Most of my signers are coastal elite and property-rich. All of my mobile services are contained in a 10-mile radius of my office. Or if the clients choose, I offer a beautiful and convenient professional office to sign their important documents.
My sentiments exactly 1000% I couldn’t have framed it any better. I would only add that there is one platform in particular that pays very well but you pay the price exactly as Jaime stated. peace! kk
Nearly two years in. Past executive/business owner now this…why I don’t know, but I’m loving it! It’s a story. So Cal beach area, I’m game!
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Lucky you - not in this neck of the woods. I’m the other end of the world from you.
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@ewing_joe I do have HOPES that someday I enjoy that type of Blessing!
Thank You for sharing that it’s possible!
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Thank you to all who chimed in on this thread. I go back to what Joyce2 said, regarding training for this 2nd act and perhaps being a poor choice. I can see that point of view specially if you view it through the exposure lens of so called trainers, better mouse trap hustlers and from experience so far generally very unpolished individuals.
Joe same here… My clients range from avg person to king of the hill folks. I have Palos Verdes to Manhattan Beach to work and never or rarely further then 5 miles in one direction. I want it that way. I do of course make exceptions.
@jaime You’re Welcome!
You may discover that MANY of the business owners here on the Notary Cafe forum are in our 2nd Act (or 3rd, or 4th, etc.) regarding career “evolution” . . .
For multiple Professional Signing Agents [PSAs] the knowledge, skills, & abilities that are brought to the signing table are beyond stellar!
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Many years ago, this business sector was a Great Career to PIVOT into, but as it has been said many times previously . . . all good things must come to an end.
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous individuals & a colossus corporation continue to employ deceptive marketing practices telling those who are NEW to this business sector about the way things were in this business sector over a DECADE AGO - certainly NOT how things are NOW . . .
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The IMPORTANT element to retain is that it’s truly an evolution.
Like any journey, the destination is Selected, but then along the way there is a divergent path that can be chosen . . .
Some choose the new path & others continue on forward. It’s almost ALWAYS contingent upon goals, expectations, drive, etc.
This business sector could be just a hop - skip - & a jump onto a different Lily Pad on the Pond. ===>>> NEXT!!
Remember to CONTINUE being Receptive/Open to opportunities - hopefully something better will cross your horizon while this one fades into a distant memory.
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Ive been dealing with what i have found is the first time, first served in the notary business as well as my other business which is valuation for banks. These groups need to find a different waybof doing business. My phone is set up for notifications from my dedicated emails. My biggest issue is, as you say, being tethered to my phone 24/7. Im old and live alone. I get notifications at 2 AM, 6:30AM, and the worst, when im driving. I have an older car without the big screen. It is illegal in my state to use a phone while driving. I can use an earphone, but only in one ear. I have to uncradle my phone to read the message. If i pull over on a side street. Its usually too late. besides, it is unsafe to read the phone while driving. I wish there were a better way. I don’t hsve to worry about family meals and such, but today while i was trying to take a shower, i had 3 phone calls and 6 notifications. There has to be a different way.
@reoqueenbee Concur 
percent!
The challenge is exactly "how to effect that change . . . "
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FYI:
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In my direct experience, the only alerts that arrive at 2 AM (nearly every night/morning) are from FASS.
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Normally the alerts that are turbo-charged => “6 notifications” within the interval of 15-20 minutes - are from the Low-Ball business entities that are increasing the Fee by $5 upon each subsequent notification . . . After a while, one realizes that it’s futile to enter a Fee, because it starts far too low to be ever reach a reasonable amount.
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NOTE: Most phones have the configuration option to establish Silence for certain periods of each day. You may find it helpful to Search that one out!
You might want to try keeping the phone within reach when you take a shower, even if it’s on the floor right outside the shower. That way, you don’t have to leave the shower to pick up your phone and look at an email or text message. Same thing when nature calls. As for while driving, that’s an issue. Accept the fact that you’re going to lose out on jobs while you’re driving. It’s very unsafe to try to read text messages or emails while you’re driving. Even more unsafe to try to reply to them. It’s not worth risking a serious accident just to respond to a job offer in time. If you’re someplace where you can safely pull over off the road, do so. I’ve gotten many jobs that way.
I truly believe sometimes there has been a pre-arranged notary eventhough the job is offered to the general pool of notaries in a geographic area. I have seen where two notaries are sitting side by side and one gets the offer 15 seconds ahead of the other.
On some occasions where I have been ‘slow’ to react, or not interested, I will see the offer a second time, this can mean they were not able to find anyone for the fee offered and it is a fair assumption if you reply with your offer it will be accepted. What burns me up is when I ask for a better fee and I see it offered, but someone else gets the assignment. I have pulled over to respond to an offer but some of them I try to answer while I’m driving. Two seconds of hope can lead to years of regret. I have finally graduated to taking my shower in peace, whatever the beep or bell.
Everyone should take note of that. It’s JUST NOT WORTH IT!
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There was a much better way until over-saturation and the platforms destroyed it for notaries.
I agree. I put the phone o. The toilet which is by the shower. My point is, there has to be a better way.
To save money it seems like schedulers were done away with at many companies.
There is likely little demand or stomach for upending an industry that is still heavily regulated by the government. We all know the catalyst for change is controlled by the all mighty interest rate. Once rates start coming down, I predict 5.2% will drive a stampede of 7% refinancers. We the LSA’s can once again call this a viable industry. Same goes for the Title companies who’s ebb & flows of steady employment rise and fall with the rate market. Texas alone has this as a TAM
Total TAM Summary (2021-2024)
- 814,437 residential mortgage loans with >6.5% APR
- $272.6 billion in total loan value
- Average loan size: $334,674
If my math works capturing just .1% of that at $100 per signing equals about 81K in earnings , not too bad, but we wait…
Very interested. It would be so nice to develop some reciprocal terms that protect our interests.