Posted by Yen Liu on 7/25/13 3:04pm
Msg #478025

docs are at the signing location

This is my second signing! Accept a job from First American for tomorrow's signing. The scheduler said the docs will be at the office when I arrive. Is this common? Can I ask for a copy to be email to me so I can prep myself? Can someone please give me some guidance. Thank you.

Reply by Yoli/CA on 7/25/13 3:19pm
Msg #478026

If you're signing at the Title Company office, yes, it is common for docs to be printed by them. I may be wrong, however, I seriously doubt they would email them to you. Title expects notary to be familiar with a loan package. The good part about signing at TC is that should borrowers have any questions about a particular doc, the title officer should be able to answer or get the answer for them.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 7/25/13 3:31pm
Msg #478027

Hi, Yen.... don't know what your "prep" procedure is, but I don't see any need for docs to be sent to you, and I would think your hiring agency would consider that a semi-weird request. On the other hand, they may admire your attention to detail, but I'm sure they expect you to know what you're doing without a headsup, and it's unlikely they'd send them to you anyway. Besides, escrow people will be there to answer any borrower questions.


In any case, when you get to the signing, immediately fish out The Big Three: the note, the first payment letter and since you're in CA, the settlement statement/AKA net sheet (NOT the multi-page official HUD). Show these (bottom lines only) to the borrower first off to make sure everybody's onboard with what they expected.

Then just start going through the docs page by page after that ...MINIMAL explanation. You don't sound like a veteran who could do this in her sleep .... so just keep things simple! Oh, just read this is your second signing! You'll be fine, Do you have docs from your first signing? You could review those. Most loan docs are pretty similar.

I'd also recommend concentrating on finishing the signing and then move on to notarizing instead of doing both simultaneously unless you're a pro at multi-tasking. And please, CA notaries, I don't want to hear anything about notarizing in front of the signers new rule... just start notarizing before they leave the room!

Reply by Richard Donohue on 7/25/13 3:46pm
Msg #478030

NO RESONSE

Had at closing at 8am today and had a question regarding the funds to be paid by borrower. Called ALL the numbers given to on my signing worksheet. Left phone messages at 3 different numbers,it is now 3:45 pm and still no call.

Reply by jba/fl on 7/25/13 3:47pm
Msg #478031

So, what's your question? We can all speculate on the

correct answer.

My guess: He has 3 business days to get that money there, or it will not fund.

Close enough?

Reply by CJ on 7/25/13 3:49pm
Msg #478032

Scenarios

When they have "docs to borrowers", this are some common scenarios (in no particular order).

1. (Best), Borrower got the docs, read them, didn't mix them up, didn't sign, got all questions answered, and is ready to breeze through them.

2. (Most common). Docs are sitting there unopened. YOU get your hands on them and YOU take control. If you let them open them, they will immediately start sorting through them, mixing them up, reading the wrong numbers, etc. So you have everyone sit down, pass out pens, get IDs, you open the package and put their copies aside, and you show them the package.

3. (Once in a great while). They open the package before you get there, and they loose the borrowers copies, lose the return envelop, dig through the papers, mix them up, draw stars, arrows and question marks on various papers, underline and highlight things, sort them into various stacks, and started signing using the wrong ink and not the way it's typed. On borrower read the whole thing and corrected all the grammar with a red pen. (She let me know, that she was the Chair of the English Department at the University.) If I know the docs are going the borrowers and I discuss it with them, I tell them to please not write on anything until I get there.

4. (On Saturdays). Docs don't arrive, and you can't get a hold of anyone to get a tracking number because everyone is closed on Saturday.

5. Or, the docs do arrive and if you call ahead to check, the borrower says they have not arrived because the messenger hid them behind a pot by the front door, and they last came into the house through the garage. OR, the husband picked them up and meant to throw them on top of the couch, but they wound up behind the couch and so the wife who has been keeping an eye out for them swears they have not arrived.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/25/13 5:41pm
Msg #478053

Re: Scenarios - Loved these!

I think nearly all of us who have been around this business for a while can relate to most - if not all - of the scenarios you described. With the exceptions of docs being thrown behind the couch and the English professor (I especially loved that one!), I think I've encountered every other situation you described. I *have* signed an English professor, but thankfully those docs came to me, so I only had to deal with him parsing technicalities in the wording on the DOT and a couple of other docs. No red pens in sight...

Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Reply by Yen Liu on 7/25/13 3:54pm
Msg #478035

Thank you both for your guidance!

I was desperate and accepted my first signing from Cds, but I bargained another $25 on top of their offer (I was proud of myself for standing up to them, even though it wasn't much). The docs were sent directly to the signers and I showed up just for the signing. The signers had a lot of questions and took a while to get answers from the escrow office. Quite a learning experience. Hopefully, I will get paid as promised. Keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed.

Since I keep having jobs where I do not get to see the docs, I thought it's a trend. But with all the advice I get from you, things will go smoother this time.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 7/25/13 4:18pm
Msg #478038

Even tho docs will be at signing location, CJ still had many excellent points that will apply to you, including: Don't ever let borrowers get their hands on the docs except the one they're reviewing or signing. Don't give them their copy until they leave. You are in total control of the docs.

And like JanetK said, get there (half hour) early to review and get set up with pens, journal and inkpad. Get The Big Three docs out first so you'll be ready to present them right off. The rest should be downhill. Use stickies on any whacky docs that you really have no idea what to do with and ask escrow what the deal is, if needed. Since this is your second signing, you could do a checklist in order of things to do and "rehearse" tonight! Use your cat/dog/spouse for the borrower. Remember your job is not to explain loan terms or talk them into signing, etc. but to get signatures, initials and dates wherever required and notarize correctly. Take your time. It's not a race.

And good for you for negotiating a higher fee. Because you're not printing, hiring agencies usually lop off $25 from signing fee ... or as much as we let them get away with!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/25/13 3:45pm
Msg #478029

Just plan to get there early so you can review docs there n/m

Reply by CJ on 7/25/13 3:52pm
Msg #478033

Funds to be paid by borrower:

Half the time it is a surprise. If the borrowers did not know, or they don't have a cashier's check ready, no problem: they can always wire it tomorrow. Title won't get their hands on the docs until tomorrow anyway. The docs can still be signed and the final number on the Hud worked out later. If they refuse to sign the hud, that's okay. It is not a notarized doc and it can be corrected. If the Note is right, you can still move forward. They can work out the hud with title later.

Reply by Yen Liu on 7/25/13 4:19pm
Msg #478039

Re: Funds to be paid by borrower:

Thank you all!

Reply by MW/VA on 7/25/13 7:44pm
Msg #478061

I'm with JanetK/CA on this one. Arrive early & take time

to review them, especially if you're new to this.
After 8 years, I also don't like "surprise" docs that I haven't seen.
It's been pointed out. Don't let the borrowers take control of the docs. I keep all docs in front of me & hand them each page to sign. I don't give them their copy until we're finished. I've had a couple of people request that they follow along in the copy pkg. & my response was that I don't allow it. I'm conducting the signing & will lead them through it. ;-)

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 7/25/13 10:33pm
Msg #478076

So true, MW/VA

Letting them "follow along" with the copy pkg only means copy docs and signing docs will get all mixed up. Also, my observation has been that this request is usually made by conspiracy theorist borrowers who somehow think the lender sneaked docs in the signing pkg that are not in their copy, and they're going to find the smoking gun! Geez. Same with borrowers who want to "see" all the docs before they get started signing. Sorry, no.

Reply by Milton/CA on 7/26/13 3:11am
Msg #478089

Re: So true, MW/VA

How do you tell them no? It's a little awkward. I've only had it happen a couple of times, but I notice that if I am not successful setting the "pace" at the beginning, the whole thing grinds to an almost halt.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/26/13 4:21pm
Msg #478156

Re: So true, MW/VA

Trying to tell anyone "no" will invariably get you off on the wrong foot. Instead of having to risk finding myself in that kind of a situation, I have a little schpiel I go through at the very beginning where I give people a very quick overview (while I'm setting up) of what the process will be and particulars (like how to sign, etc.). Over the years, I've learned little phrases that put them at ease, let them know (withing saying it...) that I know what I'm doing, and take away the need for being confrontational with a borrower. Your goal is not only to get the job done efficiently, but to reassure them that it will get done right. I suggest you work on something that feels right for you, and continue to tweak it over time.

I've also found it very helpful over the years to learn a little bit about personality types, and how different people react differently. A big part of what we do requires some level of people skills. As we know only too well, we run into all kinds, but there are trends, and some respond better to one type of approach, while something different will work better with others.