Posted by Perry Smith on 11/28/09 4:40pm
Msg #312401

New Notary Signing Agent

Hello All,

I am a new signing agent in the Orlando, Fl area. i am willing to work with any agents in this area on various assignments. If you can help me get started I will help you as well.

Thanks

Perry

Reply by Roger_OH on 11/28/09 4:58pm
Msg #312402

Perry, just a check here on NotRot of the 32805 zip code shows 489 mobile notaries within a 50-mile radius of that area. Granted not all of them are necessarily signing agents, but have you thoroughly researched what you're getting into?? There's a lot more than meets the eye to operating a notary business. Use the orange search button to visit message 33325 for starters.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/29/09 10:18am
Msg #312435

229 notaries within a 20 mile radius of his specific zip code here alone - and in that group are several established and respected signing agents -

Over a dozen within a ten mile radius on another site - also including establilshed and respected signing agents

I'd say don't give up your day job yet - you have a long road to hoe - unless of course you undercut eveyone else and work for pennies on the dollar (equivalent to working at a loss)..

Reply by jba/fl on 11/28/09 6:48pm
Msg #312408

Since you do not link your profile to your post, I don't know a thing about you other than you are new to this business, and don't know what you are doing. I am in Orlando. Why would I be interested in you? I am not being mean, rather realistic. Basically, you have come here with a proposal, but you have not stated what you bring to the table. Experience I don't have? Contacts? Where did you get your training and interest in doing this work? I can guess but assumptions are not always a good thing. There is a lot missing here for anyone to make any kind of decision beyond dismissal.

This is not a job-seeking forum. This forum is for learning and exchanging. Since this is, theoretically, your business, then you need to research the business, set up a profile, link that profile so that others may decide if they want to talk with you or call you with work.

Start with message #33325. Use the orange search button to read about other items of interest. If it has been thought about it has been discussed and it is archived for retrieval. A great number of people have left this field - the pickings are slim right now. I'm sure you have read that there is a mortgage crisis of sorts going on and it probably will continue for another 2 years. No one is getting a clear image in their crystal balls right now.

On the other side of the coin: a lot of businesses started in bad times and became wildly successful. One thing they all did: research, research, research. There is always an element of risk ; they found a way to overcome.

As I said, there is just not enough information in your post to make any kind of decision. You may PM me, but understand, there are no guarantees. One thing we do not do: we do not take others with us on our assignments, regardless of what your training organization may have told you as that is a violation of someone's privacy.

Reply by Todd/OH on 11/28/09 7:04pm
Msg #312410

Do ya really wanna do this??

This is a business in which you must print a double-stack for the borrower's convenience (it's actually the law to do so). We pay our own expenses up front, wiggle through traffic for an hour or more only to learn the borrower was to get funds from the deal. (That doesn't happen every time).

Every lender and SS has different rules and they are to be followed - to the letter or we don't get paid. The package was promised to be only 80 pages and is now 120 pages - and it's late. You have two other deals booked. Where do they go ???

Three deals that you did last month haven't paid. Time to do some 'chasing'. After two weeks, two pay with one left. That one asks you to do another closing. You ask him and he says, "Oh, just update your invoice and we'll send a check for both, eh?".

This business is no walk in the park. Many good notaries have left for these and other reasons. Give it thought and DO YOUR RESEARCH !!!

Reply by Jim/AL on 11/28/09 8:32pm
Msg #312415

There goes my trip to Orlando, darnit. n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 11/28/09 9:42pm
Msg #312418

Why? I'll help amuse you w/no guarantees...LOL n/m

Reply by Jim/AL on 11/29/09 12:55pm
Msg #312443

Will u buy me a giant lollipop and hold my hand Julie :-) n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 11/29/09 5:30pm
Msg #312453

Sure.... n/m

Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/28/09 10:45pm
Msg #312423

About message # 33325

Since we've had so many brand new people come here with an attitude asking for a handout with nothing to offer in return, I wanted to add an addendum to the post from jba/fl suggesting you read message #33325. That's an excellent recommendation, but before you spend time reading it - and it will take you some time to read the whole thread - please keep in mind that it also took a whole bunch of other people a lot of time to compile all the wealth of information there.

That post - with the many follow-up posts there - is a veritable gold mine for someone starting out in this business. Please appreciate that gift for what it is. People who post here without doing there homework first don't often get the responses they expect. In fact, what you will likely get here is the unvarnished, sometimes hard core truth, without the sugar coating - and that isn't what most people expect. But if you show you've tried and have a question that hasn't been answered a thousand times, there's an amazing amount of support available. (BTW, can't remember if anyone yet mentioned the orange search button at the top of the home page. That will be your best friend...)

FWIW, like some of the others, whenever I see someone posting that they have just entered this business the first thing that pops into my mind is "Why in the world would someone want to get into this business NOW?"

Best of luck to you!

Reply by BrendaTx on 11/29/09 8:06am
Msg #312429

Re: About message # 33325

It's not that early but I've just rolled out of bed so maybe my brain is a little foggy. I'm trying to understand what a new person, fresh into the business, could bring to trade for assistance in getting started.

In the final analysis of starting a new business, when getting started, self-reliance is the key to any sliver of success for a notary in today's economy.

