Posted by LindaD/NJ on 2/27/10 9:55pm
Msg #324588

This was a first!

First time EVER went to the mall and closed a loan. I actually made money instead of spending it!

Reply by LKT/CA on 2/27/10 10:03pm
Msg #324589

At the food court?

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 2/27/10 10:26pm
Msg #324594

I've done a re-fi at McDonalds. n/m

Reply by LKT/CA on 2/27/10 10:27pm
Msg #324595

To clarify...

Did you meet the client at the food court or at a specific store to complete the signing? Mostly for general notary work, I've notarized at various fast food restaurants, regular restaurants, at a construction site, met a postal carrier on his route. I only once did I complete a loan signing at a restaurant, and once at a CPA's office. All others were either at the borrower's home or a R.E. broker's office. Not yet had a signing at the mall. Was wondering how that went, with the noise and distractions.

Reply by kathy/ca on 2/28/10 1:00am
Msg #324598

I did a loan signing at a horse show & at the fair grounds! n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/28/10 1:26am
Msg #324599

Mhmm. Lots of campsites, at night, around the fire,

kids giggling in tents with flashlights, the dogs under the table keeping feet warm, that bright glow of the Coleman, the gentle conversations wafting on a soft ocean breeze.

The crab boat was a hoot. Postage-stamp sized 'table', the couple fighting, the rolling of the wavelets at the dock. One of the hands had a very mullet-ey mullet; they called him Dances with Hairspray.

Out on a porch, in the windy rain at a teetering, ancient table, no chairs - and looking through the windows (as far as that was possible) into the home of a hoarder.

Trunk of the car at the casino, pick-up tailgate at the mill, front seat of the state trooper's cruiser.

Top of a hill on a sunlit veranda, the Pacific below, and deer ambling through the yard munching on sweet green vegetable tops.

On a small cliff above the crashing surf, with four WHALES *right there*, snorting and blowing - that one took a really long time; we were mesmerized.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 2/28/10 3:01am
Msg #324602

Re: Mhmm. Lots of campsites, at night, around the fire,

I've certainly never had anything so scenic, but this got me thinking about some of the more unusual signing experiences I can recall. Here's a list of some of the more memorable ones, in no particular order:

* On a bench at the airport (before the security entrance, of course).

* On a 4" counter between cubicles in a lab that makes dentures and partials -- with "teeth" covering practically every surface.

* On the hood of a car at a stable while the daughter took her riding lesson.

* At a pizza parlor, many McDonald's, many Starbucks, etc.

* Outside in the wind on a bench made of slats of boards (with gaps in between) at the front entrance of a jail where one of the borrowers worked as a guard, while on her break. (Got a nice tip for that one!)

* On a very narrow dinner tray at a convalescent home with two grand kids signing for their fist home; grandma, the co-signer, needed her colostomy bag changed, but was determined to stick with it until we finished!

* On clip boards in folding chairs in an elderly couple's tiny bedroom while their grown kids watched TV in the very cramped living room next door. (They were taking cash out and didn't want the "kids" to know.) Signed them again a couple of years later sitting on folding chairs in their driveway. I'll never forget them: he absolutely doted on his wife and everyone who drove or walked by waved to him and he gave them a shout out. Probably worked hard all his life and they are now scrambling to get by - and the terms and fees were ugly...

* At a very nice home in Laguna Beach. To get there, I had to hike up the side of a hill about 85 steps (not counting the switch-backs...), with two sets of docs and the case I carry all my notary stuff in. It was very steep with lots of vegetation, so I could never tell how much was left to go. This was for a purchase of a new home and they were moving out of this one. (I wonder why...!) I was sharing the path on the way up and down with a whole stream of movers carting their stuff out! (BTW, the 3-car garage was at the bottom of the path.)

* Probably the most bizarre was right in the dining room of the borrowers' home. In the middle of our signing, it suddenly was time for potty training for their toddler triplets, so each of the boys brought their little potties into the dining room with us...... Sometimes I wish I had that conversation on tape, because it's one of those things you'd have to hear to believe! I'll leave it at that!!

