Posted by Anita Edwards on 9/17/12 6:50pm
Msg #434768

Lowballing

For the last 5 business days I would say that 7 out of 10 calls were such lowball offers and even coming from companies that I've done work for in the past who weren't lowballers. What is up with this? Do our professional services mean nothing more to these people than a token gift? OMG, I can't take it anymore. I do know that there is a rooky in my area that has posted on here that she will take all the work she can get for $65 and I thought to myself .....go for it. But it seems that she may be setting a new scale in my area. I don't know how to fight back. Ahhhhhhh

Reply by MW/VA on 9/17/12 6:56pm
Msg #434769

Yes, I'm wondering if $90 if the new normal???? I've

gotten calls from some tops cos., and that's what they're offering, no negotiation. They tell me they have to find a notary for $90. This goes for tc's as well as ss.
As a footnote to that, I am seeing lower closing costs for the borrowers, so I'm sure they're looking for places to cut costs. It figures that they'll try to cut it from our meager fees. ughhhh! Unfortunately, I think it's a sign of the times--more work for lower pay. :-(

Reply by CopperheadVA on 9/17/12 7:16pm
Msg #434772

Re: Yes, I'm wondering if $90 if the new normal???? I've

I am finding that the large national TC's are paying peanuts and all they care about is finding the cheapest notary. I rarely work with SS anymore because they usually simply do not offer a high enough fee, and then there are collection issues with many of them. I have several regular, loyal clients that value quality and reliability and pay $125, $150, and one even pays $175 - and I was just thinking today that I may have to limit my lower paying TC's to daytime and morning appointments. I was pi$$ed today because I missed out on a $175 job for tonight because I was already booked well in advance with a low paying TS Quicken job for 7 PM. I tried offering another time for the higher-paying job and TC even called to ask borrower, but borrower said no can do. I felt like bailing on the Quicken job but I am just not made that way.

Reply by ikando on 9/17/12 10:51pm
Msg #434818

Re: Yes, I'm wondering if $90 if the new normal???? I've

I was called today to do a structured settlement of 25 +/- pages for $80. The only problem--they needed it done within 2 hours at a town that is outside my territory and takes 2 hours to drive to. When I asked for a more reasonable fee--"I'll see if I can get that approved." Needless to say, I did not travel that far today.

Reply by Lee/AR on 9/17/12 11:21pm
Msg #434822

Only if you believe the b.s. n/m

Reply by Buddy Young on 9/18/12 12:29am
Msg #434824

Re: I turned one down today for $90 n/m

Reply by Karla/OR on 9/18/12 2:20am
Msg #434833

Anita~ I have done signings for less than $90 but only when they are in the same city as me and where there are only a few pages (I'm talking 1-2 pages) to sign and/or notarize. My normal minimum is $1XX and I seldom vary from it.

Reply by 101livescan on 9/18/12 7:52am
Msg #434839

Just say NO, and then come back with your base fee of $125 or whatever. Don't let them hoodwink you....

Reply by MW/VA on 9/18/12 8:26am
Msg #434846

It doesn't work that way. I say no, of course, and they

obviously find someone willing to do it for $90. It's a shame to see that.

Reply by 101livescan on 9/18/12 8:05am
Msg #434841

If it's the same rookie that doesn't know she can notarize a document that has already been signed out of her presence, simply by having the client resign it, I don't think you have much competition. She's falling all over herself. I wouldn't worry to much about "competition" like this. She's working below scale, and she'll burn out, plus the vendors will get tired of micromanaging people who don't understand documents or how to be a great notary. Hold your ground.

Reply by Susan/CA on 9/19/12 2:38am
Msg #434965

There are a ton of notaries in my area that do edict signings for 75.00!!!!!! Unreal.....