Posted by Cheryl Anderson on 6/19/07 12:26am
Msg #195724

Green Notary Seeking Mentor

I am a new Notary Public for California. I had taken 2 loan signing classes, and am looking to venture out but am very serious about this business, and of course my potential reputation. It has been a bit disheartening to find that the signers in my area are so protective of their business, understandably, that it has been difficult to approach anyone for help. If anyone happens to live in my general area, or further, I would love to drive to your area if you would accept the "ride-along" so that I can witness a few signings. I promise to be quiet and just observe I am armed with my commission-some basic knowledge, a laser printer, fax, a scanner, insurance, desire and drive, but lacking in the confidence area. Thanks to anyone who wants or can help.

Cheryl in CA
Riverside County area

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/19/07 5:56am
Msg #195730

Re: Green Notary Seeking Mentor - Tough times ahead

for the SA. I have friends who work a call center here in my town for Wachovia. The LOs there have been originating loans for California. They got word yesterday that the branch is going to be shut down. It was only built and populated with employees in November. Brand new building and it's part of the cut back.

Don't be surprised when you run into chilly responses to your request for assistance. There are less loans than ever. Good luck to you.

Reply by bigdog on 6/19/07 9:02am
Msg #195743

Re: Green Notary Seeking Mentor - Tough times ahead

Cheryl, I had the same problem as you when I started in this business. And like you, notaries in my area are very protective of their territory.
My best advice to you is suck it up, take your first assignment, before you leave that table, double and triple check your work. Make sure you know your stuff, leave the right paperwork and just get past the nerves. If you make a mistake, correct it on your dime and learn from the lesson.
As Brenda said, this is NOT the best time to be getting into this business. If I knew then what I know now, I would seriously be questioning doing this. Having said that, I love my job but it has been very difficult building relationships with companies because there is a saturation of SA's out there who have experience that companies choose to use. Be prepared to take the lowball offers at first, because that will be all the calls you are likely to get. At first you won't make money, you'll struggle to get 3-4 calls a month. But gradually, you'll start getting more calls. It takes about 18 months to get where you want to be and that of course depends on how saturated your area is with SA's. This can be a very rewarding profession, but it can be the most frustrating as well. Good luck to you.

Reply by BetsyMI on 6/19/07 9:25am
Msg #195745

Re: Green Notary Seeking Mentor - Tough times ahead

Doing a ride-along is not as easy as you think.

First of all, what borrower wants a 'trainee' sitting at their dining room table being privvy to all their private information?

And secondly, it probably wouldn't fly with the title company or signing service that hired the notary to do the job without friends and family and newbies trotting along too.

You'll just have to dig in and accept your first assignment without the luxury of being able to sit in on a 'live' closing, like the rest of us have.

I'm sure you just didn't think through the impact, but it's just not done.

Good luck to you! I'm sure you'll do fine since you sound prepared. I was scared stiff for my first few closings but then you realize the borrowers don't know you're as green as you are. Be confident and your confidence will show through.

Reply by Joe Ewing on 6/19/07 10:03am
Msg #195750

Did your two signing agent classes include a demonstration loan signing? Learning about documents and marketing is great and you mistakenly get certified as a Signing Agent but watching a one hour mock Loan Signing done in class by a Professional Notary Signing Agent is real training. Have you tried calling Escrow or Mortgage companies about letting you sit in on an in house signing?

Reply by SoCal Signing Co. on 6/19/07 10:43am
Msg #195756

Give me a call 909-917-4586

Reply by Todd Atkins on 6/19/07 3:35pm
Msg #195810

Work is drying up and not a good time for newbies. The NNA doesn't help - "Learn how to be a notary. Make extra $$". Rates have gone up and that knocks alot of borrowers out. Underwriters are getting extra tough and not approving loans that "might have been " approved last year.

Reply by Janet Mitchell on 6/19/07 11:48am
Msg #195762

I have to agree with all the posts and remember never let the borrower know you are green. I never told my borrowers how long I had been in the business if they asked. Good responses can be from: a few months, several months, almost a year, over a year. You are only green to you.

I was surprised how quickly I became comfortable with the job.

Reply by CJ on 6/19/07 3:42pm
Msg #195812

Don't tell anybody you are a notary. The next words out of their mouth is usually, "Wow, is this lucrative?" (salivate - salivate). Even borrowers want my job becuase "it looks like a fun little part time job". Tell them when you are not working, you are looking for work, which is true.

Reply by cassiewi on 6/19/07 5:20pm
Msg #195832

I like that saying. Gets to the point.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/19/07 8:33pm
Msg #195879

Any more, when a borrower shows interest in becoming an SA, I tell them "this is the easy part" and collecting from some of the the people who hire us is the hard part. That's usually the last I hear about it. ;>

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 6/19/07 7:12pm
Msg #195861

I had the wife of one of my husband's acquaintances call me the other day. She needs a job and her husband told her I made good money doing loan signing and she should call me on how to get started, she is already a notary.
After I explained that she would need a laser printer for edocs, E&O insurance, a fast internet connection (she is not very internet savvy), advertising her services, and that some companies are willing to pay $45 per signing (Hey Nations Direct are willing to pay $45?), she realized that she didn't have the money to invest in this business.