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This article was written by Kelly Robertson, President of LoanSigner101. Pay attention to the advice, especially if you're new to the industry!
1. They Don’t Know What They’re Doing. Newbies have passed their Notary Exam and many have even taken a loan signing certification course, but they have no clue how to complete a proper notarization. They don’t know how to use their journal, they’re lost when it comes to the difference between a Jurat and an Acknowledgement, they’re not sure about valid ID and properly presenting loan docs is a mystery.
2. They Don’t have a Plan. You know, a Business Plan -- your blueprint for success. The plan that tells us the how, what, when and where in order to conduct business. A “working” business plan keeps us focused and on track which is especially important when you’re working on a start-up business.
3. They Aren’t Set Up to Conduct Business. Many newbies don’t have the proper permits or licenses required to legally conduct business in their City such as a Business License. Everyone also needs a Business Bank Account which may require a Fictitious Business Name filing and an EIN Number.
4. They Don’t Have the Appropriate Equipment to Be a Loan Signing Agent. Everyone must have a computer that will support accepting and downloading large files, a proper email address (not one with dots, dashes, silly words or nicknames and not ten feet long), a cell phone that gets great reception, a laser printer with PCL-5 drivers or higher, a plain paper fax machine or better yet, buy a multi-function machine and call it a day. And let’s not forget business cards - buy them by the ton, they’re cheap.
5. Their Office is Not Set Up. What? Yeah, Signing Agents need lots of paper (especially legal), toner, pens, bulldog clips, paper clips, file folders, business accounting software and/or an Excel spreadsheet program to keep your expenses, invoices, AR/AP and mileage in check. Forget any rumor you’ve heard - we DO pay taxes!
6. New Signing Agents Must Have Money in the Bank and only a dummy would quit their day job. Newbies have been told they can make 100K their first year. Forget that - it won’t happen. You’ve got to be sure you can support yourself as a Loan Signing Agent - food’s important.
7. They Assume Everyone Who Needs a Notary Will be Able to Find Them. I always get a good laugh at the newbies who tell me they’re listed on one major website. Yeah, along with the other zillion notaries who are listed there too. You must be all over the internet. I’m pro-website too because linking your website to your profiles makes a huge difference.
8. Their Profiles are Negative. How many times have I read something like this on a profile: “ I will not travel more than 9 miles round trip; If you’re sending me edocs, I need 5 hours advanced notice or I will not complete the signing for you; Since I work full-time, I can only sign between the hours of 9am-9:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays (except when the moon is full) and on Wednesdays in odd months I can work from 10am -noon, and then again from 2:15pm - 3:45pm. Call for an appointment on Fridays. I do not work in the evenings or weekends or holidays or during the summer months in even years. “ I wonder if they work on days that end in “Y”?
9. They’re not Willing to Work Hard. A new signing agent’s first year will involve their behind firmly planted in front of their computer, Doing what you ask? Conducting research, marketing, getting their profiles on line, signing up with signing companies and if they’re smart, reading the message boards for leads which is also a great way to make new friends and network. Plan on no life, a dirty house and a hungry family for at least a year. Think I’m kidding?
10. They’re not Open to Criticism. I love the newbies that post on a message board, “Take a look at my new site! Opinions Welcomed”. None of them really mean it - they only want the opinions that tell them their site is awesome.
Here’s another example: They post, “Please Don’t Slam Me”, and then tell of a story about how they felt pressured to backdate or the signer didn’t have proper ID but was so nice! Or how about the one where the LO is upset because they told the borrowers they were getting ripped off… I could go on forever on this one.
Don't Post on all the popular message boards - just read! Exception: HERE!.
All the best!
Kelly Robertson, President, http://LoanSigner101.com
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