What is up with these last minute request for signings? I got on today that was scheduled within 45 minutes of the appointment! Nuts!
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I agree! I get these a lot, how are we suppose to prepare and get to the appointment on time.
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Right! Do they want quality work or not?! Lol
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If you take a last minute signing, let the SS know that you will need time to prepare and you may be a little late. Most of the time they’ll understand and so will the signers.
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When I get those my rates increases and that is when I can make more money.
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This is the smart way right here. I do the same thing. Their mistake is your gain if you play your cards right…
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I received a few last minute requests where the time in the request would not be possible to make. I will reply with the time I am available and the fee, if that works for them I will receive a phone call. It is best not try to over rush because you can make a mistake or not have printed the documents correctly. It would be awful to make two appoints out of a last minute request. The notaries who can print in their car luck out with last minute ones. I missed a big last minute request that was right next to an appointment I was arriving too because I was not able to print the documents from my car.
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Same day orders occur for a number of reasons, but it creates a better fee payment opportunity for the signing agents. The same day signing or last minute signing orders are handled the same as those that I received days in advance, regarding preparation time, no short cuts. Both the company and signer are flexible regarding my arrival time. I love taking those types of assignments, if my schedule allows the fees are higher.
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I’ve had the most trouble with last minute signings; incomplete package, last moment changes, signers not ready, etc… Some of these las moment assignments are in remote locations and after dark. This increases the possibility of an encounter with local wild life and the front of my vehicle.
My general rule of thumb is to not take any assignments that’s less than 4 hours of the requested time frame. I avoid travelling after dark to avoid wild life crossing road. If it’s local, then there’s a premium service for last minute closings.
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I’m usually booked between 1 to 2 weeks, sometimes 3 weeks ahead. Everyday I’m booked 6-9 a day. So the titles/Lenders know that they have to have docs ready for printing in my queue by midnight before closing day.
What I do is around noon the day before closing day, I send them the following message. “Please kindly have docs ready for printing by midnight tonight, if you feel that is not possible please reassign ASAP. I have a tight schedule and will not be able to backtrack to print. Thank you for you understanding. Have a great day!”
For some crazy reason, they always comply but sometimes I have one or two loans they can’t control if the lenders don’t have docs in on time and they have to take back.
So for those of you who can you do last-minute closing you can name your fee! 
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I take them when I can. They don’t expect you to literally run out of the door, tell them how much time you need to properly prepare, set a new time with the signer and go from there. And, you have some bargaining power because you are helping them out at the last minute, use it to your advantage. If you don’t do well in stressful situations, steer clear, it’s that simple.
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I have been getting them also. 
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I hear so many people stress and panic about docs arriving to close to the appointment. I just say that “this signing is not going to happen at the time you want. I should be there about 60 mins from the time docs are received and I will let the signer know.” My signings have all gone well.
I left a stressful job to start this business. Lol
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This is where you can demand for a higher fee!
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Had this happen yesterday closing set up last week for 6pm 5:15 pm still no docs so I canceled this was so ridiculous Loan officer called @ 3pm said docs are ready have you received them No I haven’t he said he would check there is no communication between title companies and mortgage companies. If the clients have the CD 3 days before why can’t we get docs on time. And I normally will not take last minute closings too many problems
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I think the people that are so quick to accept the job are cancelling at the last minutes. That’s where they try to get one of us to do it. I don’t do last minute, if I can’t get it from when the job is posted, I’m cannot do it.
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I like your input candice, Thank you for that feedback. Sometimes when you new at the game there’s a lot to learn.
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Thank you for your take on last-minute requests. I am a newbie and have, now I understand, incorrectly passed on the assignment. I felt I would not have the time to review and prep my docs. Now, I know those jobs are an opportunity to negotiate. Many thanks!
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Rule #1, Never complain about getting more business. Usually last minute signing allows you to ask for my $. This is normal. Getting rich is hard work.
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This is really funny. we could make a really hilarious Notary meme with this but it’s true. I get some Signings where start time has already expired!
and when I get the poor scheduler (I say poor sweet schedulers) because sometimes they seem so stretched. I tell them I can do it at such and such a time usually they work with me.
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