Posted by JimAZ on 4/27/11 8:06pm
Msg #381536

Signing locations

I've done loan signings in all kinds of places. Coffee table, Coffee table books, on the floor with no furniture, fire station, McDonalds, coffee shops, motels, casinos but this is a first for me. Borrower (single woman) wanted to do signing on the hood of her car in the carport. We finished the loan signing without damaging the paint on her car. The forum might be interested in other SA's experiences.

Reply by Sha/CA on 4/27/11 8:23pm
Msg #381539

Passenger seat of my car! I met the borrower in the prison parking lot, while he was on his lunch break. It was easier for him to come out of the prison and go back in, and they did not have any picnic tables there either!

Reply by Ireneky on 4/27/11 8:33pm
Msg #381540

I too have done closings in weird places in the back of a SUV, in the rain, in the parking lot of their church. Couldn't go in because they didn't want their church friends to know what they were doing like it was some kind of sin to refi. then there was the guy at work we did the closing on the hood of his truck by a street light and flashlight.
Been thinking about reading a book after doing this for the last 15 years.
Some people are really too strange for words.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 4/27/11 8:39pm
Msg #381542

Tailgate of a pickup truck; picnic bench outside; in borrower's bed (borrower was paralegic); in the middle of Starbuck's because THEY were in the middle of a divorce; convenience store/pizza parlor - dragged a stranger out of line to be a witness (LOL).

Reply by Jodith/WA on 5/2/11 3:11pm
Msg #381931

*laughs* I have a local coffee shop I use for my Canadian clients. One form wanted two witnesses. Since it was slow, I got the baristas to witness for me.

Reply by JimAZ on 4/27/11 8:39pm
Msg #381543

I think you mean writing a book.

Reply by 1AZNotary on 4/27/11 9:00pm
Msg #381545

On the back of cereal boxes in a hoarder house...while trying to control my gag reflex.

Reply by SouthernOK on 4/27/11 9:18pm
Msg #381546

You win, OMG that's nasty n/m

Reply by KARA/NJ on 4/27/11 9:28pm
Msg #381548

Re: You win, OMG that's nasty

Plastic covered couch with congealed cat urine all over it. I was so disgusted and couldn't wait to get out of there.

Reply by Baragona/MO on 4/28/11 1:37pm
Msg #381624

Re: You win, OMG that's nasty

I also did a signing in a hoarder's house. Thankfully, she had enough room on her kitchen table to sign. However, it was middle of summer and she didn't turn her AC or fan on. It had to be about 110 in the house and I was dripping sweat all over the docs. Finally, one of her sons (showed up late to sign owner docs) pulled a fan into the room and handed me a towel.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 4/27/11 9:26pm
Msg #381547

In my car because I couldn't get up their hill because of snow, picnic tables, hospital emergency room sitting on the floor (borrower was laying on the floor in pain), inside a UPS truck, in a work trailer inside an energy plant, the usual fast food places, truck stops, on a golf green. Makes it interesting that's for sure.

Reply by SouthernOK on 4/27/11 10:47pm
Msg #381552

You can get a job done!

The hospital ER floor thing would be a great story. I mean did you follow the guy to the ER?

Reply by Linda Juenger on 4/28/11 7:31am
Msg #381567

I didn't follow them to the ER, when I arrived there was a note on the door that said call me. I did and they asked me to come to the hospital. It was only a couple more miles. I almost didn't sign her. She was in so much pain and crying and lying on the floor.

Reply by famena on 4/27/11 11:33pm
Msg #381553

Seating outside of a mobile home window with an opening just to hand the docs to the signer. The reverse mortgage signer claimed that she was not allowed to have contact with other persons as she had a bad case of allergies and she stayed all the time in the mobile home attached to her house. It was late in the evening, the house location was in rural area in the middle of county roads.. it was hot, very hot, over 100 degrees, big mosquitoes bitting me all over thru my clothes, I could see a coyote standing 10 or 12 feet from me.. I called title several times to inform about the situation and they paid me double to get docs signed... to this day I don't know if the extra pay was worth all the pain and anguish.

Reply by HisHughness on 4/28/11 12:03am
Msg #381554

In Texas we would just have sworn the coyote as a witness.

Reply by Jacqueline Dyson on 4/28/11 12:34am
Msg #381557

In the enclosed sun room of a house where 11 cats lived. Cat poop was everywhere and the smell was unbearable. I was offered a cup of tea. Cats kept jumping on the table.

Reply by SharonMN on 4/28/11 12:47pm
Msg #381612

At the hospital (bwr was nurse on break), in a motel lobby, at JC Penney hair salon where bwr's wife worked, at workbench in garage. The coolest was this outbuilding at a rural property that looked like a pole barn on the outside, but was all fixed up like a private bar on the inside, except it had a hot tub also (no, we did not drink or use the hot tub, but it was a cool little place that I'm sure the borrowers often used when friends came over.)

