Posted by Anita Belaire on 1/17/08 4:06pm
Msg #231095

I'm starving

I am a new Notary Signing Agent in Louisiana. I have signed up with every association and signing company I can find. Does anyone have suggestions on what else I can do to get work. Thanks.

Reply by ME/NJ on 1/17/08 4:16pm
Msg #231096

Look for another career if you are doing this FT n/m

Reply by CJ on 1/17/08 4:49pm
Msg #231101

Business is down for everyone nationwide. . .

Even for people like me with years of experience and over 100 connections. As long as "banks are not lending" is in the news, we don't have work. Right now I am averaging 1 job a day, and I am grateful for that. Ususally, it is a last minute email job. But if I were just starting, I don't think my phone would ring at all.

About 3 years ago, I noticed the negative amatorization loans on the market. Maybe they were there before that, but I don't remember. Anyway, they came with a three year pre-payment penalty, which corresponded to when their interest rates would jump. When those 3 year PPP were up, and the interest rates jumped, people started losing their houses. I think that was in August. Then those subprimes were taken off the market. But to me, that says we have at least three years from August 2007, when every month, more people are going into foreclosure. So I think the lending market is in a crisis for at least 2 1/2 more years. That is just MY opinion and how I see it. If others people understand this better than I do, feel free to share.

Anyway, we are all looking for more ways to make money on the side. I think Brittney Spears could use a good nanny, (for her or her baby) and I'll bet that pays pretty well. I just don't know how to get the job.

Reply by Alice/MD on 1/17/08 4:47pm
Msg #231100

Follow ME/MJ advice. I have been in the business for 5 years and I am keeping another job. I made a very good income when the market permitted. This is not the time to start in the business. We who have experience and have clients we have served over the years are on a slow ride.

Reply by Becca_FL on 1/17/08 4:53pm
Msg #231103

When I started full time in this business four years ago, we were at the height of the refi boom and I starved. It takes time in this business, as with any business, to get your name out and position yourself as an expert in your field. If you do a good job marketing and you are a competent, proficient closer, you will eventually reap the rewards. With that said, there is no way in he11 that I would get into this business at this point in time...the work is just not there like it was 1, 2 and 3 years ago. A little market research would have revealed this fact.

Reply by Anita Belaire on 1/17/08 4:58pm
Msg #231105

I do have another job but I need a second income. Being a paralegal and doing loan closings for 15 years I decided to get my Notary license and get into the Notary Signing Agent business as a second career. I wish I knew how to market myself besides just applying with every signing company and enrolling in every association. It seems that there should be some type of advertising I could do. I do have a web page. I was just looking for advice on advertising or marketing or asking for contacts. Thanks for your input.

Reply by SOCAL/CA on 1/17/08 5:04pm
Msg #231107

Give you their hard earned contacts? You got to be kidding!

Reply by Becca_FL on 1/17/08 5:13pm
Msg #231109

Well then, "Being a paralegal and doing loan closings for 15 years" you should know who you need to market to. Research who's closing loans in your area and market to them.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 1/17/08 5:15pm
Msg #231110

Not being flip but do you really expect that someone is

going to give you contacts in your market when business is the way it is? In my opinion Notary Work was never a viable business or profession, just an ancillary service to go along with your primary one: just another way to serve existing clients. I am sure that if you sit down and make a list of your intellectual assets you will see a direction suggest itself. The signing business was an anomaly driven by the lack of oversight and greed in the sub-prime market. Like any gold rush this rush has run its course and the likelihood of it ever happening again is very remote especially with the heavy-handed approach of the regulators. I'd start looking at other avenues to earn a living and consider notary income lagniappe.

Reply by Lee/AR on 1/17/08 5:33pm
Msg #231116

Charles....

Your comment --- "The signing business was an anomaly driven by the lack of oversight and greed in the sub-prime market. Like any gold rush this rush has run its course and the likelihood of it ever happening again is very remote especially with the heavy-handed approach of the regulators." === is exactly right.
This year is a lot like it was from 1993 (when I started) to about 1999--when the gold rush began. It lasted longer than I thought possible---but it's ooooooooover. It never has been my 'one & only'.

