Mobile offices and their advantages
One of our notaries in Maryland commands higher prices for his loan signing services due to his expertise in signings and also because he has a mobile office which facilitates last minute notary jobs and last minute quick changes to documents. This notary has state-of-the-art equipment that comprises his mobile office in his pickup truck. He has a scanner, regular sized printer, laptop, extra toner, paper, a special inverter, cables, a powerful alternator, and extra heavy duty fuses. His internet connection is courtesy of Verizon Wireless Broadband. Additionally, he considers it really important to have a really powerful battery because the equipment puts a heavy load on the battery. Another interesting fact is that he uses a police squad laptop holder so he can work comfortably while in the drivers seat. He prints by putting the printer in the back seat. His wires are directly wired to the car’s electrical system instead of using a plug in that would go in the cigarette lighter.
What are the technical issues of a mobile office?
This notary started his mobile office in 2004. He has lots of experience with mobile offices and the issues related to them. He claims that someone with a regular car might not have enough battery or alternator power to handle the load of a laser printer. He used to blow fuses to do overload, but learned that buying top of the line heavy-duty fuses and having a state of the art alternator he could handle the demands of the job. Our Maryland notary public learned that it was not technically feasable to run a printer and laptop simultaneously using his mobile office. So, what he does is to put the laptop on battery only while printing documents
Printing
With a mobile office, a signing agent can download documents while you are driving. Imagine the time you can save multi-tasking. Our Maryland Notary Public uses a regular sized printer without any issues. However, the printer gets hot, so a firewall is necessary. He uses wood covered by velcro to make sure that no fires are created when he places the printer on a seat or on the floor.
How does this help his business?
You can get more money for signings having a mobile office because you can do last minute quick prints of last minute documents. Imagine that the lender has a quick change to the Settlement Statement or other critical document. No problem, it can be reprinted at the signing. What if there is a quick name variation change, or change for a critical figure in the loan. Again, this is easy to printout at the last minute. Many loans have to be completely rescheduled due to the notary’s lack of equipment, but not if you have a mobile office!
What does it cost?
You could spend $2000-$3000 for a mobile office. The inverter is about $100 and thats critical for good electrical flow. Scanners and printers a few hundred each. The biggest expense is the laptop, and those can run anywhere from $500 to $2000 per unit.
Tweets:
(1) One of our notaries commands a higher fee simply because he has a sophisticated mobile office!
(2) Having a mobile office is perfect in the “unlikely” event that a lender sends you docs late when ur on the road.
(3) You could spend up to $3000 for a really good mobile office. Don’t forget to start w/an inverter!
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Jail Notary Jobs from A to Z
Have you ever done a jail notary?
Have you ever visited a Jail? Would you be afraid to go to one?
In reality, a jail is a very place place to visit. There are guards everywhere, and the bad guys are behind bars. Notaries make a pretty penny notarizing at jails, in fact some make so much it should be criminal to charge that much! You can charge a lot higher travel fee going to a jail because its a lot more trouble than a regular signing, and few notaries are willing to go. There is also more to know. Jail signings are usually the result of physical or online yellow page advertising, not directories that cater to loan signings ( such as ours ).
Who hires you to do a jail signing?
If you are called to do a Jail signing, it is never the inmate who calls you, but their girlfriend, family member, or attorney. The inmates don’t want to blow their (1) phone call calling a notary – and I don’t blame them. You need to arrange a time and meeting point near the jail where you are sure to be able to spot each other – at the same place at the same time. Its easy to get lost at a jail.
Idenfication for jail-birds
When you get the call, ask them if they have identification for the signer, and if they do, then have them read it to you – including the expiration date, before you book an appointment. If they don’t have ID, don’t use the jail bracelet wristband, thats not acceptable by notary standards. You might be able to use credible witnesses if you can get two of them who have ID that is current – if credible witnesses are allowed in your state. If you can’t get identification, you might be able to do a Jurat which doesn’t require identification in most states. However, California now requires ID for Jurats as well. Unfortunately, most documents such as a power of attorney or grant deed are normally done with an acknowlegment, not a jurat. But, you can attach a Jurat form and hope for the best. A recorded document might not be accepted for recording if its not done with the proper wording, but you never know.
Where do you meet your client for a jail signing?
You have to arrange to meet a stranger at the jail at a certain time. Jails are large confusing places, so it might be better to meet at a well marked street corner. If you meet in a jail, you might not know which part of the jail to meet. Waiting room? Hall to the waiting room? Front dest? Out side the bront door? IN the parking lot? Its easy for two people to be at opposite ends of the same facility or get lost. Make sure the person meeting you has a cell phone and make sure you confirm with them, otherwise you might be making a trip for nothing. Jail notaries are not for the elite of society and blowing off a notary would not ruffle the conscience of most of your potential clients for this type of job.
Logistics at the jail.
Once you are actually at the jail, you meet the client, and then fill out forms with the guards to be granted permission to enter. Make sure you know what cell the inmate is in and that they haven’t been moved. Be prepared to wait – jails have a very different sense of time from the way a busy notaries sees time. Follow the instructions for where to go, and then find a guard to bring the inmate to you once you are there. You will have to pass your journal and forms through slits with help of the guard.
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