RESPA signing in Colorado City - 10/30/07 10:20 PM
Just when I thought I could take my business clothes off for the day and relax, I got a call to do a RESPA signing this evening in Colorado City. My first thought was, are they sure it's Colorado City, and not Colorado Springs? That's a bit out of my territory. I'd feel like a poacher.
It's south of Pueblo, almost 70 miles away. It's not that it's too far. It's just that there are a lot of notary signing agents in Pueblo, which is a lot closer.  But if the company is willing to pay the additional travel fee, I'll go … (0 comments)

Why confirmation calls are so important - 10/30/07 04:23 PM
The reason that notary signing agents make confirmation calls to the borrower is that we need to make sure that we have the correct time and place of the signing. It isn't always the same as what is on the instruction sheet that we receive. There are also instructions that we need to give to the borrower, such as having a photocopy of their ID, explaining our role as notary signing agents, etc.
Last night I did a closing for a borrower who lives in a condominium. If it weren't for the fact that I made a confirmation call, I wouldn't have known exactly … (2 comments)

If you burn a bridge, you can never go back. - 10/29/07 08:31 PM
One of the keys to success in this business, and almost any other business, is getting repeat business.  If you get called once to do a closing, will that same company call you again? If you did a good job, chances are that they will. That's your goal: to get called again. Repeat business.
If you didn't do a good job, they may not call you again.  It's possible that they will at some time later in the future. As long as you didn't do something that was horrific, like failing to show up at the closing because you got drunk, arrested, … (0 comments)

NSAs and Commercial Real Estate - 10/29/07 05:01 PM
On the front page of the recent NSA Today (Vol. VI, Issue 1, Fall 2007) is the article: Strong Commercial Market May Help NSAs. According to Notary Signing Agent Frank Marcial, the fees for Commercial Real Estate transactions for NSAs can range from $300 to as much as $700. This is considerably more than the fees paid for residential mortgage loan closings. He also says that the signings usually take less time because the parties involved are already well versed on the loan documents and have been advised by legal counsel.
What will it take to get involved in these types of transactions?
According … (0 comments)

"Do you work on Sundays?" - 10/28/07 02:20 PM
"Yes, I do.", I replied, without hesitation.
I received a call this morning from a man who needed a notary to notarize a Power of Attorney for his mother who is in one of the hospitals here in Colorado Springs. He asked me if I am a mobile notary. I told him that I am.  He asked me if I worked on Sundays. I told him that I do.
Being available 7 days a week is something that I take for granted.  For the people who need a notary on the weekend, it sometimes comes as a surprise.
It shouldn't.
Life doesn't get put … (4 comments)

How to set up a wireless network - 10/28/07 06:04 AM
If you are considering adding a wireless router to expand your computer network, and think you'll need to hire a computer expert to do it for you, save your money. It's so simple a child could do it. Perhaps that's not the best example, since children already know more about computers than most adults. But it really is simple.
I bought a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router (Model No WRT54G) today at OfficeMax. I went with Linksys at the recommendation of the Comcast technician who installed my cable system. And also because Linksys is a division of Cisco Systems -- a name that … (14 comments)

2 notary signing agents - same closing - 10/23/07 08:31 PM
That's the situation I found myself in today.  I called the borrower to confirm the appointment for his closing tomorrow. He told me that another notary signing agent made a similar confirmation call to him. 
There's obviously a mistake.  Both of us can't show up tomorrow. One of us has to be taken off the assignment.  I called the title company. There was a mistake.  I don't know the details. I was simply told that I will do the closing.
It doesn't make me feel good.
It's not that I don't want to do the closing. I do.  I feel bad … (0 comments)

Official signature of a notary public - 10/23/07 02:16 PM
Colorado notary law is very specific about the official signature of a notary public. There can be no deviation.  In addition to the notary seal, and official notary signature, the notary must include the expiration date of their commission.  Even that must be worded properly.  According to Colorado Revised Statutes 12-55-112 (3) (Source: LexisNexis(TM)):

This is how it should appear on a document:
However, in the closing documents for a closing that I'm doing today, I noticed this wording in the notary certificate:
It seems like a small thing.  One word. Why not just write the commission expiration date beside it?  Because it doesn't conform … (0 comments)

How to pass the NNA Certified Notary Signing Agent exam - 10/21/07 02:56 PM
If you want to achieve the CNSA (Certified Notary Signing Agent) designation, certified by the National Notary Association, you will have to pass an exam and pass a background screening. The exam is designed to test your knowledge of mortgage loan closing procedures, general notary laws, and your state's notary laws and procedures.  It's a 3-part exam. It consists of true or false and multiple choice questions. You have to score at least 80% on each of the three parts in order to pass the exam.
For the first two parts, it helps if you have the book Notary Signing Agent Certification … (0 comments)

The role of a notary signing agent mentor - 10/21/07 01:26 PM
"Expanding horizons through the power of one-to-one friendships."
That is the motto of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization -- the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States.
What has that got to do with notary signing agents?
The roles are very similar. The role of the notary signing agent mentor is not to "teach" or to "train". A mentor doesn't pick up where the signing agent's training left off.  It's unfortunate that many notary signing agents believe that a mentor is someone who is responsible for "training" another notary signing agent.  I say unfortunate, because they are … (2 comments)

