Posted by Becky J Crawford on 3/5/12 1:57pm
Msg #413976

What is recommended

when trying to build your business far as getting clients? I have been faxing a short letter stating I am a notary signing agent for Missouri and the counties I serve. Is there a better way or certain companies anyone suggest? Any help would be appericated.

Reply by Jillian Hinrichs on 3/5/12 2:05pm
Msg #413980

Becky, I too am working out of KC, MO. My suggestion is to use the list of signing companies on NotaryRotary.com. Als search forums for posts about each company to make sure they pay well, etc. Some companies have a website where you sign up, some email you the signup package, some just add you to their database and ask for a W-2 with the first signing job you get from them.

If you haven't already done so, I also highly recommend getting educated before doing signings. For notary fundamentals, go to notaryfundamentals.com. For signing agent courses, go to Notary2Pro.com. You may also need to go to National Notary Association and get NNA Certified & Background-Screened, as some companies are now requiring this even though the other 2 sites give you much better information and detailed instructions you will find to be invaluable when doing a signing or general notary work. The better educated you are the less likely you will run into problems that could cost you big bucks and/or lose a good client.

Reply by janCA on 3/5/12 2:50pm
Msg #413992

NNA Certified/BGC...NOT!

You do not have to be certified in order to do signings, and especially through the XYZ organization. It means diddly squat! Plus, you can get a BGC right here on NR and nine out of ten companies will accept it. If they don't then you're better off anyway. Don't throw your money away to XYZ.

I agree on getting educated doing loan signings and right here on NR is a good start.

And, as Jillian stated, go to signing central and sign up with the companies that have a good star rating. You'll have to decide for yourself what rating that is, but make sure you read all comments on the company and search the posts about them so you can make a fair judgement on whom you want to receive assignments.

Reply by Jillian Hinrichs on 3/5/12 3:11pm
Msg #413998

Re: NNA Certified/BGC...NOT!

Jan, while I agree I did not learn what I needed to learn from taking the NNA course (which now includes the background check) it did help me some, and provided a book with sample docs, etc. Unfortunately I am finding that many companies want you to take this course, especially if you haven't done many signings. They may not "require" it but a newbie without it may not get called, or so I was told by a few I won't name. If they only knew how little it taught us maybe they would rethink that.

The courses I mentioned above on the websites I named are very good and go into great detail on how to be a notary (and avoid lawsuits due to not knowing how to be one) and how to be a signing agent, respectively, and after taking them I am now able to do a professional loan signing as well as general notary work without feeling lost and worried that I may be doing something wrong.

After taking the NNA course and doing just one signing, I realized I didn't learn what I needed to know and took the other courses. Luckily my real estate background paid off enough that I didn't look like a complete idiot during that signing, but turned down all signings after that until I got myself educated.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/5/12 3:30pm
Msg #414000

Re: NNA Certified/BGC...NOT!

I agree with Jan. If you'd gone directly to the other sources you mentioned where you got the training you needed, you might not have needed to waste your money and time with the other guys that some of us don't like to mention by name. IMO, there are other, perhaps better, resources available for nearly everything they do.

It seems to me that that one thing that tends to go hand-in-hand with companies asking for the "XYZ" certification and background check is low fees. What I don't know is whether or not that's become a prerequisite for someone new getting any business at all in this field, but I certainly hope not. No doubt there's a learning curve and dues to be paid, figuratively, but I'd like to believe that those "dues" don't have to be spent lining the pockets of the "XYZ".

Reply by desktopfull on 3/5/12 8:44pm
Msg #414023

I agree 100%! n/m