Posted by Sherri Bryant on 6/18/09 9:18am
Msg #292668

Signing Prep Questions

As a newbie I want to make sure I cover all basis with TC/SS when making an appt. Do you have any suggestions as to what questions to make sure and cover when contacted. It's obvious to ask location of borrower, name & address but what are some others that you cover? Thanks for your assistance.

Reply by notary/OR on 6/18/09 9:36am
Msg #292671

You should make sure you have your fee structure for the areas you are planning to cover and print fees. All TC/SS send confirmations for the signing which include the borrowers information, fee which you will be paid and return information for the documents. Questions you should ask if its not stated to you (which it usually is), are "what is the zip code for the signing?" (that way you know what to state as your fee), "How are the documents coming?". Then let them know what your fee is for that area. Borrowers name and address is always on the confirmation so its up to you if you want to ask that. Make sure you get a name and phone number of who called you for the signing in case for some reason the confirmation doesn't arrive, you can call them back to let them know. Check the confirmation to make sure your fee is listed either on the email or the attached confirmation. Always reply back when you receive documents to make sure you have everything. Lender documents and Title documents plus a HUD or settlements statement. Be professional and make sure you have a good supply of pens in your notary bag, blue and black and make sure you know what color ink the title company or lender want the documents signed in.

Before you start accepting signings, I suggest you print out the list of companies from Signing Central on this website. Keep it in your schedule notebook and when you receive a call, look them up quickly to see what their star rating is. If it is not 4 stars or above, then you should ask them to hold and log on to check the notary feedback. Companies that do not pay often call new notaries. If the company is listed with 4 or 5 stars you are probably okay.

Good luck!

Reply by RickG/CA on 6/18/09 9:45am
Msg #292674

Hello and welcome.

One item I ask, in addition, is for an after hours or emergency phone contact should the signing take place outside of normal business hours.

Reply by John/CT on 6/18/09 10:04am
Msg #292676

Good suggestions thus far. In addition, when confirming the appointment with the borrowers (I always do, even when instructed not to in the signing order): Make sure they have an unexpired govt-issued picture ID in the names listed on your order (sometimes lender/title will require a photocopy); Get an alternative telephone number to call inroute in case you're delayed ("things" happen, you know); If out-of-state properties, make sure the witness requirement for CT, GA, LA and SC will be met.

Reply by John/CT on 6/18/09 10:11am
Msg #292677

Re: Witness Requirement - FL

For deeds other than Morgage or DOT.

Reply by John/CT on 6/18/09 10:13am
Msg #292678

Ooops ... I am MORTified! ) n/m

Reply by Sherri Bryant on 6/18/09 10:19am
Msg #292679

Thanks to all for your excellent advice. If you think of anything else, feel free to pass it along. Not looking to get rich just suppliment my income. As I read I have found that if you don't know what you are doing and what to expect, you could go broke.

Reply by John/CT on 6/18/09 2:40pm
Msg #292725

Worse than that ...

you could really be in deep (stuff) if you make a mistake as a Signing Agent because your notary E & O insurance doesn't cover you. As was said long ago on Hill Street Blues, "Be very careful out there".

Reply by jojo_MN on 6/18/09 11:19am
Msg #292689

Make sure you have the agreed fee IN WRITING on the confirmation. If it's not, have them re-send with corrected fee listed. Many times you might be shorted on the fee and you won't have proof of the fee without it.

Reply by BobbiCT on 6/18/09 12:01pm
Msg #292692

Marketing ...

Double check your up-front cost business analysis to make sure you spend your marketing investment dollars wisely.

There are MANY internet sites to advertise on. You want to check out your area competitors and decide which sites are worth paying for a higher listing and which sites may not have as many established signing agents in your area advertising for work.

As mentioned before, check out Signing Central for posts from others regarding company history and "issues."

Good luck! With all the layoffs from the lending, title and legal industry entering this field, you picked a competitive time to enter a market that has, in some areas, a reduced business volume.

Reply by MW/VA on 6/18/09 2:36pm
Msg #292723

You've been given a lot of good advice. The initial call from tc/ss is about negotiation.
First they will find out if you are available, then you need to negotiate your fee. It is also a good idea to ask what the size of the package is. Some FHA loans are 150 pages plus these days, and you will need to charge more for that. Always ask them to send a confirmation. That will contain all the borrower contact info, etc. Good luck!

Reply by SharonMN on 6/18/09 4:48pm
Msg #292739

1- the nature of the appointment - is it a single refi, a piggyback, a reverse mortgage, resign of a single "lost" document, purchase, application signing? These all take different amounts of time and may even require special expertise or licensing - or be something you just don't want to get involved in.

2 - how & when you will get the docs - by email, by website, by overnight to you or to borrower?

3 - faxbacks or any other special requirements?

4 - let them know your deadline for receiving docs and ask when they expect to have them ready.

5 - agree upon fee

6 - make sure you get the company's name and a contact number so you can call to inquire in case the confirmation never shows up.

Reply by Jack/AL on 6/18/09 10:19pm
Msg #292789

Often a TC or SS will ask me to confirm that docs were received, or docs were printed. Upon receipt, I view the docs (preferrably before printing the first set). If I'm concerned about what I see, or don't see, I send an email and ask. Many problems can be resolved quickly if recognized at that point. When I do confirm the receipt of docs, whether problems were noted or not, I tell how many attachments were received, and indicate the number of pages in each. Didn't do that a few times and it turned out that not all pages were sent, but their absence was not something I'd readily notice. Once received the refi docs and completed signing, and was asked what I'd done with the HELOC package. Never received it, and did not know it was suppose to be coming, since the scheduler did not mention it and I did not consider it in pricing.