The flexible nature of our jobs. - 10/21/07 10:48 AM
One of the reasons why I became a notary signing agent was so that I could have my own business. I wanted to be able to set my own hours, and be free to do whatever I wanted to do.
If you're a notary signing agent, you know that's not a reality. 
I was scheduled to do a closing last Thursday afternoon. I got a call from the title company informing me that it was re-scheduled to Friday afternoon.  There was a problem with the loan documents. Then on Friday morning I got another call letting me know that it was re-scheduled for Monday … (1 comments)

The service aspect of Reverse Mortgages - 10/21/07 08:29 AM
The dilemma: you're old and you're not able to get around very well. Just going to the corner store to buy groceries is difficult. You would like to save money on groceries and do your shopping at a supermarket, but you can no longer drive.
This is a reality for many senior citizens. 
Many are discovering the benefits of a Reverse Mortgage to supplement their income. There's just one problem.  What do you do when it comes time to sign the loan documents, if you can't get out of the house?  Wouldn't it be nice if there were a way that someone … (1 comments)

Is honesty really the best policy? Or am I a fool? - 10/16/07 10:59 AM
I'm scheduled to do a closing tomorrow. When I received the call from the title company, I was told that the closing would be in Calhan, CO. It's a 30-minute drive:
I was also told that I would be printing the loan documents (e-docs).  I based my fee on having to print e-docs, and also for the time and travel distance to Calhan.
When I called the borrowers to confirm the closing appointment they told me that they would rather do the closing at the wife's place of work, which is in Fountain. That is considerably closer: less than 8 miles. 
Then this … (3 comments)

Hey, ... it's income. - 10/15/07 02:06 PM
Hopefully notary signing agents are also making themselves available to the general public and doing mobile notary work. Things are slowing down a bit with loan closings, so we need to pursue as many different revenue sources as possible.
I got a call this morning from a German woman asking if I notarize German documents. I told her, yes. She wants me to come by this evening after 5 when her husband is home so they can sign it together.
I told her that I also do mortgage loan closings, and that there is a chance that I will be in a closing … (5 comments)

Managing information with WhizNote - 10/15/07 06:53 AM
There are a lot of software programs out there that can be used to handle the volumes of information that we have stored on our computers. There is one that does it extremely well. And best of all: it's free.
I have been using WhizNote for many years, and have seen it go through many versions. I use it for just about everything: to do lists, goals, outlining a research paper, ... and much more. There's no task that it can't handle.   
It especially comes in handy for all of the notes on notary laws and procedures that I have stored. Rather than … (5 comments)

handling rejection - 10/15/07 06:18 AM
In order to survive in this business, notary signing agents will have to have something in common with the rhino: a thick skin.
You are going to be abused, kicked in the gut, cursed at, ... and a lot more. You didn't really think this was a glamour job, did you?
It's going to come from many directions: title companies, loan officers, schedulers, ... and yes, even the borrowers. Especially the borrowers. Not everyone is going to appreciate what you do. Not everyone is going to like you. Get over it ... quickly.
First of all, don't think of it as rejection. And … (4 comments)

1003 loan application: single borrowers - 10/15/07 04:22 AM
Notary signing agents have questioned for a long time if a single borrower should sign the top of the 1003 loan application.  Some argue that a single borrower should not.  In the absence of specific instructions, I will have a single borrower sign the top of the 1003.
Last week I did a closing, and in the notary signing agent instructions were the following instructions:
It's not a definitive word, but perhaps it can serve as a guide.
It would be nice if all companies provided guidelines such as this. There are always exceptions to the rule that can leave a notary signing agent … (6 comments)

Waiting for approval to ship loan documents - 10/14/07 07:49 PM
Sometimes I think that the measures that signing companies take to ensure that signing agents do their job properly actually hurt the business.  A lot of the things that are required are in conflict with what is the most expedient way of doing things.  Waiting for approval before shipping the documents is one of those things.
I did a closing for a company last year that required me to hold the documents pending approval from the signing company. I could have had the documents shipped the same day of the signing and delivered the next day.  I called the signing company and … (0 comments)

The reality of Sisyphus - 10/14/07 07:36 PM
Sisyphus was a mythological character. But there is some reality in the story. The reality is that one cannot maintain whatever position they have. Trying to do so is futile. 
It didn't take me long to fall. I was busy the past couple of weeks and didn't have time to spend on ActiveRain. I fell a few spots in position. It was no surprise. It's something that I accepted would happen a long time ago.
So what is the point in trying to move up the ladder, knowing that one cannot maintain a position for very long? Yes, of course, there are other benefits to ActiveRain. … (2 comments)

