I’m a new Notary Signing Agent in a rural and semi-rural area. Nervous about taking my first assignment. Worried I won’t do it right.
Also, what is appropriate dress for appointments in this area. I don’t want to overdress and intimidate my client but at the same time don’t want to underdress either. Most of my clients are hard working blue-collar people.
Business casual is usually the standard for dress.
@michaelgodbey06 Hmmm . . .
A Key Element to Success is to provide yourself with an appropriate foundation and undergirding that will serve & support your fledgling business.
Regarding attire, normally business attire or business casual are appropriate choices. Remember the role you’re playing as this will assist you with many decisions/choices.
There are many scams to be wary of . . .
This is what is meant when we reference that “it’s a very small world” in this business sector.
Someone new can make an inadvertent (or simple) error on their initial few signings and VOILA! Their name is “out for publication” between & among lenders, title/escrow companies [T/ECs], etc. and those individuals are avoided for possible Signing Orders.
Another reason we advocate for ensuring you receive some professional, reliable, & trustworthy training (not YouTube) prior to accepting your initial Signing Order. Just looking out for your successful Business Launch!
There are multiple factors to consider:
Etc. ad nauseam . . . => just know that you’re launching a business and the onus is upon you to create the best foundation possible from the onset.
Over the years of having successfully completed nearly all the available training programs, I only recommend the very Best (see below). This training amounts to a few hundred dollars. Due to the very reasonable price, the training investment can be quickly recouped. This investment is worthwhile & will serve you greatly over time. It will also save you from wasting precious time.
Certainly, we haven’t forgotten our maiden voyage into this business sector nor how very difficult and how long and challenging the climb was to make. Maybe the realization that we are providing this wisdom without compensation hasn’t occurred to you . . .
When we were learning, no one handed us answers (unless we paid a Mentor for their insights). We each had to grind it out, make mistakes, learn, correct, and implement a plan of action to improve the services we provide via our businesses 1 at a time.
This training not only provides guidance and instruction regarding providing these services, but also provides MUCH information about how to start, manage, and grow a business within this business sector. In addition, they provide Mentoring services at very reasonable rates.
Many of the elementary queries posed on a daily basis within this forum would already be answered if they completed this training.
In addition, there is a great amount of risk inherent while providing these services. The training increases one’s awareness and cognizance of the potential pitfalls and risks that could harm their business before they really even get started. As such, the insights & wisdom amassed during training will serve the newbie business owner very well at the onset and over the long-term.
My direct experience:
When I initially started performing this work, it was unequivocally clear and painfully obvious that if I wanted valid, trustworthy training that I’d need to find a professional training program. The existing business owners explicitly stated that they saw others as the competition.
At that juncture, I successfully completed MULTIPLE training/certification programs including Notary2Pro & NNA and many others. I have extensive experience in skill sets that require certification and recurrent evaluation tests; i.e., I’ve maintained my Project Management Professional [PMP] certification for more than 20 years. So, I understand what it usually entails and the elements that should be included within a comprehensive training program.
Regarding the NNA training specifically, it’s lacking across multiple topics & categories. Many NNA “graduates” choose to take additional training courses elsewhere, because they sense they’re insufficiently prepared. Their primer has errors throughout. Their hotline is less than reliable for accurate responses.
In my experience with undergoing the multiple training programs for professional signing agent [PSA] certification, hands-down without question, Carol Ray’s Notary2Pro training programs are optimum in this industry. I’ve successfully completed ALL of the multiple training/certification programs that Carol offers through her company Notary2Pro. Her programs are thorough & detailed. These also prepare the business owner to operate a business. In addition, she offers Mentoring services. I found those to be excellent & INVALUABLE when I was initially starting out in this business sector. The prices are surprisingly reasonable. 
I’ve professionally compared the training/certification programs available at Notary2Pro with the others I’ve successfully completed. The ONLY training/certification program I recommend is Notary2Pro.
A list of companies that hire Notary2Pro graduates (with minimal or no experience) is provided to successful course graduates. => This list is pure GOLD! Study up, refresh your notes, & let Carol know when your initial few signings are scheduled. She is a wonderful mentor & can be on standby in case you encounter difficulties or have questions during your first few signings. She’s the Best! Her support will help you Build your Confidence in providing this service. 
