I accepted 2 jobs for yesterday in a metro area that is an hour from home. I am very familiar with the area and wanted to visit my daughter as well. Docs came in early (great!), printed just fine (yay!), I arrived early (yay!), and then it goes south… As soon as I arrive, the borrower says that they’ve been waiting since 3:30 to discuss the “the numbers” with their mortgage broker who didn’t call at the scheduled time. I suggest that we get started, and if we encounter anything that they have questions about or seems wrong, they can call the mortgage broker or the title/lender #'s I have to address problems. Page 1 Settlement Statement-$2,880 off (saying borrowers have that much more as part of the loan.) The Settlement Statement doesn’t agree with the note or the Closing Disclosure. They opt for calling the Mortgage Broker. Several calls… no luck. Finally they leave it “on hold” and the mortgage broker finally gets to them. 40 minutes of back and forth ensues. (The borrower is right.) Finally MB says they can add a note at the bottom of the SS noting the correct numbers and initial. CD–just fine, signed (good, good, maybe that was the only problem). QCD… they are not sure if what the QCD says is correct. They try to call their attorney. The law offices are closed…no luck. They decide that they think it is right and after 30 minutes they sign it. (Okay, we are now approaching 1 1/2 hours in and they have signed 3 documents. The pkg is 172 pages. Oh my goodness, my 6 pm dinner and seeing my daughter’s new place is now quickly approaching… The borrowers give extra careful consideration to almost every page. Time with daughter, going, going, gone… I was also planning on dropping these docs and ones from earlier at the FED Ex nearby…to ship TODAY… will I make the shipping time? Signing finally finishes at 2 hours 45 minutes. I miss the Fed Ex drop (besides this signing going too too long, Fed Ex shipping times wrong on Fed Ex app and phone recording for store. They take my docs to ship next day. :cry emoji. Head to next signing in area arrive on time. Have not had any dinner in addition to all the previous “stuff.” A signing at 4:00 and a signing at 7:30 should not be a problem, right? Was I too ambitious thinking I could see my daughter for a few minutes (close by between signings?)
My big questions are…when a signing goes south, and it is going to greatly affect other signings on your schedule, does your whole schedule just get later or at some point do you explain that there is no more time for this appointment. The borrowers knew I had an appointment at 6. Every time I have encountered this, I finish the difficult signing and then adjust. What are the options? Is there a better way?
After a refi that lasts 2 hour 45 minutes, is it ok to ask for an additional fee? (The agreed fee was fair for the work and time usually required.) Or do I just suck it up? The fee is the fee no matter how long it takes? If requesting an additional fee, what are your suggestions?
Thanks, in advance, for your advice.