduled for later as they really don't have the docs. I also find that most 'fixed time' appointments are NOT the best time for the B. The 3pm doesn't get home from work until 4:30; and the 4:30 has to leave for work at 3, so would prefer 1pm; and the 10am doesn't have docs until 5pm. There ya' go! BTW, when do you sleep?

Reply by Julie/MI on 2/14/07 7:22am
Msg #175591

I'm a juggler! I thrive on it!

Reply by hcampersFL on 2/14/07 7:29am
Msg #175594

Open time or not I feel all appointments have to be flexible. I've had many signing appointments that had to be moved because of no docs or Br's weren't consulted and can't make that time etc.
When calling to confirm any appointment I always talk to the BR to see what their schedule is like to get a feel for how flexible they are. I let them know that I am not in control of the docs and that I will call them as soon as I receive the docs to confirm the time of our appt.
Things happen and I have found that if I let the BR's know upfront to be flexible I can bypass a problem later. Also I find out if they can't be flexible so I can let Title know that we don't have any wiggle room in the time.

Reply by LawrenceOK on 2/14/07 7:57am
Msg #175596

I say just get the docs to me and include the cutoff date and let me take it from there. I could do twice the volume of signings if I could set the date and time. jmo

Reply by Ernest__CT on 2/14/07 8:07am
Msg #175597

What we prefer doesn't usually matter.

I've had borrowers ask me why 9:00 AM was the earliest appointment available (they wanted 7:30, so we signed at 7:30! The scheduling department hadn't even asked whether an earlier time was possible; they just assumed.), borrowers say that meeting on their boat would be easier than meeting in their home (duh! You want to take me for a sail? Sure! Can I bring the witness? Please? Thanks!), and one borrower ask if we could meet a little after midnight (Sure; why not?).

We're in the service business. Limitations are imposed by the docs being available. Other than that, ....

Reply by hcampersFL on 2/14/07 8:32am
Msg #175600

Re: What we prefer doesn't usually matter.

Good point Ernest. I have always tried to be accommodating to BR's, but when 3 of them want the same 5 pm time and I don't have the docs for any at 4:30 it's nice to have a plan B.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 2/14/07 5:04pm
Msg #175698

Too true!

I usually ask what their schedules look like, too, and it's amazing how often the appointed time isn't the most convenient for any of us - or isn't even a possibility for them. For example, I have a RM signing tomorrow morning. I was told it was set for 9:00 am. As I have a very early appt tomorrow, I thought it might be difficult to get there by then, but I could make it soon after. Turns out, the borrower would prefer later in the morning - as would the LO who is driving some distance to be there, too, and would prefer coming after the peak of rush hour.

Works for me. I'll just get some errands out of the way in the meantime. [And I'm hoping to get there with a near empty gas tank 'cause, even though it is only a little over 20 miles away, gas can be $.20 - $.30/gal cheaper in that area! Unbelievable....]

Reply by NCLisa on 2/14/07 8:43am
Msg #175603

Even when you have a scheduled time, it has to be flexible because rarely do things go as planned. Worst is that if the docs get sent to the borrower, they usually end up as same day, and get there after 5, not at 10:30 am for that 11am signing. TC's/Lenders seem to forget that residents don't get overnight deliveries by 10:30am.

It's always a juggling act!

Reply by David Kral on 2/14/07 5:02pm
Msg #175697

Book them on your calendar

Tell them. You are booked at 6pm and have 7 to 10pm left. Let them choose from that.