Posted by Dillon/NC on 12/6/10 6:37pm
Msg #364156

Cut-off or drop dead time

Do most of you give a “cut-off or drop dead” time for delivery of docs. As a newbie, a lot of the work I get seems to be last minute assignments. May be the “regulars” are turning these back? I appreciate the work I am getting, but as my business picks up, I see this as being a potential problem. Any and all thoughts on this subject are appreciated.

Reply by Lee/AR on 12/6/10 6:43pm
Msg #364157

Yes n/m

Reply by CopperheadVA on 12/6/10 6:54pm
Msg #364159

I accommodate as best I can - if possible and within reason. If I don't have another appointment after the one with late docs, then I will work with them situation. But I also won't be strung along all night. If docs are late and I have other appointments, either I turn the assignment back or it goes to the end of the line. If docs just never come and it gets too late, I turn the assignment back.

I had one last week that was supposed to go at 1 PM. Borrower came home early from work for appointment. Docs finally came in at 4 PM just as I was leaving out the door for two more closings. I ended up putting that one at the back of the line and closed it at 8:30 PM.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 12/6/10 7:02pm
Msg #364160

Funny you should ask..

Depends on the day, the client, the situation.
Right now I am waiting on USAA docs along with a borrower, a witness, and an attorney in another state. I also have a 45 minute drive. So no, not today, I will accommodate.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 12/6/10 7:23pm
Msg #364161

Re: Funny you should ask..

USAA has been really bad lately with late docs. My 1 PM last week was USAA.

Reply by Alz on 12/6/10 7:40pm
Msg #364162

I'll have to agree with

Donna. You will learn that your business decisions, if you chose, will depend on many variables. It is up to you to decide on what will work best for you. Only you know what your true goals and objectives will be.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 12/6/10 8:22pm
Msg #364168

Re: I'll have to agree with

When I was new in the business, I was way too accommodating and was rarely paid extra for my accommodation....and a couple times, I wound up getting blamed for things that went wrong that had nothing to do with me.

I learned to have a firm deadline for receipt of docs so that I'll never be blamed again for a signing that goes so very wrong...when it was not my fault at all. They just want someone to point the finger at....and the signing agent is the bottom of the food chain.

When you have a horrible experience as I did, that's when you will decide, it's just not worth it trying to build your business by accommodating bottom feeders who can't get docs out in a reasonable amount of time.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 12/6/10 10:29pm
Msg #364189

Agree. I would only add...

make sure that you communicate the cut-off time to the hiring party in emails as well as when they schedule the signing.

I'll work with them as much as possible but I will not be late to another appointment for them. The borrowers live in YOUR area and if you are late to one appointment because of another loan it hurts YOUR business. Not to mention that it is not professional.

I have even charged extra not to turn the assignment back for docs that have been outrageously late. New confirmation arrived prior to printing of the docs; began the closing at 11:30pm for them.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 12/7/10 7:35am
Msg #364202

Re: Agree. I would only add...

I do give all my details when I accept the appointment, so there are no surprises to the hiring party. I send a reply email outlining my company terms after I receive the signing confirmation. I've had companies get snippy after receiving my email but heck, they send me all their terms....sometimes pages and pages of them. I'm a business and I have terms, too and I've learned to spell out my terms right up front. It works.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 12/7/10 4:02pm
Msg #364255

"but heck, they send me all their terms..." Exactly! 100% :) n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 12/6/10 9:07pm
Msg #364174

Good advice. It's a personal/business decision. n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 12/6/10 9:06pm
Msg #364173

No. I think I'd be out of biz in my area if I did that.

Late docs are often the norm at EOM.

Reply by James Dawson on 12/7/10 12:36am
Msg #364193

I Absolutely must have Docs two hours before scheduled appointment. Otherwise it goes back period. Traffic is soooo bad here that it takes an hour to go anywhere during commute hours. I don't do oops sorry Docs are late, totally unprofessional. IMO

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 12/7/10 10:00am
Msg #364214

Dillon, I am just on the other side of being a newbie. When I first began, I also got all the 'scraps'. My approach was to use the opportunity to impress a possible regular client. It didn't take long for me to weed out the "bottom feeders" and I'm sure you have figured out who they are by now. The signing I described last night was for a very good TC who almost never has issues, but things do happen and I try to be flexible for the good ones. I don't believe a blanket "drop dead" time will work for me either. Most of those I work with are accommodating for me at EOM, so if I have to deal with the occasional delay at other times for a good client I most certainly will.
The ones that are consistently late are the first ones you need to ditch once things pick up, IMO.

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 12/7/10 3:59pm
Msg #364254

Some cos like FAT are ALWAYS late! Unless your on-tme

clients don't mind the competition making THEIR customers wait, you kinda do have to have a cut-off time. Imagine you have a well-run company, who prides itself on efficiency & punctuality: are you going to stand for the competition making you look bad & your customers mad??? Of course not - it defeats your purpose & dries up your satisfied client referrals! I agree w/ the rest. Don't shoot yourself in the foot, but don't drag the ontime folks b/c some are ALWAYS late either!

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/7/10 6:45pm
Msg #364280

Ok, I just have to pipe in since I just got home ...

6:00 purchase closing, 10-15 min drive, call came in at 3:45 from a good/regular client - I was thrilled to have the time open.

5:20, no docs yet. Sent a "hey", find out they're still dinking with getting Hud approval. I say ok, send me the pkg while you're finishing the Hud. I finally get pkg at 5:57, I print/stack/set-up, I called buyer's Agent & bring her into the loop. She tells me closing location office closes at 7:00 (just to ante up the pressure). 6:20 - I get the Hud, I'm out the door ...I do NOT speed! This is where I just settle down and focus, I will get there when I get there.

In the door maybe 6:35 - out the door at 7:04 exactly, HOME 7:15 - and quite pleased with my little self, I don't mind saying. For me, it was actually fun! OH and get this - buyers? One was an atty and the other an engineer, and STILL this only took 29 minutes! =)

Long answer to a simple question - NO, I don't have a cut-off. I am all about C/S and team-work, and I will give whatever is mine to give w/out taking away from anyone else. Since I give a lot there - I don't flex a whole lot on my fees.