So I accepted an assignment for $90 that was a refi. It is about a 20 min drive. I was good with the amount because I am just getting started and need the experience. But I just go the paper work and it is 207 pages. Litterly the package is 207 pages now there are some instruction pages but total it is only about 10-15 pages. By the time I make two copies and and scan it back plus the drive and that many pages will take at least an hour (I imagine) I will be in the negative. What should I do? Do I just suck it up? Request more? or backout? Thoughts?
@mastersdegreenotaries Hmmm . . .
Letâs backup for just a moment. The name of the hiring entity isnât provided. So, unable to research for you.
You definitively want to ensure that the business entity is reputable prior to extending credit to them for your professional services.
STEP ONE:
Itâs important that you have thoroughly vetted this client who is new to you.
There is immediately available information found within the Notary Cafe database. Look there & Search the internet for validation that itâs a reputable business entity & check for any available reviews online about them.
The information in the Notary Cafe database is a GOLDMINE!
Most members express that they find it difficult/NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to locate the Search Function in order to access the wealth of information available within the database.
To be helpful, Iâve inserted an image for you & others [see below] to help members locate it to unlock the wisdom & knowledge of other members on the forums.
STEP TWO:
Review this thread (direct Notary Cafe url below) that is a Guideline for Creation of your Schedule of Fees.
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FYI: For the scheduling coordination, print & preparation time, required time for travel, return trip, scanbacks, upload, another trip out from the office to hand-off the executed document package to the shipper & return results in at least approximately 2 hours (IF everything progresses smoothly & they have no major document queries & if there are no traffic delays).
STEP THREE:
If the hiring business entity is creditworthy, you need to counter offer due to the revealed Signing Order parameters when you received the doc package.
Any document package of that amount by industry standards is considered oversized*. Negotiate your fee for the actual parameters that are now available.
Accessing the database to locate information about potential clients has saved many of us an inordinate amount of time âchasingâ payments for Services professionally provided to potential non-payers . . . 
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First, do the math. Probably take 1 1/2 hrs. at table. + TIME to scan + paper/toner + drive time/auto expense + PROFIT. Then, âDue to excess pkg. size, I need $XXX or re-assignâ.
Do this ASAP.
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Ask them if a print fee can be added as your fee did not include page counts over 200.
You should be able to get at least $10 more. Just ask.
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Thanks all , I did decide to counter. So we will see what comes back.
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$90 simply isnât enough for 207 pages with scanbacks. Unfortunately, thatâs what signing services offerâŠif youâre lucky. You should counter with a higher rate. Your chances of getting it arenât great, but you can try. If someone doesnât accept the $90 you might get it.
$20 or better is more like it. It isnât only the printing; thereâs more table time for large packages.
Look I am going to drop a little humor, you are learning âgrasshopperâ. Plus, you are asking questions in the forum. Because you didnât share your location, therefore the competition factor is an unknown variable. Itâs hard to say what the companies market strategy is regarding compensation. Eventually you will established yourself, built relationships with the title companies/signing services, so the learning curve will start taking an upward movement on your earnings. Per johnsonps306, next time ask for a fee bump due to a large loan document package. I am a little aggressive and would have asked for $25. Hereâs the truth, you will learn or better yet get a feel for these companies/signing services fee range. They need us, just as we need them too. My rule of thumb, any package that equal greater than 50 pages (single package), which means that you will have to print 100 pages to give the signer their copy. I will ask for a extra print fee.
I agree but when you accept a fee - getting a big jump to that fee can be difficult.
No it really isnât as long as you give a logical reason for the increase. Granted, this could depend upon how oversaturated your area is. Most of my requests for a fee increase are an unexpectedly large package or the location was given merely as City, State, whereas the actual location is 20 miles further in the boonies of said City, State. YeahâŠweâve got some really big (lot of rural) zip codes here.
It depends on who youâre negotiating with. Some signing services will summarily remove you from the signing if you give them an ultimatum like that. Others might give it to you. Like everything in life, you need to know who youâre dealing with. Over time, youâll know what you can get from each company.
This is very true. You can end up with an assignment canceled.
Iâm in the greater Los Angeles area, where there is a very large range of distances you can be traveling to a signing. If you accept a signing that is 5 miles from you and the signer decides to change the location to his workplace, which is 25 miles away, that is a huge difference in not only car expenses, but also your time spent. In a case like that, I would either ask for more money or give the signing back. When I agree to a particular fee for a signing, it is based on the initial information provided (day/time, location, package size, etc.). If any of that changes to my disadvantage, I have every right to ask for more money or opt-out.
Do it since you accepted it and let it be a lesson. People will take these for $50 and learn the hard way. If all the agents in the area would hold out for a base fee of at least $100, then we all would be better off. If the package is extra large then ask for an extra print fee for an extra large package. Some companies wont pay an extra print fee if the package is not over 400 pages.
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UPDATE: I countered for an additional $25 and they agreed. Thanks for all of the feedback and advice.
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Glad you learned to negotiate. I still think the fee is way too low for the many hours youâll put in. But, youâll learn.
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percent with the above excerpt.This is the mistake new notaries make accepting a low fee for experience. In this field they donât pay more for experience you have to counteroffer when you start taking signings.
In my experience if the package is more than 150 pages I ask for more (co. Pay $10-20 more) if scans are needed I ask for more. If itâs far I ask for more. HELOC closings I get paid $150-300 a signing. Iâm in Texas.
As you take more signings youâll get familiar how much a company will pay more.
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First, read the typecof signing. Thus sounds a lot like a reverse mortgage, which involves 2 mortgages on the property. Often, this can take 2 hours to sign, depennding on the speed of the signer. Second, most if these require 2 copies. One to sign, one for the signer to keep. I alwsys do that anyway. Thatâs darn near a reem of paper. In the future, contact the signing company immediately and tell them more $$ due to time, printing costs and time at the table. If they dont come through, then cancel.
Awesome! Best of luck on your signing. Iâm sure youâll do great 