Reply by Jodith/WA on 5/2/11 3:16pm
Msg #381933

I did one in a house with 4 dogs and 6 cats, but there was no odor whatsoever except stale cigarette smoke. The signers kindly asked me about smoking and I told them I was allergic. The funny part is one of the cats decided she liked me and spent the whole signing in my lap *laughs*. What can I say, I'm a sucker for animals.

Reply by 1AZNotary on 4/28/11 9:42am
Msg #381581

So far famena is my favorite. Still laughing ... n/m

Reply by JulieD/KS on 4/28/11 6:39am
Msg #381564

-On a coffee table in the driveway on a windy day so the borrower's could man their garage sale.
-On a pool table in the garage to keep me away from their 3 sick kids.
-At a kitchen table in a house full of cats and the cats were oh-so-interested in me, my briefcase and the papers being signed. Good thing I like cats because they were everywhere.
-On my lap, passing docs to the borrower who was so overweight, he was incapacitated and the house was filled to the brim with junk.
-On a console stereo just inside the door of a recently-widowed man who was apparently too stricken with grief to clean the house. He also hadn't opened the windows or turned on the a/c and it was above 90 degrees that day. I went back a year later for another signing and he had gotten his act together; we sat at the table that day. Whew.
-I've stood at kitchen counters in vacant houses; I've sat on the floor at coffee tables in houses where there are no tables.
-I've done bedside signings in hospitals, signings at Panera, Wendy's, McDonald's and even in restaurants where the borrowers were eating dinner and didn't see to want to stop eating just to sign some papers.
-It's definitely an interesting line of work and I've met many interesting, lovely people.

Reply by kcslaw/MA on 4/28/11 7:43am
Msg #381568

I've done somo of the above, but also
- on a mattress on the floor b/c there was no furniture
- passenger seat of BO's car
- in a fancy-schmancy high rise office in downtown Boston (he even had his secretary validate my parking!)
- at Dunkin Donuts at 11pm b/c that's when she got out of work and she was nice enough to meet me halfway to save drive time
- on a folding tray table in the living room. And not one of the newer, sturdy wood ones. No, this was cheap metal and laminate, covered in crumbs and other unknown stickiness. The (creepy) BO kept making borderline inappropriate comments about my physical appearance and I've never felt so uncomfortable in my life. I RUSHED thru the docs and fled!
- at a BO's home on my way back from the Berkshires with my husband and baby in the car waiting
- in a home with extravagant decor and large, brightly pattered wallpaper/drapes. I walked thru the door and it took my breath away (not in a good way!). I wanted SOOOOO badly to take out my camera because there was no way to describe this place. I also went against my own rule and asked to use the restroom (I was there for a long time, had to print new docs, etc) and there was no TP!! That'll teach me!

And ditto to what Julie said - there are some really lovely people out there and I've almost always felt so welcomed into their homes (and sometimes, their vehicles

Reply by Cambeth/FL on 4/28/11 8:43am
Msg #381574

On the hood of a Tractor in the middle of a watermelon field... with the tractor running....HOT HOOD!

Reply by Stoli on 4/28/11 9:50am
Msg #381587

Nudist colony n/m

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 4/28/11 10:26am
Msg #381598

Guess that you had to provide pens. No Pockets. But

where did they carry their IDs??

Reply by JulieD/KS on 4/28/11 12:18pm
Msg #381605

Re: Nudist colony

Actually, ants and lepers have colonies. Nudists have camps, resorts and beaches - but no colonies. That's just a Hollywood way of describing where nudists gather.

I know this because I was a nudist for a lot of years. I probably still am, just haven't gotten to go anywhere lately. I've visited resorts all across the U.S. But, I've never visited a nudist colony because there aren't any.

Never done a signing without my textiles, though!

Reply by Les_CO on 4/28/11 2:27pm
Msg #381636

Re: Nudist colony

If you get to Perth Australia, check out Swanbourne Beach..on the notrh side...you'll love it. Good people/no perverts.

Reply by Kay/IL on 4/28/11 8:52am
Msg #381576

I have done quite a few signings at restaurants, Starbucks, McDonald's, Wendy's, public libraries, hotel lobbies. At this point in the game, such locales are no longer unusual to me.

Most unusual? For me that woud include:

Urology department at a hospital (Borrower was a hospital employee).
Nordstrom (twice).
Barber shop (had to wait for dude/owner/borrower to finish cutting someone's head before we could start signing).
Fed Reserve.
At a park about the size of a postage stamp.
At the O'Hare Oasis on 294 (those of you familiar with the Chicago area will know what I'm talking about).

