Posted by kkarate on 4/6/08 2:32pm
Msg #242426

First signing

for those of you who can remember your first signing, were you nervous?, and did you have some body with you that was experienced?

Reply by Lee/AR on 4/6/08 2:43pm
Msg #242428

Not nervous as I had experience in related fields. Never had anyone else with as that's kind of a no-no unless you have hiring entity's approval---and I would think they usually don't like 'extra' people at a signing....have no experience in that regard.

Reply by LKT/CA on 4/6/08 3:48pm
Msg #242439

My first signing I was excited and a little nervous. It was not an ideal signing for a first time - I got a call from a Realtor, who got my business card from someone <have no idea who> and the docs were already at their office. I just had to show up at the designated time which was later that evening. I had no docs to review, no docs to put sticky arrows on....nothing. What got me through it was a few tips I learned in notary class. (1) go in to the meeting with confidence (2) take charge of the signing (3) don't analyze, but notarize (4) check your work at the table.

After the signing, I went over the docs at the table, very slowly, and saw that I missed one signature, one set of initials and 3 jurats......the jurat wording appeared to be part of the body of the doc, there was no separation between it and the document paragraph. Since it was crammed together and the wrong wording anyway, I used loose certificates.

One thing I can say I did correctly was charge $XXX from day one.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 4/6/08 5:40pm
Msg #242446

Bears repeating

(1) go in to the meeting with confidence
(2) take charge of the signing
(3) don't analyze, but notarize
(4) check your work at the table


Excellent advice LKT

Reply by Ernest__CT on 4/7/08 12:45pm
Msg #242498

Hear, hear! n/m

Reply by Pat/CA on 4/6/08 7:21pm
Msg #242453

Such excellent advice! My problem however may just be #3... having an analytical mind large enough for all mankind! lol

Reply by CopperheadVA on 4/6/08 5:47pm
Msg #242447

Yes, I was nervous! I agree with the list that others have posted. Just remember - it gets easier with each job!

Reply by Sharon Taylor on 4/6/08 6:02pm
Msg #242448

Definitely nervous

I had not planned to be a mobile notary, but I got a call from a company who needed a notary and asked if I could do an in-home closing for them. Apparently they found me through county records of notaries in my area since I was not listed anywhere at the time. Documents were overnighted to me. I had worked in a law office as a legal assistant and notary public for over 18 years, so I was confident going into the closing, but quickly lost that confidence. LOL I realized that I would have to be extremely careful, read every single word of every single instruction, and carefully scan every document to be sure I caught every signature/initials required. I knew notarization requirements from taking the NYS required course and from working with my attorneys, but that is only a foundation on which to build mobile notary knowledge. I read everything I could find on every forum I could find, took copious Word and Excel notes, and concentrated on learning everything I could before listing my services and contacting companies to sign up.
The first one is the hardest. Get past that, and you'll do fine.

Reply by Pat/CA on 4/6/08 7:19pm
Msg #242452

I'd taken the course and passed the notary test. Then nearly 3 months passed before I got my first call. By then I was full-blown into tax season but I took the assignment. They asked me how many I'd done and I told them this would be my first... they trusted me (bless their heart).

They said the edocs would be on their way in 15 minutes. I refreshed my screen every 5 minutes for hours and hours. They didn't arrive until the next morning sometime. Appt. was in the evening.

I HONESTLY spent 8 hours beforehand going over every page, making sticky notes, reviewing the laws again and again, reviewing the course again and again because I'd now forgotten nearly everything that was taught months ago.

But it was time well-spent. I did everything accurate and although I lost my behind in $ timewise, it was my beginning. That's the price we pay for being in business ourselves. That's why IRS pretty much expects you to have a loss in a new business adventure... for awhile!

I tell others to do their homework first, whatever it takes, then go in with confidence! Hopefully, you won't get your first set of docs 1 hour before your appt. 45 minutes away!

Best of luck if this is your new venture. The market is however, horrible for all of us.

Reply by Melodie Gunn on 4/6/08 11:12pm
Msg #242466

I remember both my firsts! lol
I had a friend who let me go with her to 'observe'. She is very knowlegable...it was an aswome opportunity for me! Then, she offered me one to do on my own. I stopped at her office and picked up the docs. She explained the situation to me and then the loan officer also went over some info with me. I swear...I studied those docs ALL night in anticipation for the next day lol (I even asked if I could highlight the spots they needed to sign just so I wouldn't miss any!) I had one small issue..something about his ex having a car that was not supposed to be listed on the docs. (It was around 730pm and no one in their office) so I told him he had 3 days to cancel and it was, honestly, better to sign now while I was there and call the office the next day to hash out the details. Everything turned out fine. ::whew!::
I think the best advise I was given was from a Loan officer who is also a friend...
He said that it is out job to Notarize the docs, not explain them in detail (he actually preferes a Notary who does that). He said to explain to the signer that we understand the basic forms they are signing...but that we are not loan officers and do not understand all the personal details of 'their' loan doc. (Make sense?) Anyway...there ya go. My first 2 .....

Reply by kkarate on 4/7/08 5:58am
Msg #242469

Thanks you very much for all the advice and for being honest.