Posted by Jana Miller on 9/4/13 10:16pm
Msg #483250

Other opportunities ARE out there...

Hearing everyone talk about how slow it has been and lots of free time it made me want to comment on a few things. I am sure you guys all know all of this so if I am posting info you already know feel free to bypass me. LOL.

Its been slow yes..FOR LOANS ONLY... at least for me. I have been pretty busy with notarizing trusts, POA's at nursing homes, hospitals is a big one, school trainings, Jails, travel overseas and all kinds of docs. I average about 3 appointments each day on a 5 day work week. I work on weekends of course. Notary fee is $10.00 for each signature and travel is $30-40.00. Each appointment I do is average $40.00... You do 3 a day that's 120 bucks. It may not sound like a lot to some of you but it is to me.

Notarizing trust docs is great. I go to a few attorneys here in San Diego. Here in California trusts are a big deal and there is around 6-8 signatures (with QCD) so when I go to their office its a hundred dollar day. And that's only ONE appointment. I do around 10 trusts a month.. Sometimes more sometimes less. Average.These attorneys are out there for sure... And they need you.Get them to call you!
I have google adwords which is HUGE for me for getting my calls. I pay about 30.00 average a week on clicks but the calls outweigh that payment.
I guess I just want to give you what I'm doing to make up some of the lost money. Its very lucrative. I am sure you all know this but I really want us all to succeed. I love doing this. I love meeting new people everyday. AND lots of Repeat customers. I have sent marketing letters every 2 months to keep my name on their mind. I have had calls from those letters and 2 of the escrow companies are using me exclusively. But it being slow I am thankful for the general stuff I am doing.

I don't know what the pricing is like in other states but it adds up fast here as Im sure other ones on here in California know. There are tons of opportunities out there. I'm all over the place, let me tell ya. I get a hold of anyone and everyone.
My google adwords really is a big deal. We will all get so busy we won't be able to sit for 5 minutes.

Just wanted to give my thoughts and ideas for you all.

Reply by HSH/WA on 9/4/13 10:33pm
Msg #483253

Re: Even BOs I've closed with will not

pay me $25 to drive to their home and $10 per stamp for other notary work. It is so much cheaper to go to your own bank or even UPS. I've never got GNW off the ground. The kind of business offered is "come quick and notarize this QCD while my ex is in the mood." No thanks. I've received calls from senior homes where I've left cards and the daughter of the senior who needs the service acts like I'm stealing from her mom when I quote the above.

Reply by Jana Miller on 9/4/13 10:52pm
Msg #483258

Re: Even BOs I've closed with will not

Well Washington state I don't know about. If I am going to make 50.00 bucks for a 10 minute signing, feel free to be a witch. Haha... I've never had any family ever feel that way. I tell them the price on the phone. I've done TONS at nursing/assisted/hospitals and it seems like they know it has to be done and if they didn't want to pay good luck. Most of us are pretty much the same price down here.

Reply by Linda_in_MI on 9/5/13 9:53am
Msg #483281

And if they can't go to the bank or UPS?

While I agree that in most cases UPS would be better suited for the one or two docs--and when people have balked at my quotes I then refer them to the local UPS stores--what if the individual can't travel? Or it is after hours for the in-house notary? Isn't that the point of "mobile" notary? And not every bank/financial institution/government office will notarize for John Q Public off the street. What then?

Reply by jba/fl on 9/5/13 10:12am
Msg #483288

Re: And if they can't go to the bank or UPS?

Then those people need to rethink their priorities. They don't want to pay, but why should any notary have to pay for those people? It is a service...how necessary is up to the person in need.

Reply by Mike Goodey on 9/4/13 10:36pm
Msg #483254

I have done trusts, been asked to visit jails and also the state prison...Chino ( although you have to be a state employee to get that gig.) Trusts are usually 4 notarizations. I get calls from local hospitals and medical centers. Haven't been asked to do home inspections in a while though. There is money to be made.

Reply by Jana Miller on 9/4/13 10:42pm
Msg #483255

That's weird Mike because I've never had a problem with George Bailey down here. Never. And the trust that I do are married and they do separate acknowledgements. Trust, DPOA, HCPOA, Witness will, QCD So that is about 6-8 and a lot of times they have more than 1 property. So I guess its different down here. There is a lot of money to be made. I'm not looking to get rich. I'm in the wrong biz...

Reply by ToniK on 9/5/13 10:09am
Msg #483286

Unfortunately Va is only $5

and people are so cheap here in my area. They call but when I say $40-50 includes notarization and my travel. I always get "Well can I meet you somewhere?" Umm I still have to travel.

One guy (Indian) was an annoying customer. He called at first to have about 12 things notarized, then cancel like 10 mins before the appt time. Then call back and say he has 4 things to notarize. We set up appt, 2 mins before I arrive, he states its only 2 notarizations. When I get there it was only one and he wanted to renegotiate my fee since I wouldnt come back the next day to notarize the other stuff. UGH!!!

GNW is a PITA!!!

