Reply by Marian_in_CA on 9/7/13 4:15pm
Msg #483635
When I get things like this... and they want to fuss about the fee, there have been a few times where I get down and dirty honest with them. I will outline the actual costs of a particular job and then ask them if they really expect me to work at a loss. Sometimes it's useless, but other times, it works and they meet my fee. I did is just last week., quite successfully.
I was asked to do a job in an area about 90 minutes away. I couldn't understand why they couldn't find a closer notary to take it... it's not terribly far from a larger city with quite a few notaries. However, I'm sure many of those notaries are the ones that don't travel more than 15 miles, too. I will go anywhere for the right price... I don't mind the travel.
Well, they offered me $150 -- which, at first might seem decent, except the following:
1) This is a 90 minute drive -- EACH way
2) Package involves notarizing for 4 individuals, so a total 32 notarial acts (an being CA, that's 32 individual journal entries)
3) They need the ENTIRE package scanned to a PDF file and emailed back to them. Essentially the same as faxing. Not an issue for me, since I have a scanner that can do this (ScanSnap!) -- but it's still extra work.
4) They need it to be dropped off on SATURDAY to FedEx with Saturday pickup for Monday morning delivery. That means some extra driving and time, too.
5) Oh, yeah... minor detail... the signing location is up in the national forest area... on a barely improved dirt road that requires a high clearance/4WD vehicle. The location can't be changed because one of the individuals is unable to travel or leave the house. He recently had a bone marrow transplant and is being treated for cancer. I get that completely...because I have a family member who is going to have the same thing happen next month, so I I understand the restrictions.
Because I knew of these needs in advance, I could easily pack up my laptop and scanner and handle the scan on the road. I could also arrange to borrow a vehicle that would allow me to get up there. Not an issue... but hey, this signing was going to end up taking a very long time (4 people) and involve extensive travel and other related costs. There's no way I'm doing it for $150. Shoot, I won't even do it for double that. I tell them they're asking for premium service. I'm happy to provide, but they have to pay for it.
So here's what I tell them... for the notarizations alone, I'm allowed by state law to charge $320. Then, I add in the costs and time for travel, to and from the signing location (4 hours), including having to borrow a high clearance vehicle, and the time and travel involved there (1 hour), time at the signing itself (1-3 hours, depending on how it goes... with 4 people, I allow a lot more time), scanning the entire package, which, btw is over 200 pages, and getting to the FedEX hub in time to have it shipped on Saturday.
This job was going to take my entire day... and just the notarizations alone can go for $320 -- and that doesn't including any of the rest (travel, printing, etc.) Yes, I know I can charge less per signature, but I was using it as a negotiating tools to help them realize the value of the work being done. I told them I wouldn't do it for less than $600. Their first response was, "But that's way more than we're getting paid for it."
I told them, "What you get paid for the job is non of my concern. I'm telling you guys the reality of getting this done. You are asking me to spend my entire day for just this one job, and asking me to go to rather great expense. If you think you need more, that's between you and the people who hired you. You're the one paying my fee... and I'm more than happy and capable of doing this, but I don't work for free. I'm a business owner and I not only have to cover my expenses, which include taxes, but I have to earn a profit to remain in business. I would hope that you guys do as well."
They called me an hour later and said, "We agree with you. We called the title company and explained the situation. They didn't realize it would be difficult to get a notary up to that location."
Then it got better...
She continued, "I told the title officer that I had a notary willing to go. I explained how far away you were and when she asked who you were she said, 'Oh! I know her work! Yes, please have her do it. In fact, we'll cover the additional costs. Please offer her $900 instead of $600. We need to have this one close, and can't have it fall through."
Once I got the paperwork, In understood why. It was a pretty big transaction.... and honestly, the money for me to handle it was a drop in the bucket compared to the multimillion dollar deal it was. And... to top it all off, they were having quite a nice BBQ dinner and made sure I was sent home with a several containers of food. (I always carry a heavy cooler bag in my car). The signers knew how difficult it was do get up that mountain... it was pretty rough, and they were thrilled the TC provided the service because the one person couldn't leave his home. There's no way my little Honda would have made it.
Stick up for yourself and your business. It's not YOUR problem if the signing services can't afford you. There are a lot of them out there still that can, and respect the work you do. I keep telling people that they don't realize that many of the signings services are keeping 50-60% of the fee (or more!) for these jobs. They get away with low fees because uneducated notaries think it's good money. It's not. These notaries have no concept of a profit margin and expenses beyond that of gas and paper.
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Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 9/7/13 7:02pm
Msg #483664
"Please offer her $900"
This is how we do it (not even my money and I still feel like jammin')!
I like how you delineated the issues: distance, access, addtl admin (during & after signing), delivery. This really shows your experience in running your business.
You have to Know what it takes to do your job well, because once you accept, follow-thru is imperative.
Got a call yesterday for a same day seller signing with 4 signers - 2 of whom were meeting separately. They were wives of the 2 borrowers and would be signing a grant deed; naturally, the 2 gals couldn't meet together!
I told the hiring party, I could do for $275 (this due mainly for the travel time & auto expense); finally negotiated to $225 Firm. Did not hear back from SS. Well, as the OP stated, this was about the time involved and sensing the "terrain" of this transaction.
The SS does not understand what is takes to do this job. This, "they're just signing 1 page" is because they honestly don't get what we go through to provide this kind *service*
And that's just fine; if I make it look "easy," great. A professional will go through the hoops (and not sweat it too much), but should definitely demand a higher wage for premium service. It's like Marian said, they "don't realize beyond gas and paper."
None of us should take our services for granted; leave that to the other party. I may be out $225 but I'm a lot saner for refusing the offer to run around to 3 different locations in rush hour on a Fri night!!
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