Posted by Jodith/WA on 1/11/10 8:37pm
Msg #317659

Just finished my first signing

OMG, I'm so tired *laughs*. 130 pages for a refi. They didn't get the docs to me until 15 minutes before I was supposed to be there. Luckily clients were easy to deal with. I ended up printing half the documents and had husband drop me off. He brought the rest of the documents when they finished printing. I'm about to head back again with the client copies.

But, I got through and me head didn't explode or anything. I was able to answer questions about the various docs and I think I got everything signed properly. I went through the whole huge packet one last time before dropping them at Fed Ex.

Hopefully the next signing will be just a little less hurried.

Reply by Ali/IL on 1/11/10 8:47pm
Msg #317661

You could have just told the borrowers that docs were coming in late and moved the time. You went through a lot of trouble.Plus, your husband should not be handling those docs.Keep in mind that the companies may call the borrower and check up on you.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 1/11/10 9:04pm
Msg #317666

I agree that if it were me, I would have simply called the borrowers are let them know that docs came in late and I'm printing now - I will be there at XX time. If they say they can't do it at that time then I stop the printer and call the hiring company. In fact, I call the borrower once the time comes that I no longer have time to print and travel to their home on time. At that time I will ascertain if the borrowers have flexibility in their schedule, and I tell them I will call them when I'm leaving my house with printed docs - this gives them a definite time to expect me.

I don't see anything wrong with the original poster having her husband print the docs. I think many of us have had a family member or trusted assistant help us out with that from time to time. Of course I would not have my neighbor come in and do that for me, but a spouse? Yes I would and I have.

But I do agree that it was not necessary to leave without ALL printed docs - good for her for trying to offer the best service possible to the borrower. Next time just make the call and don't leave until you have everything in hand.

Reply by trnsa_IL on 1/11/10 9:22pm
Msg #317673

"In fact, I call the borrower once the time comes that I no longer have time to print and travel to their home on time. At that time I will ascertain if the borrowers have flexibility in their schedule, and I tell them I will call them when I'm leaving my house with printed docs - this gives them a definite time to expect me."

I do the exact same thing as you, and if they are not flexible I notify the hiring company.

My husband also helps me out every EOM with printing docs. As a matter of fact, he has spoken directly to many TCs after I have given them his name and number to contact him regarding the docs. I have always told them my husband will be printing print the docs. These are usually last minute or late docs that I cannot wait for any longer. I believe that if any TC had an issue with him handling the documents they would have said something by now. I always double check each package to make sure all docs have been printed. Like I said, he always helps me out in a pinch. (I am blessed in that regard as well as others)

Reply by Les_CO on 1/11/10 8:59pm
Msg #317664

I’m happy to hear you got through the ‘signing’ okay. Was it harder than you expected? Was it worth the fee that you charged, considering all the time you and your husband spent?
It will get easier with experience. Just remember to charge what you, and your time are worth. I hope you get paid. Welcome!

Reply by MW/VA on 1/11/10 9:01pm
Msg #317665

Congrats on the 1st. I might suggest that you never leave for an appt. until you know you have all the docs. What would you have done if you had realized that not everything was there (a missing TIL, or not enough copies of the RTC). Many of us print the docs & arrange them in a stacking order before ever leaving for the appt. I also hope you're using a laser printer & not shrinking docs to letter-size or anything like that. Best of luck in the signing profession. It can drive you mad, but it can be rewarding for those who handle it correctly.

Reply by John Schenk on 1/11/10 9:17pm
Msg #317672

Congrats, Jodith! Hope you caught everything...

and I'm sure you did. They get easier as you go, but you always have those that really slam you because of this or that. I also have no problem with a spouse printing docs, and also agree that going out there without knowing that all the docs are there is running a risk of a wasted trip. I always go through all the docs before a signing and fill out what I can in advance...state, county, print my name, fill in the date, comm. expiration. Saves time at the table for ME, and the borrowers, and I've gone through the docs and know they're all there. The first one is the toughest. Congrats on getting that one out of the way.

JJ

Reply by trnsa_IL on 1/11/10 9:24pm
Msg #317674

Best of luck to you Judith...Congratulations and God Bless! n/m

Reply by Jodith Allen on 1/11/10 9:46pm
Msg #317678

Re: Best of luck to you Judith...Congratulations and God Bless!

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone.

It was both harder and easier than I expected. I was frazzled because of the craziness of getting the documents done, but going through the documents and getting them signed was easier than I thought and I remembered most of the information about the docs, so I was happy with that.

This particular couple had already had one set of documents voided (something about the lender legal name not being filled in properly) so I really wanted to get this one through for them, which is the only reason I split the docs. I was able to review the first half as they came off the printer, but had to go through the 2nd half cold. That rattled me just a bit. The company didn't give me a stacking order, so I just went with the order of the docs as they sent them to me.