However, one time I did make $290 for 30 mins of work for an investment firm who needed to redraw investment docs for 3 clients and get one notarization each. But I had to drive to all the clients home. Luckily they lived all in the same area. Fastest $290 I made!

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 9/5/13 10:11am
Msg #483287

That's great when you get $10 each.

For those states (including AZ) where it's 50 cents to $2 each, it doesn't work.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 9/5/13 10:34am
Msg #483292

The best deal for Vermonters is to go to their town or county clerk for notarizations. It's free, they're located approximately every 6 miles, and they usually know what they're doing. Usually not much of a line. The only obstacle is in the smaller towns they may only work a few days a week.

Reply by Roger_OH on 9/5/13 11:00am
Msg #483295

I love GNW!

I'm in a $2 state, but with travel my average fee is $25-30 for locations nearby.

Although there are a very few that refuse the fee, the vast majority often comment how reasonable it is, and often throw in a tip. This is especially true for folks in retirement homes; the families are just happy to get their important documents completed, and are surprised and grateful that I will come to them 7 days a week.

Retirement homes/hospitals, FedEx stores (and most of the UPS stores,) all have my cards and are happy to refer people to me. Only a few UPS stores even offer notarizations here, and they're very limited as to what they will notarize. They send me what they don't know how to do. The same with banks; most won't do anything more complex than a car title, and certainly not POAs, advanced directives, copy certifications, or foreign documents.

I also get referrals from the Chamber of Commerce, Angie's List, and prior customers, to name a few.

I have a a thriving and lucrative GNW business, but aside from the money, the fun part is meeting all kinds of people in all kinds of situations, providing an essential service that genuinely helps them, which is why I became a notary in the first place.

I feel sorry for all those who got a notary commission just as a necessary hoop so they could do loan signings, and have never experienced or realized what the notary office actually does in serving the public trust.

I believe GNW is what you make it, and there are plenty of ways to make it quite profitable.

Reply by Alz on 9/5/13 11:07am
Msg #483296

Roger, you hit the nail on the head!

I too enjoy GNW. Always intrigued by the people and places visited. More often than not, referrals and repeat business will occur.

GNW is really what you make it, with any business or endeavor.

Reply by Notarysigner on 9/5/13 11:56am
Msg #483301

Re: Roger, you hit the nail on the head! Agree! GNW

has been very good these last three months for me. I just wanted to mention, as Roger did, fees are VERY important. I recently visited a retirement home and the Director there told me that another notary came there and wanted to leave some business cards. The director asked what were their fees and was told "it varies, depending on what the Document(s) were. The notary was told, "we already have a notary" . That is because I have ONE SET FEE and they know it!

Reply by Jana Miller on 9/5/13 2:32pm
Msg #483317

Re: Roger, you hit the nail on the head! Agree! GNW

Yes I agree with Roger also AND you And it seems that us who live in California realize there is money to be made. I think people just know its a service they pay for. Plus the 10.00 a signature adds up for sure. I do realize its different everywhere else. But here in Cali - SoCal its pretty good. I love it.
Yes I have one set fee for docs for them and have an "in" with several of the assisted living places around North San Diego County. Its been nice lately.

Reply by Jana Miller on 9/5/13 2:45pm
Msg #483319

Re: I love GNW!

Roger....PERFECTLY said. If you want to make it profitable its not going to happen sitting waiting for the phone to ring for loan signings. Its fun when you have over a 100.00 day I've already had 2 appointments and made 120.00 already. Have one more at 4:00. tomorrow I have only 1 FOR NOW but it is a trust so its another 80-90.00. I sooooo agree with everything you said. The GN are a hoot to do. The people and situations are like a reality series. I love every minute of it.

Reply by MW/VA on 9/5/13 3:38pm
Msg #483331

Thanks, Roger. I never thought to advertise on Angie's List n/m

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 9/5/13 4:25pm
Msg #483340

I'm with you Roger; I also have a very lucrative

GNW side of my notary work.
I encourage General Notary Work; in California I charge $10.00 per signature and it can add up very quickly, especially doing 30-50 per day.

Reply by Jana Miller on 9/5/13 4:46pm
Msg #483342

Re: I'm with you Roger; I also have a very lucrative

Yes Stephanie me too. I am in San Diego. Like I said I already had a couple appts so far and another one coming at 4:00 and I average 3-4 a day. Each one is average 4-50 dollars. Its very lucrative here in California where you and I are at. And its how hard you want to work to get your name out. If someone is doing more than 5 signatures I usually give them a travel fee discount in half. So I charge 15.00 instead of 30 but make the 50 plus on the signatures so its all good. Plus they come back to me.
I Love California.

Reply by ME/NJ on 9/5/13 10:50am
Msg #483293

You would think with all the adult communities and hospitals one would be swamped with GNW, but with 20K notaries in Ocean County it is very hard to get that kinda work. When I had time to do the work it was fun money, lunch money or buy something for my little girl. Never amounted to much.

Sometimes POAs and Wills are tougher then a loan signing..lol