Posted by TaxMan/NC on 7/20/10 4:02pm
Msg #345750

NREIS and Auctions?

I just received a strange call from NREIS today. I thought it was a closing but they were inviting me to attend an all day foreclosure auction in my city this weekend and work at a table doing contract work. No notarization involved. Apparently it is an auction of foreclosed properties and when a buyer wins a bid they bring paperwork over to someone who helps them fill it in. NREIS said they were calling on notaries in their database to work the tables. He also mentioned that if I had any outstanding invoices with NREIS they would be taken care of that day. (Maybe that's why they've been getting everyone caught up).

Anyone else get this? Anyone have any experience with it?

Reply by notary4az2 on 7/20/10 4:07pm
Msg #345751

I was asked to do an auction here in Phx, Az. It was for writing contracts for the auction company with people that purchased auctioned properties in the area. I loved it and got to meet some of my notary counterparts and the employees at NREIS, Intergrated and LendVend. They fed us lunch (sandwiches) and paid us at the end of the day. I would do another if asked.

Reply by A S Johnson on 7/20/10 4:39pm
Msg #345760

They seem to be trying. A funny thing on them.
I recieved a ckeck from them this am. Went to credit the job which I did 12/9/09 only to find that I was paid for this job by another check which I recieved 04/19/10.

Reply by sheltn on 7/20/10 7:29pm
Msg #345786

finally got paid we have a voice!

Reply by MichiganAl on 7/20/10 5:30pm
Msg #345767

Yeah, they offered $100 to sit there for 9 hours on a Sunday. Thanks, I'll pass.

Reply by jba/fl on 7/20/10 5:36pm
Msg #345768

That is low - going rate with other companies is $14=15 per hour.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/20/10 5:58pm
Msg #345773

It's much less than 9 hours.

Plus you get to meet other notaries in your area and network.

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 7/20/10 8:37pm
Msg #345797

Re: It's much less than 9 hours.

Please be sure to post how long they take to pay you...maybe quick, and then again maybe not.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/20/10 11:27pm
Msg #345805

Re: It's much less than 9 hours.

They paid us at the end of the day. Plus, we all got paid for our past overdue invoices.

Reply by MichiganAl on 7/21/10 12:51am
Msg #345810

Re: It's much less than 9 hours.

I think it's sad that part of their pitch to get people to do this is that they will pay you for overdue invoices that they already owe.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/21/10 8:52am
Msg #345818

I am glad that you find yourself in a situation

where you don't actually need the money. It's easy to crticize when you live in an IVORY TOWER!

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/21/10 2:24pm
Msg #345858

Girlie, get off of your high horse

And get a clue about running a business while you're at it. Successful businesses have higher standards than being grateful for any scraps that happened to be tossed our way.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 7/21/10 3:09pm
Msg #345861

i have seen enough "Caliisms" during my NOTROT years,

to not be surprised, but , I do not believe that "Girlie" is an appropriate way to
address a fellow business person, just because you do not agree with a comment that she made.
More importantly, I also attended the Chiago area auction a few weeks back on a Saturday.
It was BOM, and I had nothing scheduled. Got to meet a few fellow NSA, made some $$ for
very little work, and got to catch up on some paperwork and professional reading during
anticipated down time. Also have been called to close several of the sales since tihe auction.
Quick EZ closings at a fair price.
My business plan works for me with very substantial income for the past decade. Believe that Shoshana also does very well, thank you.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/21/10 5:06pm
Msg #345872

OMG, Bob. It appears I have struck a nerve with somebody.

That's a good thing! LOL!

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/21/10 8:11pm
Msg #345894

Nah, you're just being ridiculously self righteous

It's impossible for somebody with as little business sense as you have to strike a nerve with me.

Reply by Janetd/FL on 7/29/10 2:29pm
Msg #346837

Re: It's much less than 9 hours.

How many other notaries were with you at the auction?

Reply by Leigh1978 on 7/20/10 7:12pm
Msg #345785

I cannot believe you turned them down. It is better than not making any money at all. That is grocery money for a week or gas money.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 7/20/10 7:43pm
Msg #345788

It's not about making money, it's about making a profit. Alex has been doing this a long time, and he knows what his time is worth - and what they were offering was obviously not worth his time.

The concept that "it's better than not making money at all" just doesn't belong in the mind of a small business owner - EVERYTHING you do has a cost associated with it, and unless your income exceeds your cost you're not making money. Even if you're doing this job to just pick up a little spending money, you should be aware of the costs. Is your time not worth anything to you?

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 7/21/10 8:05am
Msg #345816

totally agree with MikeC/NY... ....some folks in this

business, unfortunately will always be the "employee" and never the "employer".

To make money in this business, we have to change our mindsets and look at ourselves as a 'business entity' and NOT an "employee".

