Posted by Kimberly Williams on 4/24/09 10:43am
Msg #286146

Looking for a Mentor - Virginia

I am new to the signing business and would like someone that I can call on for questions or concerns about jobs.

I also would like opinions on the best way to train. I have been a notary for several years; however, have never completed a loan signing. Any ideas?

All the help I can get would be great! Thanks all...

Reply by jba/fl on 4/24/09 10:55am
Msg #286149

Got lots of ideas

Let me guess: you took a signing agent class, they told you to come here and we would all jump at the chance to help finish your training? About right? We have heard this many times from many others in your shoes.

See the Orange Search button? My best advice to you is to use it. Start by looking at message #33325 and read the entire thread. This will give you more information that you may want. Without it, you will be asking every day these same questions. You need to acquaint yourself with the business, and this will help immensely. But this may just be your jumping off point for further research, again using the orange Search button. Whatever the topic, it has been discussed here.

No one likes to help those who do not help themselves. This is just a practical reality.

Did you even research this business before you decided to take this course? If you had, you would know that business is severly down from what it once was. People are leaving this business, in all areas. Realtors, loan officers, appraisers, mortgage companies, title processors and title companies. Great amounts of bankruptcies in all sectors. Notaries are not immune from these effects, and a great number are getting jobs, not even retaining parttime status. Yes, there are quite a few still around, but they are established, and still complaining and comparing notes as to how much business is off.

These are harsh realities. I am not being rude, rather pragmatic and sensible. Good luck to you.

Reply by davidK/CA on 4/24/09 11:13am
Msg #286153

AS many others here will tell you - don't give up your day job. Until the housing market returns to a boom cycle making money as a NSA is going to remain very tough, especially for someone new like yourself.

As to finding a mentor, it's a great idea to learn from someone with experience, but few if any NSAs are going to give away their secrets to success to a potential competitor. Coke won't tell Pepsi how to improve their product. You can't really expect your competition to give you assistance that could reduce their business. You simply will have to do it on your own.

Hard work is ahead. Good luck!

Reply by Rich/PA on 4/24/09 11:36am
Msg #286161

I'd be happy to help you out as best I can Kim. These guys are right, there are many obstacles.

Reply by Kimberly Williams on 4/24/09 11:42am
Msg #286165

Thanks to you guys. I do have a day job and this is a part time gig to help through some of the tough times. I am looking to just get a couple of signings a month to help with expenses for now, so I was kinda hoping that someone would be willing to offer some assistance.

I am a fraud examiner by trade, so hard work is not a problem for me. Try dealing with a crook and then trying to figure out how they stole the money!

Thanks for the message number. I will read and reread the message and print out for my info.

Again, any other advice is welcome.

Reply by HKB on 4/24/09 11:55am
Msg #286170

It is not very hard work .... and since you have been a fraud examiner you will be in a habit to read the docs in detail .... so .... print the whole set .... go over it ... make a point that the borrowers sign where ever required and initial all pages. (this is what i do )

Check their I.D.' should be current and follow your state's rules.

Your first one will be a bit stressful for you .... and after that it is a piece of cake.

Good Luck to you.

Hasina.

Reply by Tom/NJ on 4/25/09 6:41am
Msg #286279

If you can, check out the Signing Agent Training Manual available right here on Notaryrotary.

I just started doing signings this week after having studied messages posted on here, a few books I got, as well as my state laws, and I've found the Signing Agent Training Manual to be the best resource. It is a bit pricey, however the amount of information in their is invaluable and should cover any questions you may have.

I actually went through the manual reading through it, and when I got my 2nd signing's docs(first one was last minute), I went through them with the Signing Agent Manual. When I wasn't quite sure what a particular doc was, I looked it up in the Manual and had yellow sticky notes(long one with lines almost like a index card sticky note), and basically made myself a cheat sheet or cue card with some notes on what the doc is....Glancing at a piece of paper is a whole lot better than saying "I have no clue what this doc is here read it for yourself"

If you have any questions I can do my best to answer them, just send me a message. My email is in my profile.

Good Luck
Tom

Reply by JanetK_CA on 4/25/09 9:58pm
Msg #286344

A word of warning (which you will find buried somewhere in the voluminous msg 33325). Be careful who you listen to. As with all things, we don't know what we don't know, and you will often find questionable advice given with the strongest of convictions (including in this thread, imo). Even the best of intentions can sometimes lead you astray. I think nearly all of the "seasoned" folks on this board will agree with jba/fl (a reliable source!) that the TSR training manual sold here is probably one of the very best available.

This business isn't rocket science (although you may find yourself across the table from a rocket scientist, as I have done ), but there is nearly always more to something than meets the eye.

Good luck!