Reply by Pat/IL on 1/17/08 8:11pm
Msg #231142

Re: I can't help but disagree...sort of.

Lee said: "This year is a lot like it was from 1993 (when I started) to about 1999--when the gold rush began."

The market has changed drastically from that period. Most notably, the consolidation of lenders, a trend that does not seem to be slowing. The huge lenders cannot maintain thousands of title vendor relationships. Brick and mortar offices are sucking title companies dry. Maybe the mobile closer will become more in demand, rather than less.

I don't mean to push false hope. I don't really know what's in store any more than anybody else. I'm just throwing an idea out there. And I am not a NNA shill. I've never even heard of them. Okay, that's a lie. I've heard of them, but only on a couple of these signing agent boards. Best of luck to the good ones, I hope you make it.

Reply by Anita Belaire on 1/17/08 7:09pm
Msg #231127

Re: Not being flip but do you really expect that someone is

Oh excuse me. I thought this was a professional site.

Reply by Becca_FL on 1/17/08 7:19pm
Msg #231128

Re: Not being flip but do you really expect that someone is

"Oh excuse me. I thought this was a professional site."

Oh, it is. Which is why we expect you to be professional, do your homework and search for businesses to market to just as we did. You won't get a free ride here. This site is full of the information you seek, but you mast learn to find it on your own. Start with the orange SEARCH button.

Reply by SOCAL/CA on 1/17/08 7:33pm
Msg #231131

Re: Not being flip but do you really expect that someone is

Well said Becca.

Reply by ZeeCA on 1/17/08 7:37pm
Msg #231134

I am biting my tongue BIG time and sitting on my fingers.... n/m

Reply by CaliNotary on 1/17/08 8:06pm
Msg #231141

Re: Not being flip but do you really expect that someone is

"Oh excuse me. I thought this was a professional site."

Then stop acting like a pouty little girl just because you didn't get your own way.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 1/17/08 8:42pm
Msg #231150

Some Suggestions .........

<<<<<<<<"Oh excuse me. I thought this was a professional site.">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Wow! AAARRRRGGGGG ... Hufff, pufff ....... Ok, I will keep it professional .........

I get a couple of calls a week from new notaries wanting my help to get business. I am very polite to them, but I do tell them I don't have enough to keep me busy and if they expected to make big bucks without investing a lot of work, then they were misled by someone and I am sorry about that.

I worked my behind off to get the client list that I have. Took a lot of mailing, footwork, visiting title companies in person and a capital investment up front. Do you really expect anyone who has done this amount of work to just give away a client list?

I do give references when I have too many in a day to complete myself, but unfortunately, those days are probably gone for a while. Ironically, today was the first day in 5 months that I had to pass on a signing to another notary because I had to many to handle in a day. Feast today, famine the rest of the month.

I would suggest to you that there is other mobile notary work besides loan signings. Go to PAW's website, order a couple of his signs to put on your car. They work. Do some foot work and drop your cards off at senior citizen centers, banks, collection agencies or other businesses you might have in the area........ It's going to take effort on your part. But it is possible ....

Best Wishes ........

Reply by Kathy Belaire on 1/18/08 9:06am
Msg #231202

Re: Some Suggestions .........

Thank you. That is all I was looking for. I really don't understand why it is such a big secret to share ideas "which is what I was asking." I don't see how I could take work away from anyone especially when we are in different States. I just really confuses me that people can be so rude. Thanks for the info.

Reply by desktopfull on 1/18/08 11:49am
Msg #231236

Re: Some Suggestions .........

In your brief stint on this site, you have accused us of being "unprofessional and rude" to you because we won't give you a business plan and tell you how to get that plan underway. Did you even for once consider that it is "unprofessional and rude" of you to expect that we are obligated to give you this information. Google is your best friend, learn to use it and do your own research for marketing yourself in this business or any other that you may chose to persue. Or as someone else suggested use the ORANGE search key starting with message #33325 and read. I have one question, why do you believe that you are entitled to receive this information and insult those that don't comply with your wishes?