Reply by LindaD/NJ on 2/28/10 9:05am
Msg #324628

Re: Mhmm. Lots of campsites, at night, around the fire,

Susan, You need to start taping your closings!!! Or at least bring a camera to capture the moment! Your backgrounds sound fantastic!! Mine are pretty normal.

Reply by Laura_V on 2/28/10 10:09am
Msg #324636

Burst out laughing at "Dances with Hairspray" LOL! n/m

Reply by Laura_V on 2/28/10 10:12am
Msg #324637

Brenda! More great anecdotes by Susan right here! n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/28/10 11:53pm
Msg #324726

Thanks, all. Another great one this am - Sophia, four, sent

her sister, Cassie, seven, over to the table after much whispering - "Sophia wants to know why your're over at the table with that lady."

As soon as the introductions were over, I told Sophia that I was sooo jealous of her rubyred sequined ballet flats, and that I just adored Cassie's checkered flannel sweats. Then they went outside (still in red shoes) and planned something behind the gate that involved red paint, two huskies, and a cat, and giggling. And water!

That did it, and we all took a little break.

I'm beat, g'night.

Stay warm, safe, and healthy.

Reply by Notarysigner on 2/28/10 1:27am
Msg #324600

Re: To clarify...

I've done about 20 at different Starbucks around the bay area, usually young adults. Once in a parking lot of an AM/PM Convenience Store at 11 pm at night in a rural area with a CFO of a Brokerage firm.

Reply by jba/fl on 2/28/10 2:31am
Msg #324601

Re: To clarify...

An Office Max loading dock for a trucker; a bench in a parking lot on a windy day as our restaurant of choice was filled to capacity; many McDonald's and other various restaurants; library in the children's section with teeny chairs; a travel trailer at a campground; a front porch with a moving box as a table as the bo wouldn't allow me in the house saying no where to sit.

Reply by Jim/AL on 2/28/10 10:34am
Msg #324641

Did one for the owners of an oriental head shop in a mall, it sucked. We did the closing with all 3 of us behind the counter, the glass top only about a foot deep made things rough. Only room behind counter to squeeze 2 bodies sideways.

Freaks walking around asking prices etc.. it was more than interesting.

Reply by LindaD/NJ on 2/28/10 9:00am
Msg #324627

Full refi on a bench in front of Bonton's Dept. Store.

No food court. An Aunti Ann's (name ?) pretzel is there but the tables were taken so we sat on a wooden bench.

Reply by Yowheelz on 2/28/10 9:34am
Msg #324633

Tailgate at a football game, flower stand in church,

lots of fastfood, pizza and diners, libraries, schools, truck stops, campgrounds, yachts (we are on the Chesapeake Bay) and backyard picnic tables. Keeps the job interesting.

Reply by Jayhawk/KS on 2/28/10 10:23am
Msg #324639

Re: Tailgate at a football game, flower stand in church,

On a little stool about 3" off the ground, signing on a coffee table. The people were Oriental. I finally ditched the little stool since my derrier was almost bigger than the stool! My legs were so cramped that I prayed I could stand up when the signing was over. This was in the lobby of a motel, with people coming and going, so everytime, someone came in or out, one of them had to hop up and tend to the customers.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 2/28/10 10:53am
Msg #324642

Just Noticed...

...you're a fellow Western KS native. I'm originally from Great Bend & have been to Hays many times. Also a huge Jayhawks fan in mourning from our loss at OK-State yesterday.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 2/28/10 2:12pm
Msg #324663

Dennis: My hubby is a Jayhawk alum and is still in shock n/m

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 2/28/10 10:59pm
Msg #324725

Why I carry a folding, four seat picnic table in my trunk.

Light weight , EZ to carry and set up. About $20 @ Target.

Reply by laurielnc on 2/28/10 9:23pm
Msg #324715

I signed a police man that was on his last day of training to be a State Trooper. He was beat up and he said he had to defend himself from his superior as one of his last things to do to graduate. He was still sweaty and panting. He stays on the grounds for 2 or 3 months until he graduates. I signed his wife at home and he signed on the barracks in the school room.
Also signed a woman in the basement of our Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh. Went down a private elevator for employees only 2 levels and there were more stuffed animals and a library. Kind of cool.