Early last month, I met a borrower at her employer where security was so tight, before I could meet her to do the closing, I had to sit and watch a 10 minute video about security and safety.

People here have talked about obnoxious cat smells. Last year, I went to a borrower's home and although the place appeared neat, the place wreaked of dog smells. An air freshner or purifier would have worked wonders.

Ahhhh, the life..........

Reply by Teresa Rowe on 4/28/11 9:10am
Msg #381578

I as well have met at a lot of the same places.

Most odd for me

Hospital, in between the doctor being on rounds.

Strip club parking lot......I sure as heck wasn't going in for the "show".
We had to hurry up so she could get in and get to "work"....

Good times, interesting people and places.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 4/28/11 12:24pm
Msg #381607

Kay - I did a signing at the home of a couple who did St. Bernard rescue. Dogs everywhere...and the house was such a filthy mess and smelled to high heaven. Good people doing noble work but living in complete filth. I felt sorry for the animals.

Speaking of dogs, I had to put my sweet Sheltie to sleep an hour ago. I'm doing anything I can to keep my mind off of losing her. What a crappy day.

Reply by Kay/IL on 4/28/11 12:55pm
Msg #381614

I'm So Sorry About Your Dog, Julie........

As an animal lover myself, I know you had so many wonderful moments with her. She will be missed. My condolences.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 4/28/11 1:09pm
Msg #381618

Re: I'm So Sorry About Your Dog, Julie........

Thanks Kay. She was my Mom's dog and I took her after my Mom died. So, it's like losing a part of my Mom all over again. I'm glad I had her for as long as I did...but it was all too brief. I'm down to one dog, my greyhound Phoebe. This is a sad day at my house.

Reply by Jodith/WA on 5/2/11 3:21pm
Msg #381934

Ahhh, you just reminded me. I had one signing with a Canadian couple. They didn't want to cross the border, so I met them at Peace Arch Park, which is a no-man's land between the US and Canada. We met in the middle and signed at a picnic table there. It's a common meeting place for cross border couples who for one reason or another can't cross the border. Worked great for my signing. Thank goodness it wasn't raining.

Reply by GWest on 4/28/11 9:46am
Msg #381583

On a small picinic table, in the middle of a marijuana grow on a windy day. Borrower forgot to copy his DL, so had to get the generator out to make a copy.

On a truck tailgate also on a windy day. Borrower's car died, had to jump start it and he did not want to turn it off, so completed on tailgate in the parking lot of Starbucks. His wife just got back from the doctor with a bad back and she also stood there and signed. Tried to get her to sit in the truck but she insisted on standing. This was a Reverse Mortgage.

Reply by S Peterson on 4/28/11 12:28pm
Msg #381608

Sheriff Station, Police Station, Fire Station ( the signing was paused when the Fire Alarm rang and the Borrower had to go on a fire run)

9th Hole of the LaJolla Golf Course

Hospitals including Intensive Care Unit

The historical Villa Rockledge in Laguna Beach. (Spectacular) The Borrower was an author and he wrote a book about the History of the Villa Rockledge. After the signing, he autographed a book and gave it to me!

A Diner where the borrowers brought their 5 kids along with them. The Signing was halted several times while they chased their children all over the restaurant. (Absolutely the worst behaved children I have ever witnessed)

In my car, on my car.

Campgrounds.

Airports and Hotels. (I firmly suggested the hotel lobbies)

Gas Stations

Liquor Store in South Central LA. We signed behind the bullet proof glass divider.

Office Building located on Skid Row in LA. (I just couldn’t. Called the borrower and told him it’ll have to be a different location at a different time. I wouldn’t even come to a complete stop at the stop signs. My car was completely surrounded by homeless people and I idled through the crowd never stopping.)

Reply by S Peterson on 4/28/11 12:34pm
Msg #381609

2 houses down from where Nicole Simpson was killed in Brentwood, CA

Fox Movie Studios right after 911. The security was so high, they did a preliminary search of my car, then demanded I get out while they valet parked it. When I got my car back, I could tell they did a more thorough seach of it after they parked it.

DreamWorks Sudio, more high security but at least no seaches of my car.

Reply by sealed/CA on 4/28/11 1:50pm
Msg #381627

Had to do a signing at the County Fair once for a couple of carnies. Free parking and entrance. We sat at a very messy picnic table on a windy day with way too much commotion all around.

Once on a film set. I had to wait until they finished a scene. They had to do it over, and over, and over.... When they finally got it perfect, I had watched it so long that even I could tell it was great! Acting is hard work. Lots of sitting around.

