Posted by Sylvia_FL on 6/30/07 8:47pm
Msg #197920

To those wanting to get started in this business

Message #33325 is a very good place to start! It contains a wealth of information.
Also the orange search button is a useful tool.
There are so may posts recently on "How do I get started""What should I charge for edocs" "What signing companies should I sign up with'

All these questions are asked every month. A little research on the board will provide the answers.
This is a message for professionals to discuss business and their experience with some of the signings. Or to get a specific question answered on a signing which appears to be out of the norm.
It is not a training ground for new signing agents. Experienced signing agents may answer the questions asked by newbies, but they are not required to do so.
We do tend to get irritated by the "how do I get started" questions. If you are a new signing agent courtesy of the NNA, then this is something you should have asked them before attempting getting into the business. The basic notary questions are things you should have known before getting your commission. The answers are probably in your states handbook.

When the basic questions are asked, the "how do I get started" What fees should I be getting" then it is obvious that the person asking has not done research on this board.
There is a wealth of information contained in the messages on this board, read them and learn.

I am sure this is going to inflame some new members, but it needed to be said!

Reply by christiSocal on 6/30/07 8:49pm
Msg #197921

And very well said too! n/m

Reply by John_NorCal on 6/30/07 9:00pm
Msg #197924

Well put Sylvia. I learned along time ago that rather than

open ones mouth asking questions it's a better learning experience to just observe what others are saying as well as to do your own research.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/30/07 9:13pm
Msg #197929

Another question to ask yourselves and to research...

Before you ask "How do I...", I recommend you research "Should I..." This is a very difficult time to be entering this business, yet the NNA marketing machine (among others) is still claiming that there is an urgent need for "certified, back-ground checked NSAs". Unless you live in a remote area without many notaries (where the potential market will also be small), that is pure marketing hype. They, and others, have pretty successfully saturated most -- if not all -- the major metropolitan areas in the country.

If you you are just starting out, you will be competing with others with more experience, many of whom are seeing their volume of business reduce along with the amount of their fees. Before you plunge in and invest your time and money, it's a good idea to research your own area and figure out if you have the potential and the resources to succeed. Most importantly, take Sylvia's words to heart. She is probably THE most patient and helpful person on this board! (Thanks, Sylvia!) And please don't forget:

"This is a message [board] for professionals to discuss business and their experience with some of the signings. Or to get a specific question answered on a signing which appears to be out of the norm. It is not a training ground for new signing agents."

Well said!!

Reply by Charles A Peavey on 6/30/07 9:17pm
Msg #197931

Excellent comments Sylvia, especially the "Professional"...

comment. Many see the notary business as just some extra money never thinking that there are hardworking individuals who rely on the business for their income. These people are not retired military looking to suplement their pensions off-the-books, they are not housewives looking for some mad money, these are serious full-fledged business people who are in the business to make a profit and to provide a necessary service. Many of the Notaries on this site have expended a lot of effort and made a major investment in the business and I applaud them for their efforts. It really frosts me when someone comes on here and purports to either denigrate the efforts of others or to just demand that the business be handed to them on a platter. Read the board, use the search button, understand the community and its dynamic and then post to either introduce yourself or to ask a question you have made an effort to find the answer for. Brava Sylvia! (Yes it's "Brava", a gender specific word)

Reply by Philip Johnson on 7/1/07 10:42am
Msg #197981

Wow Charles you paint with a wide brush!

"These people are not retired military looking to suplement their pensions off-the-books, they are not housewives looking for some mad money, these are serious full-fledged business people who are in the business to make a profit and to provide a necessary service. Many of the Notaries on this site have expended a lot of effort and made a major investment in the business and I applaud them for their efforts. "

I along with others happen to be retired military and to the best of my abilities pay both the state of Washington and Uncle Sam their requirements and look at this as a business. The original poster of this blurb I believe is married to a military retiree, surely you are not questioning her motives and her business skills. It maybe hard to believe for some, but a stint in the Armed Forces does teach one quite a few skills that can relate to this and other businesses.
May I suggest in the future you narrow your shot group and not use a 50 cal to get your point across. That's enough for a Sunday morning I'm off to pad my pension and try to scheme the hardworking Notaries out of their business. JMO

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 7/1/07 12:34pm
Msg #197989

Re: Wow Charles you paint with a wide brush!