Reply by MichiganAl on 7/21/10 12:43am
Msg #345809

I find it amazing that people will complain about cheap signing services, but think it's wonderful when a company wants you to spend all day working to make around $100. But hey, any money is better than no money. Closings take about an hour, right? So make sure you let all your signing services know that you're willing to work for $10 - $15 per closing (heck, make it $25 to cover gas). You'll get tons of work and make $100 for a full days work. That should be plenty of pin money. But me, I'm a businessman and I do this for a living. If I want to make $100 for a full day of work I'll dry cars at the local car wash.

Reply by Leigh1978 on 7/21/10 8:33am
Msg #345817

Are you doing a lot of closings on a Sunday? Since I started doing closings I have only been to two closings on a Sunday. Like I said it is better than just sitting at home and not making anything at all. 1. You would not being using up ink 2. You would not be using up paper 3. It is a Sunday.

As for the car wash comment I bet they make good tips.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 7/21/10 10:06am
Msg #345824

Working on Sunday?? for $100 for 9 hours omg!

My Sunday's are so precious to me as I rarely get a day off, and I make every effort to make sure its Sunday!

And if I do work on a Sunday, better believe its at double my normal asking price!

Reply by MichiganAl on 7/21/10 4:31pm
Msg #345869

Re: Working on Sunday?? for $100 for 9 hours omg!

I can't think of any other profession where people happily and substantially cut their fees for the pleasure of working on a Sunday. Doctors? Plumbers? Factory workers?

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 7/21/10 7:59am
Msg #345815

$11 (and change) an hour...nope....I'll pass! n/m

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/20/10 5:56pm
Msg #345770

My husband and I worked the Phx Auction on 6-26.

It was very nice. The paid us as they said they would. I think the auction was over at about 3:30. It started about 10 although we had to be there around 8 or 8:30 for training. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
On Monday I have my first closing from that auction.

Reply by jba/fl on 7/20/10 5:58pm
Msg #345772

Was this NREIS or someone else? n/m

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/20/10 5:58pm
Msg #345775

It was NREIS. n/m

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/20/10 6:00pm
Msg #345776

What else am i going to do when it's 115? LOL!

I might as well enjoy somebody else's AC!

Reply by MikeC/NY on 7/20/10 7:31pm
Msg #345787

What are they offering to pay you to sit around all day? Based on other comments it sounds legitimate, but is it worth your time?

I had someone contact me a couple of years ago offering something like this - but they refused to tell me what they expected me to do. It was just "we need a notary for a day, what do you charge?" We went back and forth a few times, me trying to figure out what they really wanted and them stonewalling. I finally quoted an hourly fee that I knew was ridiculous, and that was the end of it.

I don't understand why NREIS needs notaries to do non-notarial work, but maybe it's like Vision Compliance using notaries to do inspections - something about the commission makes them think you're more reliable than others...

Reply by jba/fl on 7/20/10 7:45pm
Msg #345789

"I don't understand why NREIS needs notaries to do non-notarial work,"

I have worked couple of auctions though not for NREIS. I was told that they preferred notaries who were signing agents because they are familiar with loan documents and terminology. I took my DIL with me who is only familiar with the fact that I do signings, but we had a training package prior to even going to our on-site training. She had that to study and look over, plus the training time, and did just fine. I feel that anyone familiar with detail work and who can follow instructions would work out, but overall I do understand their reasoning.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 7/20/10 8:01pm
Msg #345793

OK, that makes sense... n/m

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/20/10 11:26pm
Msg #345804

Pay depends upon where you live. What was nice is that they give you a flat fee for the whole day, even though we left early. I have worked for other companies that paid by the hour and often made you leave early.
I would guess they need us because of our familiarity with the process and the fact that we are already trained to pay attention to detail.

Reply by TaxMan/NC on 7/20/10 8:03pm
Msg #345794

Thanks all for your great input! It actually sounds like a good idea. The hourly rate when you break it down is not that bad but if it gives you first crack at the closings on top then it sounds like a worthwhile way to spend a few hours marketing and lining up more closings. Plus did somebody say free lunch??

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/20/10 11:21pm
Msg #345801

Yes, free lunch! n/m

Reply by Philip Johnson on 7/21/10 12:23pm
Msg #345830

The properties I bought at one of these auctions were closed at a downtown title office by their staff.

Reply by Tish/CA on 7/21/10 2:26pm
Msg #345859

Do ya have to put a damper on everything, Philip?? hehe......just kiddin

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/21/10 5:08pm
Msg #345873

I have to say that this is the first time I have gotten

a job from an auction. The other companies promised, but didn't deliver.

Reply by James Dawson on 7/21/10 5:55pm
Msg #345878

Re: I have to say that this is the first time I have gotten

The first one (job) is the hardest....as a good NotRot peer advised me, don't sweat the small stuff!

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/21/10 8:09pm
Msg #345893

Yeah, but they're with a company that isn't paying notaries

But if you want to start another pile of unpaid invoices right after you FINALLY got paid, knock yourself out. It's a horrible business decision, but as we've seen, that's not high on your priority list.

Reply by Janetd/FL on 7/29/10 11:23am
Msg #346802

Re: Yeah, but they're with a company that isn't paying notaries

How many other notaries were their with you?