ok once upon a time way back in the olden days of 2017 when I got commissioned for the first time, I had but a journal, a single stamp and my dreams. so easy to hold in my hands, then as my knowledge grew ( meaning I learned I wanted no part in handwriting acknowledgements and jurats, I had stamps for those made too. now my load was heavier but manageable. time went on , and on, again so did my knowledge…wait I need to carry 2000 blue pens and 1743 black ones too? wait , what do you mean I need a clip board ( envision me with my stack of items stumbling like a kid with their school books down the hall) , ok I found the solution a personalized notary bag. I’m good now. again another 200 years pass and I amass more supplies, now I have 2 more notarial stamps and 8 more certificate wording stamps in addition to preprinted jurats and acknowledgements, I have a stapler, I have my ink pad and wet naps for finger prints, now I have my specific ones for those with parkinsons , arthritis and tremors…oh man! now I have 2 journals one for GNW and one for loan signing, now I have files, some small, some huge , I have a scanner for ID’s ( way better images and more professional than phone ( no shade) sometimes I still use my phone plus scan backs when I’m not going home in between I live rural and a lot of my signings aren’t close to home . I manage to load all 3000lbs of this including my laptop into my car every morning , and up to a customers door and back to the car and up to the next door .
ok I hope you enjoyed my little story for me to say- I cannot keep carrying 3 bags of crap everyday. I have 2 torn rotor cuffs and no I don’t have the luxury of surgery of recovery time. I am looking for your best options for a ROLLING DURABLE "BRIEFCASE " that doesn’t drag on the ground , and will hold 4-5 ( think reverse HECM size files ) in additional to at least 2 clipboards , my pen, binder clip, paperclip, stapler , and my kitchen sink. so what are y’all using that hold everything? send me links, I need the goods. Thank you
I’ve seen lots of pics of rolling briefcases available…and don’t think any of them would handle the often horrible terrain between my car and their front door. Need BIG, STURDY wheels for that. And, if it’s raining, muddy, deep snow…are they gonna be happy with you rolling it across their floor? Are you gonna be happy dragging it up a flight of stairs?
I have thought of that issue and have something similar to shop towels for it to rest on , for stairs id lift it and even into their home across the floor to the table . You probably live in an area similar to where I do with long gravel drive ways and when you can’t park on the drive it can be quite comical to watch me I’m sure and quite painful for me . I look at bags but I find they’re either too small or big enough to be a bank safe. I like the one that have the detachable trolly
In my state we aren’t required to keep a journal. For GNW . For loan signing everyone is required to . They are very different and the keep the separate for loans is easy because it has a list of documents preprinted . I can check acknowledgement or jurat and it leaves room for additional forms
My apologies but you may want to revisit your notary handbook and the laws that app!y in your state. There is not one state in the country that recognizes “Loan Signing Agents” as a valid profession. It’s a “made-up” name to signify those notaries who choose to delve into real estate signings. I note your state does not require a journal, but I see nothing referring to signing agents.
There have to be better bags than to carry three. I never carry that much stuff. I have a 2nd bag that stays in my car and if I absolutely have to go get something I will. I actually use a mobile scan program on my phone that produces an okay document. Maybe you need a wheeled bag.
I’ve never carried that much either, although during the first few years of my business I did have a roll-around (back issues). Got rid of that and carry a simple attache case.
I have a messenger bag with a zippered bag containing pens, two seals (regular and mini-me) mini stapler, thumbprint pad) I have an extra thumbprint pad, receipts book and journal (only one for GNW and Loans) wet wipes, a folder with extra jurats and ackies and some paper clips. Loan documents do not go inside my messenger bag, I carry the one set in my arms. I would not dream of a roller bag with the type of terrain and stairs I deal with. A portable scanner would rock, I don’t like using my phone for scanning. I plan to buy a tabletop scanner as soon as I win the lottery.
I have the locking briefcase from the NNA in my car as my mobile office. Extra Acknowledgements/Jurats, extra stamps, etc. It stays in my car.
I carry my notary stamp and a few paper clips, business cards, rubber bands, mini stapler, hand sanitizer and my fraud pen light in a school binder bag. It’s all I take inside with two legal size clipboards, my journal and the documents. I have a briefcase with my laptop and Epson portable scanner if needed from the table.
I’m really thinking what a timesaver having a portable scanner would be. What features are the most important? I think having an automatic document feeder and being able to upload to a thumb drive or email. Battery life should be able to work all day. Some ads are saying good for up to 100 pages on a single charge. They are pricey with all models I’ve seen starting over $100 and many up to $300.
In mid 2020, I purchased the Fujitsu Scansnap ix1500 (standard new release, which came with a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty) along with its carrying case. The scanner’s page feeder holds approx. 50 pages. It will scan in black/white or color and will duplex. It acts as its own wi-fi. They have great customer service, that walked me through the setup process. I purchased both from Amazon for about $550. It was one of the best investments I’ve made in this business. That scanner has more than paid for itself in the four years since purchase. I cover a large territory and having this scanner simply means I scan at the signing location (it does need to be plugged in to electrical outlet). Scans are held in my cell phone and I can immediately email/upload them from there and proceed to drop package. No need to wait to get to my home-office to scan then have to head out again to drop package. This portable scanner has saved me time and money.
LindaH FL has posted about having an Epson scanner that holds more pages and costs less. So, there are options out there.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Having to return to scan and then ship after adds so much time, travel and effort it impacts the profitability of running this type of business.
