Posted by Wishie on 2/22/10 12:20pm
Msg #323756

How slow is everybody this month??

Compared to October and November, these last few months have been so slow. Here in NJ its been quite slow for me. I wonder how slow it is in Nevada and south Florida... Anybody know? Does anybody know the reason why its so slow? I know they had to change the hud around, so it matches the GFE. Any thoughts anybody??

Reply by Travis Paul on 2/22/10 12:28pm
Msg #323760

Down 25% this month.

Can't explain it.

Reply by Lee/AR on 2/22/10 12:35pm
Msg #323761

FWIW. Jan. & Feb. have always been (for me) traditionally slower months. As to why... in order for something to be closing now, it had to get into the pipeline (mostly) before & between T-Day and New Year's. I think that people just have too much else going on during that time to want to add the bother of getting it together for a new loan.

Reply by hp/MD on 2/22/10 12:59pm
Msg #323767

If I do 20 signing per month, I will make enough. That would give $2500-$3000 A month. Jan. I did 16 and in Feb so far I have done 27. By the end the month, I will do 35.

Reply by JinCA on 2/22/10 1:14pm
Msg #323769

Strangely, it was very busy last week for me.

So far this month has been busier than it usually has been lately. I just got a call for work today too.

Reply by LKT/CA on 2/22/10 1:38pm
Msg #323771

Very Useless Discussion

Since you asked for thoughts, here's mine: Totally meaningless discussion as slowness or busyness cannot be compared on a national level. Entirely too many variables to make sense of the differences.

The slowness or busyness of one Notary has no bearing whatsoever compared to the slowness or busyness of the next Notary. Notaries do not cover the same territory, do not have the same availability, do not work with the same clients and do not charge the same fees. Some Notaries are very rural in location, they have little competition so they may be busier than city notaries where it's saturated with competition. This is a full-time profession for some Notaries and a hobby for the employee minded notaries.

The hobbyist notary may be very busy as they will gladly accept $50 for a single refi and $75 for a reverse mortgage signing (to include entire package fax backs and travel in excess of 30 miles). The professional Notaries are called as a last resort and/or to clean up the messes made by the hobbyist notary. JMHO

Reply by SueW/Tn on 2/22/10 2:09pm
Msg #323778

Spot on Lisa! n/m

Reply by Philip Johnson on 2/22/10 2:12pm
Msg #323780

So is talking about poor quality CA Notaries,

but we tolerate it. So why can't we tolerate this as well?

BTW who has set the details of what a professional notary is and who applies these details? There are a myriad of professions that have professionals and part-timers and seem to do just fine. Is a full time realtor any better than a part time realtor? My lawyer works part time, because of age and great success as a younger lawyer, does this make him any less qualified? Why of course not.

There will always be those who don't shine as brightly as others in all professions, why should ours be any different? I sure don't understand why they (part-timers) get such derision on this board. Maybe there are those who wish they could get their business model to fit in to part time
work?

JMHO

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 2/22/10 2:17pm
Msg #323782

Re: So is talking about poor quality CA Notaries,

"I sure don't understand why they (part-timers) get such derision on this board"

I think the underlying thought is that anyone who does this part-time isn't as serious about it as those who do this full time and part-timers just do it for "pin" money..

I work part-time...why? Because I want to and because I can....doesn't mean I take my duties any less seriously than any full-time notary/signing agent...and it sure doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing....and it's not for "pin" money - it supplements our main source of income...but we're lucky enough to not need me to work full time to supplement.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 2/22/10 3:10pm
Msg #323796

Well I agree with you too Linda

I think Lisa hit it on the head with regards to the national difference between all of us. I, like you Linda, am in an extremely rural area and it has NEVER come close to what someone in the "big city" does. On the good side though the quantity isn't the same the price goes up as it's tough to find us NSA's way out here. For me there's never been a comparison between Oregon and California, or Tennessee and Florida...not even in the same league as far as volumn goes. My state also didn't see nearly the crash that others saw, somewhere there's a lesson there......

Reply by JinCA on 2/22/10 4:12pm
Msg #323800

Being busy, or not

I am full time, but lately it is more like part time, don't take low balls, and business has been pretty darn slow. That is why I was surprised at how busy last week was. Today's signing was the same job that 4Notary called me for, and I turned down, on Saturday, but it was with a different company today. The good news here is that 4Notary was unable to find any Notary here to play his stupid games!

Reply by LKT/CA on 2/22/10 4:25pm
Msg #323808

Re: So is talking about poor quality CA Notaries,

Phillip, you (mis)interpreted "hobbyist" to mean part-timer. I equate hobbyist with attitude, quality, level of service, and the state of being employee minded.

I agree there are professional part time Notaries who work to make a profit. Like Linda stated, hobbyists work for pin money - and many have come on this board stating they work for: money to shop, money "just" to pay for this or that - it is not a business to them. Just a means to an end - and their work and service is reflected in that attitude. They have not counted the true cost and really could care less as they'll take whatever is offered to them - to the detriment of the professionals that have to justify why our experience and service are worth more than $XX. On the good side, professionals do get top dollar to clean up messes of the hobbyist.

JMHO

Reply by MW/VA on 2/22/10 5:46pm
Msg #323819

I do agree with you, however, I think there are some

national trends right now. Very slow for me in Jan. & Feb. (maybe half my usual).
If it weren't for VA & FHA streamline refi's I don't think there'd be anything going on.