Posted by Leon_CO on 2/14/08 5:28pm
Msg #235340
Important Instructions to Remote Closer
In preparing for my closing tomorrow, that was the heading of the cover page of the loan documents.
I've never really given much thought to the title 'Remote Closer'. Notary signing agents get called so many things in the course of our work that, after a while, all of the titles mean pretty much the same.
But of all the titles that we are given, I think that 'Remote Closer' comes the closest to accurately describing who we are, and what we do. I paused for a while to think about it.
My dictionary defines the word 'remote' as: Located far away;
It's a good description of how notary signing agents work. All of the people we work with are in distant parts of the country. And in many cases we will be working with several people in several different parts of the country at the same time. It's not like being in an office environment where you can go down the hall to talk to the people you work with. No, we would have to board a plane in order to see the people we work with. Since that is not possible, we have to resort to the next best thing: communication.
Communication is vital when you're working with people in remote locations. Cell phone, email, fax, ... those are our primary means for communicating with people in different parts of the country so that we can complete a closing. Which brings me to the second part of that title: closer
What is a closer?
I couldn't find this word in my dictionary. Probably because it's so hard to define. If I may, I would like to borrow Karen Koogler's definition of a closer, from her book: 'Closing Concepts'
WHAT IS A CLOSER?
"C" is for competence, compassion, and caring, mixed with intermittent craziness.
"L" is for listening, learning something new each day, and loving what you do.
"O" is for one-on-one communication with everyone you meet. It is also for overtime, which you may see a lot of.
"S" is for sincerity, strength, and stamina. It is not for stupidity!
"E" is for energy, enthusiasm, and enlightenment (both yours and others).
"R" is for responsibility and repetition. It is also for the reward that comes in the form of inner satisfaction when you see in yourself these things and realize a job well done.
Thank you, Karen, for this definition. When you think about the closings you do, don't these terms come to mind? Yet there is one more word that I would like to add to "R": 'representatives'
As remote closers, notary signing agents are representatives of the title companies with whom we are working. They are depending on us to carry out their instructions, and to make a good impression for them to the borrower. As representatives we have a lot of weight on our shoulders. We are perhaps the only face the borrowers will see in the loan process.
Remote Closer: it really is what we are.
Good luck.
| Reply by PAW on 2/14/08 7:56pm
Msg #235375
Long before I was a "Signing Agent", I was considered a "remote closer". Back then, the remote closer worked directly with a local title company doing the "out of office" closings. I've always used the terms "remote closings" and "Remote Closer" in my curriculum vitae.
| Reply by Becca_FL on 2/14/08 10:33pm
Msg #235398
Remote - No. I've always been referred to as a 'mobile closer' by the locals.
FWIW
CV? Our "curriculum" as NSAs, LSAs, LDSs, mobile closer, remote closers, etc. hardly resembles academic achievements.
From MIT: "A Curriculum Vitae (CV) resembles a resume in many ways, but is more specifically focused on academic
achievements."
From Dartmouth: " Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a summary of your educational and academic background."
| Reply by PAW on 2/15/08 1:50pm
Msg #235477
Definitions
A CV is not limited to academic achievements!
Granted, the definitions you provided are valid, however, not complete.
The following is a definition from my dictionary:
A summary of one's education, professional history, and job qualifications, as for a prospective employer.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Also:
1. Also called vita, vitae. a brief biographical résumé of one's career and training, as prepared by a person applying for a job.
2. (italics) Latin. the course of one's life or career.
[Origin: 1900–05]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
| Reply by PAW on 2/15/08 1:50pm
Msg #235478
Definitions
A CV is not limited to academic achievements!
Granted, the definitions you provided are valid, however, not complete.
The following is a definition from my dictionary:
A summary of one's education, professional history, and job qualifications, as for a prospective employer.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Also:
1. Also called vita, vitae. a brief biographical résumé of one's career and training, as prepared by a person applying for a job.
2. (italics) Latin. the course of one's life or career.
[Origin: 1900–05]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
| Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 2/14/08 8:02pm
Msg #235377
Thanks for sharing that Leon... I like it.
| Reply by Leon_CO on 2/14/08 8:10pm
Msg #235380
Barbara, thanks.
>> I've always used the terms "remote closings" and "Remote Closer" in my curriculum vitae. <<
Paul, I use this term on my business card because it most accurately describes what I do.
| Reply by ReneeK_MI on 2/15/08 4:57am
Msg #235409
Totally agree w/ Leon, Paul, etc ...and then some.
I never even HEARD of the term "Notary Signing Agent" when I was 'inside', not until I actually became one. We'd always used "mobile closer", "outside closer" or "remote closing" in reference.
I, personally, don't like the "NSA" title at all - it helps perpetrate this "First a Notary ..." paradigm that I do not believe has been very beneficial to our industry, and THAT in turn bolsters the XYZ machine.
My prior years of inside experience comes into play FAR more than what relatively little time it took me to become adept with the notarial aspect of my job, and I take issue with the fact that I'm 'labeled & identified' in drop-down lists all over the internet as a "Notary/Signing Agent". You don't see "Notary/Real Estate Agent" or "Notary/Financial Advisor" or any other similarly ridiculous moniker in those drop-down lists. There's certainly plenty of notaries public within other fields, but in every one of those EXCEPT our field, the notary public aspect is incidental to their profession.
How insane is it that I could spend so many years being a "closer" until I actually began doing 'signings' and became a notary public - now I'm not a "closer" anymore?
I'm a mobile closer. It took me long, hard years to learn the things I know, and I'm proud of it all. The only thing different between a closing I perform remotely and the SAME/EQUAL PORTION of a closing performed inside a title office - is the setting.
The whole idea that being a notary public is the end-all to this line of work is the VERY THING that allows such an easy-entry to the profession, and furrows the fields for those that claim they can teach you 'all you need to know' in a half-day session. I used to train closers, and it took a solid YEAR of 40 hr weeks before a person NOT already industry-savvy could be allowed anywhere near loan docs on their own.
| Reply by jba/fl on 2/15/08 6:34am
Msg #235415
I don't care what label you call me, Just Call! n/m
| Reply by PeterRado/FL on 2/15/08 9:12am
Msg #235424
Re: I don't care what label you call me, Just Call!
"I don't care what label you call me, Just Call!"
Now thats a quote!!!
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