I actually did miss one signature on the Uniform Loan App, but I reviewed all the forms before leaving and was able to get it signed and still get to FEDEX before 5 (although in this rural area, that's still after last pickup for Express for the day *laughs*).

Now that I have this one under my belt, I hope it will be easier the next time.

Thanks for all of the advice, I really appreciate it.

Reply by John Schenk on 1/11/10 9:54pm
Msg #317679

Re: Best of luck to you Judith...Congratulations and God Bless!

Don't get frazzled and crazy, and don't rush yourself when docs come in late. Get'em all in your possession, look them over, fill in what you can in advance, if that is your desire, and then go close that baby.

Whatever order the docs are sent to me is the order I print them, and them back identically, unless there are faxbacks that require me taking them out of that order. If that occurs, I pin those together with my fax confirmation on top of those clipped docs, and retain a copy of the fax confirmation for my file.

Another thing, that's kinda OT, but I always write down my mileage in my journal and on the top sheet of the closing records I keep. Come tax time, it's a lot easier, if you don't keep a spreadsheet on all that, which I don't.

Congrats, again!

JJ

Reply by Jodith Allen on 1/11/10 9:57pm
Msg #317682

Re: Best of luck to you Judith...Congratulations and God Bless!

I usually print out the directions from Yahoo Maps and keep that in the file for my taxes. It has the mileage, and that way I don't have to remember to constantly fill out a mileage log.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 1/12/10 6:05am
Msg #317689

Re: Best of luck to you Judith...Congratulations and God Bless!

I do my own stacking order. I want to be sure that the most important docs are signed first, because if the interest rate or payment is wrong I don't want to find that out at the end of the signing. Here's my order:

HUD
NOTE
PAYMENT LETTER
ESCROW ACCOUNT DISCLOSURE
TIL
RTC
DOT/MORTGAGE
REST OF DOCS

And that's how I send them back - I don't restack unless a specific stacking order is requested by the hiring party, which is rare.

Also, everyone should be making the effort to fill out a mileage log. It's been said before that the IRS likely won't accept your MapQuest print-out as proof of mileage if you are ever audited. Yes, it's a little extra effort but I have found that it becomes habit for me and is no big deal.

Reply by OR on 1/11/10 9:55pm
Msg #317680

Re: Congratulations...

You should feel good to have that under your belt. Now you wait for the next one. I have larned that no 2 signing are alike. Just get a great rutine down and keep plugging along. Prepair for things to go arie, that will make things go easyer when they do. Congratulations on today :o)

Reply by Ali/IL on 1/11/10 10:43pm
Msg #317685

Re: Congratulations...

May you have many many more!You always remember your first one. I do.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 1/12/10 8:19am
Msg #317691

I don't know what you were paid but you lost money, car, gas and you and your husbands time with what you did. Next time don't worry about being on time just call bo and change appt time. Next time don't panic about being on time the bo will understand.

Reply by UKCowboy_CA on 1/12/10 10:36am
Msg #317713

Your profile states:
"I have provided a full range of notary services since 2005 including loan signings"
What is the truth?

Reply by NC_Closer on 1/12/10 12:34pm
Msg #317735

Excellent point & question UK. Deserves an answer. n/m

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 1/12/10 11:41am
Msg #317728

Cograts on your first signing. They do get easier.

I have an edoc cutoff time of 2 hrs prior to the scheduled apt. I have found that this has greatly reduced the number of times I receive late docs because I include extra charges if title makes me late to that apt or another one because they were late.

Always call borrowers and let them know that you haven't received all the docs yet. This lets them know that it is not you that has caused the delay. I think you'll find most of them will be able to be flexible for you.

I think it is also important for borrowers to know that I didn't cause the delay. After all, I live in the area title doesn't. If borrowers think it was me, when someone asks them if they know notary I am pretty sure I will not be getting any calls.

Reply by jojo_MN on 1/12/10 12:47pm
Msg #317738

Okay, just looked at your profile. It states:
"I have provided a full range of notary services since 2005 including loan signings, copy affadavits, oaths and affiermations, and signature witnessing. Being so close to the Canadian border, I provide notary services to Canadians doing business in the US."

How can you say this is your first signing??? Confused!

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 1/13/10 2:26am
Msg #317804

"First Signing" ? Profile says different

Sounds like this really was your first signing -- So what's up with your profile and all the experience with closings you advertise?

Reply by Carolyn Bodley on 1/13/10 9:58pm
Msg #317916

Re: "How can you say this is your first signing??? ..."

No, the question for the original poster is:
How can you say you've done loan signings since 2005?