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Are You A Good Company To Work For?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Central Wisconsin Notary

Are You A Good Company To Work For?  

This is an informational blog so that you can see what is going on from a Signing Agents point of view with our rapidly changing Mortgage Industry.  

I ask this question in light of the companies that are closing their doors and not paying the vendors that worked for them.  Or not closing their doors but experiencing cash flow problems and not paying their vendors.

It is an epidemic now and it has led me to be very picky of the company that I work for.  My normal sequence of questions asked has now changed to more of an interview with the company that calls me for a closing if they are not one of my regular clients.  If I am to stay in a business that I adore, I have to take these precautions.

Everyday there is news about a Signing Company, Title Company, or Lender going out of business and its happening before you can blink your eyelids.  All after the fact you did a loan closing for them or for many Signing Agents multiple signings.  (Ouch on that one!)  And to put icing on the cake, the signings have slowed down considerably.

In our new atmosphere of Mobile Loan Closings I've had to really sit down and think on how am I to stay in business and keep myself safe from the fallout.  I have always been real strict on who I work for and am always on the quest to find the companies that I can build a long term relationships with.  As for many, this is a career for myself, not a hobby.

It has also led me to "think outside the box" as far as marketing goes.  Rethink my strategy on getting clients.  Think of other ways to generate income using my resources and skills.

I know it can be done.  I know there is an end to all this madness that has hit, and I keep a positive attitude by knowing I can overcome any obstacles that get in the way of the path that I have chosen.

So are you a good company to work for?  Or the company that you hire to contract a Signing Agent, are they a good company to work for?  If you hire another company to contract Signing Agents for Mobile Loan Closings and you are noticing they are having a problem with either getting the appointments filled and/or problems with getting competent Mobile Loan Closers, you might want to re-evaluate the company on how they are treating the mobile loan closers they hire and how they go about finding the Signing Agents for their databases.   Just ask us, we'll be more than happy to tell you what kind of company they are if we know them from experience or from the experience of others.

This is what I have learned from all this:

  • I have learned to read and read some more about this industry.  Thank you AR!
  • I have learned to not take for granted the wonderful relationships that have already been established in the business. 
  • I have learned I am not the only one and there are others who are experiencing the same.  Some worse off than I am.
  • I have learned to be a better net-worker with others who are in the same field. 
  • And finally I have learned the importance of talking to others in the RE World and realize that we all have a common ground and that is we like what we do and want to be the best as we can be at what we do.  Ive always thought this was important, but now it has become a priority for me.  Again, thank you AR!

Lisa Kimmel Signature

CWN Signature

Comments (6)

Brandon Causey
Coastal Palmetto Realty LLC - Loris, SC
Realtor, Coastal Palmetto Realty LLC
Employees are the ones who make this business go.  They respresent you in the community.  It is important that we not forget that.
Oct 04, 2007 03:32 AM
Gary Miljour
American Financial Network, Inc. NMLS#207208 - Southern Pines, NC
Mortgage Originator NMLS Licensed in AZ and NC

Lisa,

You are taking a great approach to business.  When I decide to work with an agent, or an agent decided to work with me, we go through an interview process, I force one if need be. 

The last thing I want is to work with someone that does not enjoy working with me and I do not enjoy working with them.  I also want to make sure they are going to be a viable business partner for many years to come. 

Oct 04, 2007 03:40 AM
Lisa Kimmel
Central Wisconsin Notary - Stevens Point, WI
Mobile Loan Closer - Notary

Brandon, I can certaintly appreciate what you are saying, but just to clarify, Signing Agents arent employees.  We are independent contractors and business owners.  Wasnt sure if thats what you were thinking when you read my blog.  Thank you for stopping by and have a great day!

Gary, absolutely!  And thank you for the compliment, it actually means alot. I hope to be in this profession for a long time.  Im going to secure that goal by proving to companies I can exceed their expectations on what they are looking for in a Signing Agent.  And also by making sure the company that wants to hire me has a reputation for treating their Signing Agents with respect.  It is a mutual understanding isnt it?  Have a wonderful day!

Oct 04, 2007 04:46 AM
Mary Ellen Elmore
Nunnelly, TN

Yes! I have been very lucky in that I have only taken one job that did not pay, it was for SOX!

Lesson learned.

I now ask more questions than I did before and stick to my guns.

I provide a quality service and deserve to be paid for such. We all lay out money up front to do these closings.

If one of my contractors was file bankruptcy, I would present my invoices to the court for re-payment.

Dec 13, 2007 11:58 PM
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Dec 04, 2008 03:36 AM
#5
Renee Kovacs
Renee A. Kovacs NSA Services - Northville, MI

Great attitude, Lisa!  You're exemplifying two of perhaps the oldest, wisest adages here:  one, that things could always be worse and two, that they can always get better.

As you point out, no matter how bad things might seem for us as individuals - there are surely individuals who would trade their situation for ours in a heartbeat.  Yep, there's always plenty to be grateful for.  Still, no matter how hard we try or how much we put into bettering ourselves - there is no ceiling on being better than we were yesterday.

If we never faced adversity, if we never had to step outside a comfortable place, if we were never challenged - we'd be so much less able, less strong, less flexible and undoubtedly that equates to less 'successful' by any definition.

Dec 13, 2008 09:35 PM
Margaret O'Daniel
NM Notary Loan Signing Agent - Albuquerque, NM

Super great advice! Thanks for reminding us Lisa!

Jan 09, 2009 04:47 AM