-First, learn business principles.
-Figure out what all you need to purchase/obtain in order to get this type of business in place.
-Next, learn about marketing a business.
-(If you do a business plan and are honest with yourself while creating it, then you might give up at this step see there's probably no good reason to start this particular business full-time...or maybe even part-time.)
-Work on learning the notary rules of one's state. Be able to recite them.
-Read everything you can. Don't believe everything you read.
-Get your hands on a set of loan docs so you can figure out where the important points of each document are located in the documents. Know how to describe each document in one sentence.
-Purchase/obtain the equipment you've researched to be the best you can afford to do the job.
-Then, build a "better mousetrap" ... if you can. If you can't offer something better, it's unlikely that you'll be able to market yourself effectively in an over-burdened supply of signing agents where there's far less work.
-Figure out how much it costs to produce that mousetrap.
-Set a price so that you can make a profit.
-Charge accordingly. Don't plan to nickel/dime callers to death. Be ready to quote a fee or accept a reasonable price at the drop of a hat.
-Market the mousetrap until you get someone to try it. It needs to work well and be effective.
-Offer the best customer service you can.
-Guarantee your work.
-Find a way to support yourself and your new business for a long time, until you actually create a business.
-Seek to streamline your budget for your business while you are waiting for calls...because you will wait for calls...trim out any bells or whistles.
-Adjust prices and services to find a place for consistent profit.
-While you wait for calls, learn about the collections process because you will encounter the need to collect.

Reply by John_NorCal on 11/29/09 9:24am
Msg #312432

Hey Brenda -- Not foggy! :-) n/m

Reply by Johna/NY on 11/29/09 2:24pm
Msg #312445

Re: About message # 33325

New Agent I made the same mistake by asking for help being new. Don't let it get you down and good luck. I know it seems crazy that people in your own business would be like this.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/29/09 2:33pm
Msg #312446

Johna, I'm going to take exception to your post here

Don't see why you think he "made the same mistake" you did - he got good, constructive advice...and the referral to read 33325 was a good one...

If hard facts and the truth are bad advice I'll take my toys and go home...and I am oh so tired of worrying about hurting someone's feelings by simply stating the truth...if the truth hurts then they shouldn't be in business to begin with - cuz truth is business is down and his market is saturated....

MHO

Reply by Louis/AZ on 11/29/09 2:51pm
Msg #312447

Re: Johna, I'm going to take exception to your post here

I'm with you, Linda. I don't think there's anything wrong with being blunt. I only take exception when people are being blatantly rude, which no one was in this post.

I think most of us know there are way too many signing agents around as it is. As for new people, I get calls every now and then from new notaries/signing agents who want someone to mentor them and show them the ropes. I don't give them the time of day. I'm not rude about it, I just tell them I'm not interested in mentoring anyone at this time. Call me bitter, but I had to learn almost everything on my own and it took years. I'm not willing to give ANY of my business secrets away to a stranger. I run a business - not a charity.

I'd find some good information on NR every now and then, but the things I've learned you won't find posted here (or anywhere else I'm aware of) because the people who know these "things" are not willing to broadcast them to the rest of the notary world (for obvious reasons).

Unfortunately, I think the only realistic way to attract more business if you're new would be to undercut everyone in your area. The problem is it'll lead to the established notaries having to undercut you, and it begins an endless cycle of undercutting until suddenly $65 and $75 signings become the norm. I've seen it happen here in my area. I don't think there's any room for newbies right now, sorry.

Reply by jba/fl on 11/29/09 5:46pm
Msg #312456

Re: Johna, I'm going to take exception to your post here

"Unfortunately, I think the only realistic way to attract more business if you're new would be to undercut everyone in your area. The problem is it'll lead to the established notaries having to undercut you, and it begins an endless cycle of undercutting until suddenly $65 and $75 signings become the norm."

I wrote soemthing to that effect then decided that I may be reviled for being mean. What should I do? Mentor a la XYZ suggestions and take ride alongs? I have mentored in the past, only to see the undercutting begin immediately. Or, someone to call me and let me know how well they are doing, but offer nothing for the time I've given. I am semi-retired, but not ready to quit. I'm already faced with $85 edocs, $75 edocs and feel that $65 is around the corner. I still get what I ask from TC's and some signing services, but everyone is feeling the crunch and sooner or later those numbers will fall from SS's and we have all seen that TC's are getting cheaper also.

Should I just quit altogether to make room for newbies? Is that the underlying message: I'm new, I'm here, I'm ready for you to step aside? I'm sure you are, but not with my help, not as long as my scratching post is still functional. And if I am going to toss business elsewhere, I already have my peeps ready, willing and able to stand on their own two feet already. No formal network, but I have have one just the same. And I know they know what they are doing so my referral keeps my reputation safe.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/29/09 4:35pm
Msg #312449

Taking exception to your post, too.

"I know it seems crazy that people in your own business would be like this."

This isn't exactly correct. The others on this board are in the same field, but they are technically NOT in your "own business" - they are your competitors. That's a pretty important distinction! I don't know of any other business where it's considered normal to train your competition to take business away from you. That would be just considered foolhardy. As Luis/AZ said, we are in business, not a charity. [BTW, great message, Luis!]

To reiterate a point I stated in my previous post, which you clearly missed, the information available in message 33325 is a very valuable GIFT that you or any one else here is very lucky to have. On second thought.... maybe it IS crazy for this board to even offer message #33325, especially to those who think they are entitled to just take from those who have invested tons of sweat equity to build their businesses on their own efforts, not someone else's. At least the original poster had the decency to offer to try to reciprocate, even though the value of that offer is questionable. And yes, he DID get the advice he needs, imo, whether or not it seems so on the surface.

Reply by BrendaTx on 11/29/09 5:12pm
Msg #312451

Johna / NY - your link to your website is broken...

in your profile.

Reply by jba/fl on 11/29/09 6:04pm
Msg #312461

Johna/NY: I have just finished researching

your previous posts and cannot find a single instance of how you could possibly be offended when you first began posting here. I don't see where you asked for help either and got anything but help. If you are citing and I am not researching properly, then correct me. I know some of been slammed when they post asking for info - but it is wrong of you to take another's experience and pass it off as your own.