Posted by grapebed on 12/1/11 6:19pm
Msg #405524

Typical year end activity for Notaries

What is typical Holiday/Year end activity for the Notary industry?

Do the T/C's even care about having a mobile notary available?

I ask this of our most learned and experienced notaries. Yes, I know there is nothing typical about this business. But give the answer a shot. Thank you.

Reply by jba/fl on 12/1/11 6:38pm
Msg #405529

I find a place totally away from civilization for 3-5 days and go kayak camping and really feel insignificant lying on beaches looking at the stars, considering how lucky I am to be able to enjoy this. It was going to be the Everglades this year, but now am going to Potts Preserve in the woods and enjoy the Withlacoochee River environs and have less bugs.

What are you doing?

Reply by 101livescan on 12/1/11 9:25pm
Msg #405539

ahhhhhh....hot springs, massage, mani/pedi, luxuriate watching the tide roll in and out and counting my blessings I made it through another guerilla jungle signing adventure....life is good. I've got a remodeling project under way and planting olive trees....any time I'm not on the road dodging deer at night and just relaxing with a good book is also luxurious....try not to be on the laptop, Ipad, cell phone, etc.

Reply by jba/fl on 12/1/11 9:27pm
Msg #405540

Oh, yeah, forgot: no electronics, phones, etc. allowed n/m

Reply by JanetK_CA on 12/1/11 9:34pm
Msg #405542

If you're wondering if there's likely to be a slowdown, I would guess that the slowdown most probably will come in the weeks after, since loan origination activity - what eventually creates business for us - tends to slow down during holiday periods when LOs and BOs are busy doing other things.

Reply by JandB on 12/1/11 9:42pm
Msg #405545

Yes, they care and if you let them you'll work Christmas Eve. If you do that, make them pay but I like the previous suggestions better. There should be a good deal of activity earlier than usual but the mortgage business does not take off and the last day to refi is still Dec. 26. Many poor title folks will be working hard on Dec. 30 to fund the end of month. I'll spend Christmas Eve with friends on a mountain top in NH and Christmas day with my grandkids in ME. I am assuming this is a Newbie question. One of the hardest things to learn is to take time off but, to tell the truth, when I was a Newbie I was offered $200 to close a file on Christmas Eve and you bet I took it.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 12/2/11 8:29am
Msg #405570

I'll work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

It's not my holiday!

Reply by ME/NJ on 12/2/11 10:26am
Msg #405587

Will slow down from12/15 till end of Jan maybe Feb.

But depends on lock rates what is still in the pike.

Reply by CJ on 12/2/11 3:14pm
Msg #405618

My experience:

For ME, I notice that it "tends" to slow down between Halloween and Tax time. It's one finanical event after another and people are not thinking about refinancing. Then it picks up for the summer.

However, this year is different because rates are down and everyone is scrambing! YAY for us! Christmas is towards the end of the month, so it is usally busy, just like every other random month.

I have worked on Christmas Eve, and gotten a lot of signings. The worst part about working Christmas Eve is that everyone is in a panic to close on time and get the docs out TODAY, but all the carriers close early for the holiday. This year, Christmas Eve is on a Saturday when they close early anyway. Are they going to close earlier that early this year? And what if you get a reader who could care less about your other appointments? Working Christmas Eve can be VERY stressful.

(Be sure to pack snacks so you don't run out of stamina.)

Reply by MW/VA on 12/2/11 3:21pm
Msg #405620

In previous years it was very busy for Dec. EOM. I

suggest you decide in advance if you're working it or not. EOM is actually 12-26 for those who are working. I'd imagine there will be signings on the 24th, as well.