You are correct Philip, I am married to a military retiree.
Anyone who thinks a military's retiree pension is enough to live on is living in a dream world.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 7/1/07 2:16pm
Msg #198010

I have no beef with retired military, its the part-time...

notary I have a problem with. Sometime people are too quick to take offense with an offense perceived rather than understand the issue. I have had large commercial deals made potentially compromise by amateur notaries. I refuse to do business with a Notary any longer unless they are truly professional, and that goes for Signing Services also (no slam, I don't know yours). I can certainly understand the efforts of Title Companies and others who are looking for a business model other than the present one. There are many notaries wholly unqualified to do the job and many of them post here leaving no doubt as to their lack of understanding. I have friends here who are either retired or are members of military family for whom I have a great deal of respect. There are many others who deserve no respect whatsoever.

Reply by MICarole on 7/1/07 5:27pm
Msg #198023

Re: Wow Charles you paint with a wide brush!

How right you are Sylvia. I am a military widow and the pension I receive don't even buy the groceries for the month.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 7/1/07 1:46pm
Msg #198009

Re: Wow Charles you paint with a wide brush!

Phillip, my post was not designed to impugn the motives of retired military at all but to point out that there is a huge difference between those who aproach this business as a business and those who approachi it as a hobby. I meant not particualr disrespect to retired military. I, while not retired, served in the Air Force honorably during the Vietnam Conflict and have trememdous respect for those who gave the best years of their life to our country. I do have have little respect for those who are hobbyists and demand information from "professionals" based on thier desire to succed in the business but only a "little bit, for fun". I don't know you Phillip and I have no idea of your background but if you are offended by what I say perhaps you have reason to be. I have not seen you here before but any one who knos me knwos that I am outspoken and brash and have definiate feelings on certain subjects. I also am first to acknowledge when I am wrong. I don't know if you have been reading the board but perhaps it would serve well to read for a while before junping in with criticism. I don't believe in political correctness and I don't shy away from controversy: I also don't hide. I've paid my dues, I've paid my Premium Membership, and I am a staunch suporter of this site and many of the professional notaries here.

Reply by Philip Johnson on 7/1/07 3:01pm
Msg #198015

I have a pretty thick skin and I have no reason

to be offended except for that statement that we seem to run under the radar so to speak with our taxes and view this as a hobby. Looking at your profile I see that you participate in quite a few enterprises. I too participate in more than this along with volunteering with the American Legion to do my part in helping those our government would push to the back and forget about.
I guess I would ask the next time you go to paint that you use an artist's brush and not a roller.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 7/1/07 8:07pm
Msg #198034

Volunteering is to be lauded and the American Legion is

a very worthwhile cause. If you were offended by my comments about running under the radar I would submit that perhaps I hit a nerve and you may want to re-examine why. I pointed my comments at the hobbyist notary and there are many. Many of these hobbyist notaries are obviously running under the radar by the questions they ask on this forum. I don't know you, have no reason to look at your profile and I wonder why you take it upon yourself to so vigorously defend a perceived offense that you claim does not apply to you. I have a number of businesses all of which have been very successful so far and I credit the fact that I operate at a very high level of ethics, obey the laws of the land and pay my fair share of taxes. I really dislike hobbyists since hobbyists have caused me and a number of my acquaintances problems in the past. If you are a hobbyist then my comments apply to you and I have no regrets in stating what I believe to be a problem in this business.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 6/30/07 11:50pm
Msg #197948

This is our competition!

I refinanced a couple of months ago and the company called me and said the Rider wasn't sent with Deed Of Trust to the county recorder and they needed to send out new docs and the notary would call me.
He called and we set an appt for today and he is the second notary who is absolutely clueless as what to wear.
This notary was about 25-28 years old and wore a work shirt, blue jeans and open toed sandals. He was on his second term as a notary. He also walked in without a briefcase and only his NNA journal and fingerprinting device in his hand.

He knew I was a notary because he called my home phone and the info says to be forwarded to my cell.
I asked if he was a loan signer and he said he got a lot of business in 2001-2003 but not much lately. Duh!
The other notary 2 years ago arrived in sweat shirt, jeans and tennis shoes, 3 hours late and was in the same age group. She told me it took her over 2 hours to get a loan signed. Another Duh!