In addition, Notary2Pro works diligently to keep this list up-to-date regarding vetting and viability. As we all know, some reliable clients can encounter financial difficulties and that, in turn, can negatively impact CNSAs directly.
Of course, your best bet would be to visit their website at https://www.notary2pro.com/ , research, and make the choices appropriate for your situation. The training programs by Carol Ray are comprehensive & thorough. 
P.S. I receive no compensation or remuneration of any type or kind as a result of my first-hand experiential review above.
P.P.S. As Carol has recently passed (February 2022) from our earthly plane, reach out to others on her team please. You’ll benefit greatly as a result.
In addition, you’ll find this ENTREPRENEUR thread & this SUCCESS thread helpful.
Another key to your success is . . .
The BEST KEPT SECRET of Notary Café! 
===> The SEARCH FUNCTION of the Notary Café database!
Most country folk don’t like strangers and a notary signing agent is the poster child. If you act like you’re in charge the signers will calm down and things will usually go smoothly. Explain your roll in this procedure, your there to ID them and obtain signatures and dates first. You shouldn’t forget that there’s a 99% chance that you are the only actual person they will meet, so when they start asking questions DON’T try to answer them. Defer to the loan offices (you can find his of her number on the signature page of the Closing statement). No cigarettes, fancy cologne, long hair, farts, visible neck tattoos, and please don’t wear a suit and tie. I’m dealing with the “Coastal Elite” for almost 30 years and they dig aloha or golf shirts aka business casual in the golden state.
I live for in the “country” just outside of Salem, Oregon. I go even further away from Salem and it gets even more rural. Those people always ask right away if I’m from Portland 
I’m like “noooooo I’m your neighbor! I live in <insert small town, next to their small town>”. Calms them down immediately.
I haven’t set foot in Portland for twenty-five years. Absolutely breathtaking city.
I wear Jeans and a polo for most orders, dress pants whenever the hiring company makes a big deal out of it. We were all nervous our first few times. You will get used to it and do great. Just takes experience. Ask questions or look online for answers if you are not 100% sure about how to sign something
Hi Michael, relax attire not sure what state you are in but its summer time, be comfortable & clean, dark trousers even brown or tan IMO, a plain or print shirt should be fine, but not a T-shirt, flipflops nor political or religious wording on it. Breathe!!! {Plan on an hour at least depending on how big the pkg is} Hopefully you completed your notarial certificates except for signing & stamping them that you do in front of them. (you see them sign, they see you sign & stamp) Yes, it helps you also to remember that they need to sign that page or the 1 before it, Verify the signers, give the affirmation or acknowledgement as to why we are here, read them the name of the doc, ask them to sign just as the name is on the line, WHATEVER IT SAYS even if its not how they usually sign their name, date where there is date. Notarize if needed, turn the page, next doc same thing. You are not there to answer questions that that doc doesn’t explain! Have the number to the title company from your confirmation instructions or hiring party close by. When they have questions you can suggest we call them. When you have completed the stack go thru to verify all signatures, dates, initials are there including yours & your seal are on the docs before you leave. Relax & be confident you know what you are doing!
If I could offer a suggestion based on my experience, I have found it is often more efficient to continue through the loan package when a signer has a question that cannot be answered by the documents themselves.
When a question comes up, I will usually place that document aside or turn the page sideways so I can easily return to it later. I then explain to the signer that we should continue reviewing the remaining documents because additional questions may arise as we move through the package.
By doing this, we can often gather all of the signer’s questions and make a single call to the title company, lender, or appropriate contact rather than interrupting the signing multiple times. This tends to save time for everyone involved and allows the signer to get all of their questions answered at once.
I have found that many questions are actually answered by later documents in the package, so continuing through the paperwork first can often prevent unnecessary phone calls as well.
Of course, if there is a major concern that prevents the signer from proceeding, that should be addressed immediately. However, for routine questions, I have found that making note of them and revisiting them at the end often results in a smoother and more efficient signing experience for everyone involved.