Posted by pat/WA on 2/23/09 4:04pm
Msg #278491

documents

Can anyone tell me why we can't receive e-docs in a timely fashion???? They book the signing days in advance but cannot get documents. I am sure there is an obvious answer, but I don't know the answer.

Reply by anita55109 on 2/23/09 4:16pm
Msg #278494

The only reason I can come up with is that procrastination is the rule of thumb in the Mortgage Industry.

Reply by Julie/IL on 2/23/09 4:24pm
Msg #278495

I'm sure whom ever is in charge of docs were able to go home on time last night and most likely took their lunch today.

Reply by pat/WA on 2/23/09 4:31pm
Msg #278496

They just assume that the notary has nothing better to do than to wait and reschedule if need be. I've got news for them, this is no way to run a business. Have they heard there is no job security in a RECESSION

Reply by Lee/AR on 2/23/09 4:49pm
Msg #278498

Because they apparently think we can get 'beamed' to a signing while printing docs en route and then 'beam' back home so we can status online on their website within ONE hour of the start of the appointment in order to be paid. In other words, they are nuts.

Reply by PAW on 2/23/09 5:45pm
Msg #278505

It all boils down to a failure to plan ahead, in most cases. Someone, in their infinite wisdom, be it the broker, lender or title processor, determines a "closing" date. Well, that's the date that gets written on the file. So, it's not until that date that someone actually puts together the final HUD, escrow docs, title docs and lender docs into a single package. BUT ... the title processor has to wait for final HUD approval before closing. Guess when they do it ... right ... the date that is written on the file! It then becomes a crisis and rush, rush, rush, to get it put together.

The preceding was only glimpse into my crystal ball while working at trying to put a closing package together. Maybe looking at it another day will yield different results. Then again, maybe not.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/23/09 5:56pm
Msg #278507

I avoid the entire situation by

scheduling my own signings, and I don't schedule until I have the docs. I do, upon receiving the assignment make a courtesy call to the BO to tell them I will call back to schedule as soon as I get the docs. Almost never is the time the TC, LO or SS schedules with the BO set in cement. If it is, I will do what I can to keep it, but if you don't have the docs, you don't have them and when you schedule this way, it doesn't throw the rest of your schedule off.

Reply by Tess on 2/23/09 7:11pm
Msg #278510

Re: I avoid the entire situation by

Glen, does that mean that all your clients just call you and never set a time, or does that mean that you accept a 5:30 appointment saying you can do it then, and then only do it when it is convenient for you, of course within the boundaries of when the borrower can do it also?

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/23/09 8:36pm
Msg #278518

Re: I'm obviously not Glenn but...

I find that most schedulers (TC &SS) are usually glad to let me set the appointments, it takes some pressure off their backs and it certainly works best for me.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/24/09 1:07am
Msg #278540

Tess

It means my clients trust me to schedule my appointments. When I get the docs, I call the BO and ask what time is good for them. Sometimes they name a time or most of the time they say whatever is good for me, then I say "How about xx oclock?" It always works out better than setting a time before you get the docs and then having to throw your schedule out of whack with late docs.

If you have good customer service skills, it's no problem for you to set the time and have the borrower think it's their idea. Everyone is happy.

Reply by Shelly_FL on 2/23/09 7:57pm
Msg #278515

Re: I avoid the entire situation by

I like your approach Glenn. Is this arrangement just between you and the borrowers or do you make it clear to title/SS that you will only confirm the time after having received the docs?

I charge a reschedule fee, if my appointments are postponed or resceduled (due to their poor planning). Some understand and pay - others don't.

Reply by Pat/IL on 2/23/09 8:25pm
Msg #278517

In the days before email

There was a time when the lenders had to get the docs in the overnight the day before the closing, or the closing was not going to take place. Since they had the package complete, they faxed the closing instructions ahead. This gave the title company time to work up the HUD and distribute it to the lender and broker for approval.

