It is common for Notaries to be signed up with dozens of signing services / notary services. We recommend that you sign up with as many notary services as you can. But, being signed up with them doesn’t equal getting used. There is some secret magic in getting used. You can’t get used if you are not signed up, so do the signing up part as early as possible in your Notary career. We recommend starting your career getting signed up with at least 50 companies and then do a few more in the beginning of the month every month. Since business is normally slow in the beginning of the month, that is a good time to market yourself and make quick calls to companies who you haven’t heard from for a while.
The Secret of Getting Used
I remember long time ago I was signed up with hundreds of signing companies. Not all of them used me. Signing Companies are like humans. We get in the habit of going to certain restaurants which become our regular spots. I go to our local Ramen place all the time for noodle soup and go to another spot for Kabobs. Sure, there are thousands of restaurants in Los Angeles, but I tend to go to seven or eight on a regular basis and once in a while to others. You need to catch the attention of signing companies to get used.
Catching Their Attention
If a signing company you have never heard of offers you a job that is too far away, should you decline because it is too far? If you have time in your schedule, taking that call might get you in their good graces. You got them out of a bind, and they might remember you for that. Other ways to catch people’s attention is to personally pop in their office during the beginning of the month when things are slow. If you live near Orange County, California it will be easy to have access to dozens of signing companies. There are also Title companies all throughout our nation that you can visit. Giving companies quick calls and letting them know you are available and happy to work for them helps too. You need to stick in their head, so bugging them intermittantly is a sound strategy!
Doing a Good Job
If a new signing company uses you, that means their favorite person in your area is either busy, on vacation, moved, died, or screwed up. It is your job to get in that #1 or #2 spot in their database during this brief window in time. When they call you, you need to be very agreeable and do whatever they say. Don’t complain if there are too many pages, fax backs, or long drives. Just do the job with a smile, and they will remember you next time. I would not start trying to charge them more or have conditions until the fourth job.
Invoice Promptly
Many Notaries get into trouble because they don’t invoice fast enough. Invoice within 24 hours of completing the job and invoice with exactly the information the company wants. Then invoice again at the 30 day mark on a weekly basis until paid. Other than that — good luck!
Invoice within 24 hours?? you bet!! We send the invoice right with the package when it is emailed or FedExed, etc. We make the invoice to the attention of Accounts Payable/and the name of the contact. We also have a policy of letting the customer (title company or signing company, Attorney, etc.)know that we expect to be paid as soon as they are paid, i.e. as soon as the docs record. Why should we wait for our money while our customer lives off of it??
Comment by Rodrigo Jones — July 19, 2015 @ 7:40 pm
Ditto on the invoicing. EVERY VENDOR IS DIFFERENT!! You must be aware of how their invoice OR if you have invoice yourself. Also, some companies don’t require you to sign up with them, while others make you fill out 20-30 page packets that eat your time.
Some companies that I used to work for have a fee policy that steals from you, so READ THE FINE PRINT!!!
I am reluctant to travel long distances now for any company that I know will slash my fees if there is a Refusal to Sign. I have completed about 600 signings now and I have had 7 refusals, so I know that it isn’t me. I also know that the word has got about because MANY companies will call and ask \do you travel?\ That is a signal to ask if you will be paid the full verbally agreed upon fee, should the borrower refuse to sign the documents.
Comment by betty — August 11, 2015 @ 2:21 pm
Ditto on the invoicing. EVERY VENDOR IS DIFFERENT!! You must be aware of how their invoice OR if you have invoice yourself. Also, some companies don’t require you to sign up with them, while others make you fill out 20-30 page packets that eat your time.
Some companies that I used to work for have a fee policy that steals from you, so READ THE FINE PRINT!!!
I am reluctant to travel long distances now for any company that I know will slash my fees if there is a Refusal to Sign. I have completed about 600 signings now and I have had 7 refusals, so I know that it isn’t me. I also know that the word has got about because MANY companies will call and ask “do you travel?” That is a signal to ask if you will be paid the full verbally agreed upon fee, should the borrower refuse to sign the documents.
Comment by betty — August 11, 2015 @ 2:21 pm