Turning down a reverse mortgage closing - 10/12/07 11:44 AM
I received a call to do a reverse mortgage closing this morning at 10 a.m.  It is 10:15 a.m. as I write this. If that closing is taking place, as scheduled, then the notary signing agent is doing it for less than what they should be paid.
The reason I turned down the closing is because the company would not agree to my fee. The company concluded the conversation by saying they wanted someone who could do it for less than $100. I apologized and told them I could not do it. My fee is considerably more for reverse mortgages.
It's not … (2 comments)

Collection help for notary signing agents - 10/12/07 10:50 AM
It's no secret that not getting paid is one of the risks that notary signing agents take when they accept a closing assignment.  Signing agents have message boards they can go to in order to research a company and read what other signing agents have to say about a company. 
But the risk is still there. It might be a new company that no one has heard of. It can even be an old company that has suddenly found itself in a position where it can't afford to pay the notaries for the closings they do.
In response to this, there are … (2 comments)

Notarizing an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) - 10/12/07 08:24 AM
I was called yesterday evening to notarize an Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). It's part of the services I provide as a mobile notary.
The purpose of it is to verify the employment eligibility and identity of all employees hired to work in the United States. The employer maintains the form in their files for 3 years after the date the person was hired.
The person who called me is considered a "remote hire". She would not physically go to the employer to complete the paperwork. In cases such as this, the employer designates an agent to carry out their I-9 responsibilities. … (5 comments)

Switched to cable - 10/11/07 09:18 AM
My DSL modem died last Monday. Not good news for a notary signing agent, since we depend on high speed internet to do business. I called the phone company and was told where I could buy a replacement. The replacement wasn't compatible with my system. I could have ordered one from the phone company, but it would have taken a few days. I can't afford to suspend my business for a few days.
I decided to call Comcast the next day. I got an offer to receive a package of services: cable, high speed internet, and digital voice. It would actually cost me … (3 comments)

"It's all taken care of." - 10/09/07 04:34 PM
I just received a call from a borrower for whom I'm doing a closing tomorrow. She called to let me know that I don't have to come all the way out there to Black Forest. Her son convinced her to take the documents to a bank and have them notarized there. He thought that she would have to pay me out of her pocket, and that she could possibly save some money by taking the documents to a bank.
She didn't understand that I am being paid by a signing service. I also told her that the distance is not an issue. … (0 comments)

Is there ever an excuse for negligence as a notary signing agent? - 10/09/07 01:36 PM
I think so.
I did a closing yesterday at 5 p.m.  Because it started at that time, there was probably no expectation from anyone that the documents would go out that evening and be delivered the next day. FedEx makes its last pick up at 6 p.m. I would have to complete the closing and rush to deliver the documents to FedEx Kinkos -- all in less than one hour.  I had a plan though.
I didn't rush the borrower, but rather tried to do everything as efficiently as possible so that I could complete the closing as quickly as possible. When the … (0 comments)

Overnighted documents to the borrower: pros and cons - 10/09/07 09:37 AM
I got a call on Saturday from the borrower for whom I was scheduled to do the closing. She called to let me know that she received the loan documents. She had a chance to look at them and didn't agree with the loan terms. She let me know she wasn't going to sign them. She wanted to cancel the closing.
I was actually glad she called. No signing agent wants the closing to end up as a no-sign. But it's different when they call you in advance and save you the time and effort of driving all the way to them. … (0 comments)

Communication is the key to avoid refusal of mobile notary service - 10/03/07 06:20 PM
I received a call this afternoon from a woman who was turned down for notary service by several mobile notaries she contacted. She lives almost 30 miles away in Monument, almost at the border of Douglas County. I told her that I would help her.
Mobile notaries don't want to drive a great distance, only to discover upon arrival that it's a document they are not permitted to notarize. There are several documents which notaries are forbidden by law to notarize. Notaries may not certify copies of vital records, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and divorce decrees. One mention … (3 comments)

"Miller Time" for notary signing agents? - 10/01/07 03:09 AM
I believe that most notary signing agents really like what they do.  But all of us will agree that, if you do this full time, there is one thing you'll have to sacrifice: a social life.
That's not to say that we don't have free time for going out and socializing. We do. It's just that it's hard to do things that require a firm commitment: to plan things at a set time, on a certain day, each week. We never know when we'll be called to do a closing. And it's very common that we will get a call to … (1 comments)

Continuing Education for Notary Signing Agents: Real Estate manuals - 10/01/07 02:30 AM
There are many excellent resources out there for notary signing agents who want to continue to learn and add to their skills. One in particular is your state's Real Estate manual.
The Colorado Real Estate Manual, for example, has a chapter on Closing Statements:
What I found interesting in the introduction is that it makes a reference to notary signing agents, although we are referred to as 'independent closing agents'. There is a lot of valuable information in this chapter about closings. An outline of Chapter 18:
1. Introduction2. A simple real estate transaction3. Final Settlement through a Lending Institution4. Final Settlement when a … (3 comments)

 

Leon Austin, Colorado Springs Mobile Notary

Colorado Springs, CO

More about me…

Mobile Notary Services

Address: Colorado Springs, CO

Office Phone: (719) 473-9336

Cell Phone: (719) 238-7988

Email Me

As Featured On Ezine Articles
Get great free widgets at Widgetbox!


Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog