Posted by Tim Cameron on 3/2/13 1:40am
Msg #458878

Fun with a lowballer

Got a call today from a low ball outfit that never meets my price but calls anyway....was offered 60 bucks for a closing with fax backs...told the lady 115.00 and at that I was cutting her a deal......she gets a little aggressive and asks why do I charge so much.....my answer....Because I am a professional signer not an arbitrary notary, I do over 50 signings a month for companies that meet my price because they care about quality and not about low balling. Meet my price and never worry about a job getting done and done right........she hung up......

Reply by hodgy on 3/2/13 5:54am
Msg #458881

Funny I had a similar call last night. Can you do one at 8am on 3/6/12. It's about a 20 minute drive and she said it's just a regular simple refi with ONLY about 100 pages. She said no faxbacks and we offer $60 is that okay. I said NO and that I don't ever do $60 signings and won't leave the house for $60 my fee is XXX. She said I can't even come anywhere close to that can you meet me half way? I said no I can't and you should go find yourself a discount notary and I am all set. Goodnight.

Reply by 101livescan on 3/2/13 8:21am
Msg #458891

Good one, try to remember this one next time they call me.

Reply by ToniK on 3/2/13 11:47am
Msg #458915

I had a call last night for a Monday morning 8am (peak traffic congestion) for $75 and faxbacks. Seriously???? ONLY if you overnight the docs to the BO and I just show up to notarize the few docs. Meaning they pull out the notarize docs so I can be in and out in 7 mins. These companies are looking for GNW not a signing agent.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/2/13 5:26pm
Msg #458950

"why do I charge so much..."

The first thing that popped into my head when I read this was "Because I'm not a volunteer running a non-profit charity organization!" If I want to donate my time, I can think of many much more worthy causes... (I probably wouldn't say that, though. )

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 3/2/13 7:21pm
Msg #458958

...why I charge so much ...??

Wow, that's a really interesting question. Too bad she hung up on you before you finished answering.

Let's see, I charge "so much," because it costs money to get commissioned, tested, bonded, insured, etc. I have to pay for a phone and the cell service so I can have this lovely conversation with you. I have to pay for a landline so I can fax back your required docs; I have to have a computer and internet service so I can receive the edocs you're sending me; I have to have a printer, toner and paper to print them; I have to buy notary journals and thumbprint pads to meet state requirements; and must have blue ink pens and a stapler to attach the funds due check so title doesn't toss it in the dumpster; oh, and I have to have a house or office in which to put all this stuff; which means a mortgage or rent and utilities and taxes; then, I have to have a car so I can drive to the borrowers and then to Fed Ex to drop the signed docs; the car must be insured and takes gas and requires maintenance; and guess what? None of that is free. I need all of that to complete this job for you. My fairy godmother did not wave her magic wand and all of this suddenly appeared gratis just for me and for you to use gratis! But I'll tell you what; to show I'm willing to meet you half way, I'll do the loan signing and noarizations for FREE!. You just pay for everything else!

Reply by 101livescan on 3/2/13 8:53pm
Msg #458965

Re: ...why I charge so much ...??

Sounds like a helluva deal to me!

Reply by Sha/CA on 3/2/13 10:05pm
Msg #458974

Not to mention education, testing, licensing, insurance,

legal and travel expenses and fees. Boy, I hope can remember all that when it comes time to explain!

Reply by Bear900/CA on 3/2/13 10:54pm
Msg #458977

Re: ...why I charge so much ...??

<< to show I'm willing to meet you half way, I'll do the loan signing and noarizations for FREE!. You just pay for everything else!>>

You crack me up! I'm absolutely saying that next time!

Reply by Jessica Ward on 3/3/13 9:43am
Msg #458993

My favorite question "are you flexible on fees?"

"Yes, I'll raise them up to double my minimum base without batting an eye. "

Bottom line, if someone's offering $60 for a loan closing, I don't want to work with them even if they do meet my fees. Not interested.

Reply by 101livescan on 3/3/13 10:43am
Msg #459010

Re: My favorite question "are you flexible on fees?"

OCCASIONALLY, I will hear, when I quote my fee of $1xx, we have $xxx on our HUD already...it's more than my base fee for edocs.

It's a heaven sent gift. Doesn't happen often enough though...

I don't have time to hassle over fee. Anything under $100 is chump change, no point in discussing.