Reply by Charles_Ca on 1/17/08 11:36pm
Msg #231180

It is, obviously you're not! Find a bread line! n/m

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 1/17/08 8:55pm
Msg #231151

Go to Amazon.com and invest in Laura Vestanen's book:

Marketing Your Non-Loan Notary Services: Effective and practical techniques to get notary work outside the loan industry


This is your best source for marketing ideas.

Reply by NotaryGirl71 on 1/17/08 9:27pm
Msg #231157

Anita Belaire - Many of the people on notary rotary are cynics who look for the negative in just about everything...they sit on this website all day and complain that they don't have enough work...maybe they don't have enough work because they are sitting around all day complaining about everything.

A positive attitude will get you far!

Best of luck to you and others out there with positive attitudes.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 1/17/08 10:03pm
Msg #231165

"Many of the people on notary rotary are cynics who look for the negative in just about everything.."

I don't believe that is true.

I do believe, as you say, that a positive attitude will get her far.
But, it is true what others are saying about the business being in somewhat of a slump, but it will pick up again. But, I don't believe it will be back to the way it was just a few years ago.
And, thanks to the NNA there are a lot more signing agents out there, and willing to work for peanuts.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 1/17/08 10:37pm
Msg #231172

Re: I'm starving - another thought

Where most of the notaries on here are commissioned throughout their states, in Louisiana a notary is not commissioned statewide, but is limited to their parish of residence and reciprocal parishes unless they obtain dual commission and maintain bonds in the different parishes.

So, that would probably cut down the number of available signings as she will be limited as to the area she can do loan signings.

Reply by Kathy Belaire on 1/18/08 9:07am
Msg #231203

Thanks for your help.

Reply by desktopfull on 1/17/08 10:37pm
Msg #231173

Sorry Zee, I can't bite my tongue any longer, fingers typing

You've been doing closings for 15 years and don't have any contacts to pursue, give me a break. I wish I had your inside track instead of having to do cold calls. I suggest that you take a course in business management, where you will learn how to plan and set up a business. It will also teach you how to market yourself to the public to obtain clientele. Then you won't have to ask your competition for their client lists and get upset because they don't comply and insinuate that they are unprofessional.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 1/17/08 11:40pm
Msg #231181

Wasting your breath, obviously another entitlement minded

individuwa who when she did not get what she wanted needed to devolve into insults. I'm sure that that mind set will certainly hold her in good stead!

Reply by Kathy Belaire on 1/18/08 9:11am
Msg #231204

Re: Sorry Zee, I can't bite my tongue any longer, fingers typing

I was not asking for a client list. I was asking for ideas. I how could I take work for anyone else who is in a different State. If I knew someone looking for a notary somewhere else and I could ablige - I would give the referral. All the loan closing I did for 15 years of paralegal work was just for one bank. Don't you think if I had numerous contacts I would be pounding the pavement now after those leads?

Reply by desktopfull on 1/18/08 10:51am
Msg #231213

Take marketing in addition to the management class. n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/17/08 10:32pm
Msg #231171

Re: I'm starving - Anita...

Don't Louisiana notaries only serve the parishes they are qualified/commissioned to serve? I'm curious. If you haven't gotten commissioned (or however you say it) in more than one parish that would prohibit your success considerably.

Also, I have learned through reading this site that La. notaries are quite differently equipped than other states. If it were me I'd be seeking very specific information regarding notary business among my own statesmen.

When I first started reading this board I sought information from Texas notary posts. It goes without saying that the notary business in Texas is quite different from other states.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 1/17/08 10:40pm
Msg #231174

Re: I'm starving - Brenda

"Don't Louisiana notaries only serve the parishes they are qualified/commissioned to serve? "

See the post I just made above (another thought)

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/17/08 10:44pm
Msg #231175

Re: I'm starving - Brenda

Great minds think alike, Sylvia.

Your post was enlightening, too!

Reply by Kathy Belaire on 1/18/08 9:13am
Msg #231205

Re: I'm starving - Brenda

Yes, it depends when your were commissioned. I took the test after the State changed the testing for statewide commission and I passed that test so I am commissioned state wide.

Reply by Laura Vestanen on 1/18/08 10:31am
Msg #231211

Message #33325

Use the orange search button to find message 33325.

Then read that message and every message in that thread.