I have noticed over the last two years that the profiles of Snapdocs members have been getting more impressive. You see Notaries with more experience, a better repertoire of loans under their belt, and better looking photos of Notaries as well. If I didn’t know any better, I would think that those Notaries were the top of the line. However, I keep test scores of Notaries and have learned that the Notaries who look good on Snapdocs don’t necessarily actually know anything about how to be a notary or signing agent. They merely look good and probably respond to texts really fast.
The equation here is speed versus knowledge. It is hard to get both in one Notary. Notaries who have experience and a wide variety of jobs under their belt have experience that is worth noting. However, book knowledge versus experience rarely seem to add up. I have quizzed those who have no experience who studied and they can sometimes score a high grade on my quiz while those with twenty years of experience can fail.
The moral of the story is that in the Notary industry, it is hard to find a single Notary with purely positive attributes. Here are the attributes I consider important.
1. Getting back to people (an attribute of communication)
No matter how smart or experienced you are, if you don’t return phone calls or emails, you are basically worthless. Snapdocs capitalizes on this and in essence requires responsiveness to survive on their platform.
2. Attitude
If you are the best Notary in the world, but talk back to people and are generally rude, you will ruin everyone’s day.
3. Speed
Snapdocs seems to capitalize on this virtue quite effectively. If you get back to people fast, it is easier to work with you, even if you are not the best notary.
4. Knowledge
A well studied Notary is a lot less likely to make mistakes than one who is just winging it. This quality is more of a 123notary attribute.
5. Experience
Having experience on the street looks impressive on your resume and profile. It means you are less likely to make certain types of mistakes because you would have been put through the meat grinder many times already if you were making those mistakes. However, there are knowledge related mistakes that the most experienced Notaries make daily without even knowing it because most of them refuse to read notary manuals or study up!
6. Quality of Interaction
Some Notaries do not know how to have a professional phone call. If you read our articles on professionalism and etiquette you can see the details.
7. Maintaining a profile
Sometimes the best Notaries in the world write the worst notes sections and do not maintain their profiles.
Summary
To sum it up, Snapdocs is very good at point 1 and 3 which are at the top of my list. However, they are lacking in most other points. The reason for this is that the type of clients who use Snapdocs do not want to invest in knowledgeable Notaries as it is too expensive. After you pay Snapdocs their hefty fee and pay the Notary their low-ball fee, you will want a profit if you are a signing company.
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You might also like:
Snapdocs – when the texts stop
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21163
Compilation of posts about Snapdocs
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21531
How does pricing work for top placements on 123notary?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19355
When I owned an insurance agency, I never bashed the competition although they constantly bashed me. Clients used my services because they didnt like the attitude of the competition. When asked how I felt about the competition bad mouthing me, my reply… “They have become my best advertising”. I chose to not waste my time on talking about how rude, untimely, and unprofessional they were… they spoke for themselves. You speak of being professional, I find it very unprofessional to bash another company by name.
I enjoy Snapdocs. I have had excellent support, great after hours service and advice, and enjoy working with all but 1 of their vendors. One of their notaries has become my mentor and she has taught me many tricks of the trade and is extremely knowledgeable.
Every company has the good notary, the bad notary, and the ugly attitude notary, including yours.
Comment by Allison Banner — September 26, 2018 @ 3:26 pm
I have refused Snap Docs more times than I can count because they lowball their prices, don’t give enough detail so the job is bigger than I thought, and don’t treat me with respect as a professional.
Comment by Jeanne Steidtman — September 26, 2018 @ 3:30 pm
When I get a Snapdocs request, I immediately check out the company on 123notary or Notary Rotary. If they are good, I’ll accept the assignment. If the price is too low, I will decline with a note that the price is too low and put in my fee. Or, if it is a good company with a rate lower than I will accept, I will accept the assignment and negotiate the price with the company. THis usually works well and most times they will accept my fee. If it is a bad company, I will decline and request not to received any more requests. In the notes, I tell the why. Such as lowballer, late payer, difficult to deal with, etc..
Comment by James Morgan — September 26, 2018 @ 3:43 pm
I got manny notifications from Snapdocs and missed many because I didn’t’t reply quick enough. I noticed their fee is way low too.
Comment by Tien — September 26, 2018 @ 4:51 pm
I have found Snap Docs to be an invaluable resource during my ramp up as a New Notary Signing Agent. Sure you get paid less, but I look at it more as a Paid Internship. At this point in my Notary Career I am more interested in getting as many signings under my belt, than how much I am being paid for a signing. I have also learned a great deal from the Signing Companies that us Snap Docs. They (Signing Companies) tend to be used to Newbies and will take the time to help you with documents or situations you may not understand at first. My long term goal is to get approved with Fidelity National Title Group (you need to have 2 years experience) and work directly with the Escrow and Title companies. But for now I am learning a bunch and am very grateful for the Snap Docs platform. Happy Signings, Rob
Comment by Rob Arsenault — September 26, 2018 @ 5:19 pm
Snap Docs is a pain in the ass! I’m listed on there, only had one loan signing from them. The signing company that used them also couldn’t stand them!
Comment by ellen michaels — May 4, 2020 @ 6:04 pm
I rarely accept asignments from snapdocs, mainly because of the low-ball fees. Most of the time the fee offers will not pay my gasoline and other expenses. $30 fee to travel 50 miles and 50 mile back with 150 pages (X two). I tend to get much better offers from companies who tell me they got my name from 123 Notary.
Comment by Michael R Glatfelter — May 4, 2020 @ 7:49 pm