Posted by Kate/CA on 12/23/09 2:51pm
Msg #315580

Helpful Hints

Feel free to add to these.


Hint
I had a signing a few weeks ago. The lady was 95 years old, had trouble seeing where to sign. After 3 minutes per signature, I took some post-its that I had, dark blue, put one above and one below the signature lline. She was signing faster than I could get them on the docs. Her son was with her and she was very aware of what was going on with the docs. I left them a package of post-its, her son was very thankful. Now I always carry a dark color of Post-its with me, got some at Costco.

Hint
This one I love. Always carry hand lotion. When you go into a house that "Stinks",
get out the hand lotion, tell them your hands are so dry, wipe a little under your nose.
Amazing how much better things smell. I've had a few house I had to do it a couple of times.

Reply by Calnotary on 12/23/09 2:58pm
Msg #315581

I carry a huge bottle of hand sanitizer for after I finish the signing. All those hand shaking carry a lot of the flu viruses, germs, etc.

Reply by firegirl on 12/23/09 3:21pm
Msg #315585

I have one-- carry about 20 sheets of legal paper in your briefcase in case something needs to be printed at the borrowers' home.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 12/23/09 5:29pm
Msg #315600

Thanks for the hints!

The only problem with Post-It Notes is the possibility of the signer accidentally signing partially over the sticky paper. Ascenders and descenders (e.g., J and y) can go astray....

Reply by Maureen_nh on 12/23/09 8:57pm
Msg #315618

I have used two rulers but I think I would like to try the post-its. I can see the p f and q problem though but might be be worth a try. Thanks

Reply by Jessica Ward on 12/23/09 11:34pm
Msg #315632

Great hints! Love the idea on hand lotion. I'm also adding benadryl to my car becuase sometimes I got into homes with a pet "problem" and my mild allergy turns into an outrageous allergic reaction. 1/2 a benadryl will keep me on my feet long enough to get home.

I also keep legal paper in my bag.

Love the tips for the dark post-its!

One thing to add, most diabetics, as they loose their eyesight loose the ability to see yellow first. Those of you that use highlighters and sticky notes--don't use yellow.

Also, I keep an old "scanner/printer" in my car. It's not new enough to work as a printer (not Vista/Windows 7 capable) but makes great photocopies.

Perfect for running a copy of an ID that the lender wants but the borrower forgot about.

Literally a garage-sale investment but a lifesaver.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 12/23/09 11:58pm
Msg #315635

Cell phone hint: If you are going to be late/reschedule/etc

Place the borrower(s) phone number on your cell before you leave your office and then you can hit the send button without looking up his/her borrower(s) phone number.

Reply by jba/fl on 12/24/09 12:56am
Msg #315641

"A" is always programmed for where I am going. If I have more than one closing when I go out, the second is "B" and the third is "C" and so on. I would do numbers for time, for ex., but it would interfere with speed dial. Been doing this for years now. Esp. good at night.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/24/09 7:31am
Msg #315647

oops - hint about the high-lighter hint ...

Best to never use any, but if anyone does use one, NEVER use any color BUT yellow (and again, best to use none & some pickier folks might kick them back for it).

The reason for never using anything but yellow is that the other colors will show as black (obliterating anything beneath it), should the document need to be faxed (and some copiers will show it as black, too).

Reply by PAW on 12/24/09 8:42am
Msg #315653

Re: oops - hint about the high-lighter hint ...

You could also use a non-photo, no-copy blue pencil to "X" where signatures would go. These pencils leave erasable marks, but the marks will not copy when making photocopies (Xerox) of the documents. The pencils are available at most stationary stores, e.g., Staples, OfficeMax, etc.

The Prismacolor Col-Erase is, so far, the best line of non-photo pencils. The standard Prismacolor NP pencils (non-erasable) have extremely soft and fragile "lead," where as the Col-Erase stands up beautifully against breaks and pencil sharpeners. Available on-line from Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Col-erase-Erasable-Copy-Not-Non-Photo-SAN20028/dp/B000089D9W

Reply by Cheryl Mihalik on 12/24/09 10:11am
Msg #315668

omgosh that was GREAT advice about the hand lotion. Last night had two closings where the smell was very offensive! Thanks so much...Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays) to everyone.