Crazy, what was I thinking signing: Hospital signing for a man that had MERSA. Thats the flesh eating bacteria. Yikes! I had to enter a special room where I washed, put on coverings, gloves, mask, etc. and then into his room. Signed and left the pen with him.

Reply by Baragona/MO on 4/28/11 2:22pm
Msg #381632

Might as well toss my list out there:

-Obviously, the staples of different location: McD's, Starbucks, public library, Panera's, hotel lobby. Also, pubs, bar and grills, Applebee's, Ponderosa, Chinese food restaurants.
-headquarters of the Missouri Valley Conference (college sports)
-headquarters of the St. Louis Rams
-on a stock trading floor while borrower was trading
-a hoarder's house (previously posted)
-driver's seat of my car; passenger seat of signer's car
-doctor's lounge of a hospital
-counter of a liquor store (borrowers owned store and were working)
-auto-repair shop while borrower's car was getting worked on

I am sure there are others that I am missing, but these are the one's that stand out right now.

Reply by laurielnc on 4/28/11 6:12pm
Msg #381658

I signed a man that was training to be a State Trooper in NC. When they train they stay on site for 3 weeks. I signed the wife at home and then went to where he was training. He came in to sign in the Trooper classroom all beat up and bleeding. He said that today was his last day of training and had to fight his superior. Needless to say that was alittle disconcerting. At least he didn't get blood on the docs.

Reply by doglover/CA on 4/28/11 6:40pm
Msg #381662

Borrower's garage, on top of the hood of his car
Music/dance studio owned by the borrower
Restaraunts, Starbucks
Church patio
Picnic table in the borrowers' backyard
Bus depot station for bus driver on break
Sony Studios in Culver City CA, inside a classroom for child actors
On the floor because the living room was too small for a coffee table
Veterinarian's office
X-Ray room of a hospital
Fire station
College professor's office
Office building lobbies
Acupuncturist's office
Vacant store space
Insurance office

Reply by NJDiva on 4/28/11 11:36pm
Msg #381698

Have a great way of dealing with stinky homes...

I always carry pure lavender oil in my purse. If it smells too bad, (animals, B.O., trash, whatever...I'm very sensitive to smells!) I will dab a couple drops on my finger and rub under my nose. It's AMAZING. It works...AND...because lavender helps you to relax, it soothes the uncomfortable feelings that arose as a result of the offensive smell...lol

Borrowers were renovating their house. Their new kitchen cabinets were in the middle of the living room floor; they were so tall we were able to stand and sign on them.

In an actual motel room...ugh, was very creeped out. I had taken the closing just hours before. It was a 10:30pm closing. It was at an airport motel. Before going up, I told the front desk that I was going up to get documents signed. I made sure that my husband was aware and told him to call me after an hour to check on me. It turns out it was a middle aged couple with a young son. I assessed the situation and concluded that it was safe. It was a rather dark room (good thing I carry a battery powered 12" lamp) and the whole time they kept telling their 8 year old son to close his eyes and go to sleep. I had them pull one of the night tables over and they signed on it while sitting on the bed. The desk was close enough so that we were able to sign and execute the doc's in the same clockwise format I always set up.
When I took this, I was told this was a very important client and that someone would be available for any questions or problems that arose. It was imperative that it get signed because they were flying out of the country the next day for two weeks so everything had to be perfect and there was no room for errors...It turned out to be a 2 hour closing because they had questions that their broker had to address.

In a physical therapists office on the massage table.

In the post office for the post master.

In a dirty office of a manufacturing company. Ewwwwwe! I'm not a Diva for nothing. I was so afraid my clothes were going to get ruined.

In an awe inspiring penthouse condo overlooking the Hudson River and all of Manhattan! Stunning! I've done a couple of these. At night is when it's the most incredible.

I know I have more, I just can't think...

In unique situations, bo's always think theirs is the most exceptional.

Reply by Jodith/WA on 4/29/11 4:12pm
Msg #381758

Re: Have a great way of dealing with stinky homes...

So far my best has been in the lobby of an oil refinery for one of the refinery workers on his lunch break. We pulled a coffee table over to the seats and signed there. *laughs* The receptionist didn't even blink an eye, so I have a feeling things like this aren't unheard of there.

Reply by ikando on 4/29/11 5:08pm
Msg #381771

I have also done signings at the restaurant/motel/vehicle locations mentioned, but my most memorable signing was for a tug boat captain at the lock and dam in that facility's workroom while his tugboat went through the lock heading to his next location.

I've seen some beautiful sunsets on the lakes in the area, and, on the opposite end of the spectrum, some very fur and/or other matter-covered rooms.

No matter the location/situation, I usually enjoy having met the people I've been contracted to help with their documents.