This guy was completely clueless why he wasn't getting hired and his appearance sealed his faith.
I am still busy all time and its nice to have competition in CA like this notary.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 7/1/07 12:07am
Msg #197954

I will be calling ths company on Monday n/m

Reply by JK/TX on 7/1/07 12:18am
Msg #197955

Re: This is our competition! Shhhhhh :O))))) n/m

Reply by qmriley on 7/1/07 12:39am
Msg #197958

Re: This is our competition!

Ok Im in CA to and barely 30 but this is so funny it makes me feel better to know they are doing this to others not just me

Reply by Joe Ewing on 7/1/07 2:22am
Msg #197960

Re: This is our competition!

Why would the Notary carry a briefcase?

Reply by Lee/AR on 7/1/07 7:02am
Msg #197965

Re: This is our competition!

So you don't walk in the door juggling a double stack of docs, fistful of pens, your stamp & fingerprint pad to find there isn't a clean flat surface in the place? Is this a test question?

Reply by jba/fl on 7/1/07 4:11pm
Msg #198018

"Why would a notary carry a briefcase?"

Simple: It holds up to 3 sets of docs, 3 doz. blue pens both fine pt & med. pt, also a few w/gel grip for my elderly or grip challenged individuals, 1 doz black pens, my purse, notary supplies, make up and hair brush for quick fix, bottle of water, phones, bus. cards, and I can hold w/one hand, compactly, so that I can ring doorbells and shake hands. I have seen others juggle messy loads, looking so unprofessional and determined that my briefcase would serve me better than looking sloppy and trying to figure out how to shake bor hand, etc. Motto: never let them see you sweat!

Reply by Michael/FL on 7/1/07 9:17pm
Msg #198040

Re: "Why would a notary carry a briefcase?"

Couldn't of said it better myself haha except I'm a guy, no makeup

I always carry my briefcase around with sets of docs, apps, flyers, cards, etc. Why would you go out in the world unprepared? Makes no sense at all!

Reply by jba/fl on 7/1/07 11:36pm
Msg #198051

Goes to the 5 P's

Prior planning prevents poor performance. Or the 6 P's: Prior planning prevents piss poor performance.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 7/2/07 12:40am
Msg #198054

I think Joe's response was a joke

I am sure he carries a briefcase

Reply by Joe Ewing on 7/2/07 2:13am
Msg #198057

Re: I think Joe's response was a joke

Actually I'm not Joking.

Not once in my entire 9 year career as a signing agent and mobile notary have I ever carried a briefcase. I do carry a fist (my fist) size black nylon double compartment digital camera case that holds 6 pens, thumb inker, jurat stamp, tiny stapler and my notary stamp. I call it my "man" purse. I have used a hard cover notary journal most of those years to take care of that hard flat surface problem. When I carry docs I might use a large bulldog clip.

Did I forget something?

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 7/2/07 10:42am
Msg #198104

I don't carry one either

When I started out I carried my husband's old brief case (a big monster with a built in writing board), but it was too heavy so I switched to a smaller soft sided case. Then I found a pencil case that school kids put in their notebooks. It holds 5 black pens, 5 blue pens, several paper clips (large and small), about 6 med and 3 small binder clips, a couple of rubber bands, a small stapler and a box of staples, and 2 notary stamps. I have a shoulder purse that holds wallet, cell phone, make up bag, check books, and business cards and car keys.

My docs if they are overnighted are carried in in their carrier envelopes. If I'm doing more than one loan signing in a trip the other docs are locked in the car (why would I want the weight of 2 more sets of docs (X 2) when I don't need them). If they are e-docs I have two manilla folders, one for loan docs, one for borrowers copies. I rubber band the borrowers docs and use a binder clip on loan docs so I can tell at a glance which is which.

This all fits in one arm.

As for shaking hands with the borrower, I don't! Unless they hold their hand out. In today's germy world it is for their protection as well as mine. I do acknowledge them and smile and address them politely and friendly.

It may not work for everyone, but it works for me and we each have to find what works for us. For some a briefcase might be the answer, but both Joe and I have found another way that works for us.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 7/2/07 8:28am
Msg #198079

thanks for reiterating

I have noticed the influx of basic loan signing and basic notary questions abounding.
I have avoided flaming, and appreciate your tact in handling the situation. Let's hope
it is read and understood.