I do remember a time or two when the lender missed the overnight and insisted on faxing the entire package. That turned out to be a bad idea.

But, if I had to name a primary culprit, email gets the nod. It has allowed an inch and the processing departments took a mile.

Reply by davidK/CA on 2/23/09 9:26pm
Msg #278523

That would explain why...

I get a call at 3:15 from a signing service to complete a signing 25 miles away at 4:00. Where are the documents? Oh, they will email them in "a few" minutes. Of course I can't even call the BO, but instead I have to call the LO to try and change an impossible appointment to a later and more reasonable time given the time and distance circumstances. The LO says that the signing MUST occur at 4:00 because the signed purchase documents have to be in FedEx today.

Needless to say I declined the assignment, and I wonder if it actually occurred at 4:00 as required. It would have to have been completed by a NSA located practically next door to the LO's office to make that kind of a schedule. So whose brilliant planning was responsible for this?

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/23/09 10:46pm
Msg #278530

I just laugh when docs are supposed to be same-day

turnaround.

Last FedEx out around here is 1:45 up town, or 2:15 at Salishan, about 10 miles through town. Instant gratification is rare around these parts, FedExsly speaking.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/23/09 9:33pm
Msg #278525

Oh, Pat, that sounds like The Golden Age of Docs...sigh.

Thanks for painting that glorious picture. Humming offices, like well-oiled machines...I love it when a plan comes together.

I've found that many borrowers were 'assigned' a time (presumably based upon a hope of doc delivery by such and such,) and are quite willing to negotiate alternatives. Sometimes it's a lock, but mostly casual here on the rural coast. Since late edoc delivery seems to be getting to be a trend, I've been warning borrowers with a 'no news is good news' caveat to the 'time.' I try to remember to get cell #s.

But, for all my efforts, every once in a while, the Timing Dragon wins. Arrrg.

Reply by Jessc098 on 2/23/09 9:28pm
Msg #278524

I call and badger about docs. I ask for tracking numbers if they're coming by mail. I ask for an ETA on Docs and put it in Outlook call on the dotn (of course just to make sure my e-mail is working correctly because I'm sure they sent them when they said they would). They get to know that I'm a pain in the toushie if they wait around on sending me docs, but I've never had to reschedule for lack thereof.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 2/23/09 10:49pm
Msg #278532

Not enough staff

I think much of the problem is the lender/escrow/title companies do not have the staff employed to get the docs sent to the notary on time.

There have been so many layoffs in the mortgage industry, since Aug 2007, that now there are so many homes sold (Inland Empire CA foreclosures) the companies can't keep up.

The reason for the late docs in other parts of the country could be completely different than what I am experiencing?

Remember, the borrower is called and asked what time they would like the appointment scheduled?
The notary is called to see if he/she can accommodate the time the borrower requires. This isn't true 100% of the time but it is true 95% of the time.

When Edocs started in 2002-2003, the mortgage industry didn't have a clue how to handle edocs efficiently and most notary/loan signers didn't either and all the posts above were the same as posted in2002/2003.

My Point: just try to be patient with difficult situations and l work through a hard time in our industry!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 2/24/09 4:27am
Msg #278546

Re: Not enough staff

I think you nailed it, Joan, at least for our part of the country. Towards the end of last year, my guess is that many companies were still in staff reduction mode. Then there was a drop in interest rates combined with some lenders coming out of paralysis caused by the "mortgage meltdown", and presto, a rash of loan applications and more work than they can handle. By "they", that is as likely the loan processors as much as the escrow/title folks. Probably created lots of bottlenecks... not that this phenomenon is anything new, though. Just seems to be getting worse.

As for the scheduling, I do think that sometimes it has to do with trying to (often unrealistically) try to get the docs out the same day. But other times, I think it's just the time that the person setting the appointment wants to have it done, in case they need to be called. Seems to be only about half the time with me (for the ones that are prescheduled) that the time specified is set because of borrower need or convenience.