Have an appointment tomorrow with a doctor at the medical clinic where he works. Told me we’ll go to the back, and I should have ten minutes.
TEN MINUTES? So I said and if it goes longer than ten minutes?
He said he’d be fine.
If this is a full refinance it will be miraculous to get out of there in under 40 minutes.
I made the note on that order. This is not the first time I’ve gone to a signing where someone was told it would take only 15 minutes.
They need to stop telling people that. I can go fast if a signer wants fast but 10 minutes is impossible. Anyone doing a refinance in ten minutes is pointing for a signature and doing their own signing and stamping later. It’s just not possible.
I did a 13 page sellers that took 15 minutes and that was super fast. But a refinance? 30 minutes is pushing it for me.
And doctors can be such pains in the ■■■■. Because their time is SUPER important don’t you know.
When people ask me how long a refinance will take, I typically tell them 45-60 minutes. Depending on the package and the page count, and how much they read, it could be a little more or a little less. That’s why I take a lot of Helocs now. They are typically 30 minutes or less and pay essentially the same amount as refis because I always counteroffer.
Must be nice to have the choice between a HELOC and a refi. In my neck o’ the woods, I haven’t seen a HELOC since November and I get 10-12 order offers every day. HELOCs average $70 but are easy and quick. Refi’s average around $100 and take about 40 minutes. I don’t know which is better (easier? more profitable?).
I think it depends on the lender and title company. I’ve seen Helocs that are 150 pages. I get a lot of Helocs where I am. That may change as interest rates drop, but generally, they’re quicker than refis to get signed.
I accompanied a notary on a finger printing job for 6 doctors. That was the longest job ever. The doctor whose prints could not be captured kept trying, leaving to see patients, and returning with a God attitude. They will always take care of their patients first. They think notaries are not as smart as they are. Charge him/her a wait fee. It will happen, the wait.
I would never charge a “wait” fee that’s not even a valid thing.
When I got the package it’s a 16 page seller’s package, probable to be done in the ten minutes he’s going to give me. Easy peasy. No scan, same day drop.
@threeholepunchnsa I agree that there should be a wait fee associated because a Signing Agent’s time is just as valuable as the signer’s, i.e., ie. doctors. Reasoning: The majority (not all) signings are scheduled well in advance for the signers to properly prepare for the appointment. I have been in appointments where the signer “forgot” and ran to the store, but it is right down the street, so I’m forced to wait in their driveway 30 minutes before even starting the assignment. Instances where the signers know I’m coming and they don’t gather all the required documentation, ie, cashier checks - so I’m asked to wait while 1 signer runs to the bank to get it, or the infamous “they didn’t tell me you were coming - do you mind signing outside..There are so many “wait situations” that I have run into over the years, that there should be some incentive, especially when that “wait” pushing back another signing (usually scheduled with a 2 hour buffer). Quality customer service is always the top priority; that should be reciprocal across the board.
I don’t think the schedulers clearly communicate with the signers. I have actually asked this question to several schedulers before, “What exactly is your role?” They call me and provide a date and time, asking that I confirm within a certain period. However, the signers won’t respond to repeated calls to confirm with them. Then both the signing service and the signer want to hold the Notary accountable for either them not knowing or the Notary showing up unannounced. Then, when documents are not available on time, the scheduler asks the Notary to reach out to apologize and then change the time; the scheduler should be doing that because now all parties are affected negatively. Especially when the files end up canceled. With all of the “rolling down hill,” I really think the schedulers need to communicate more clearly.
I don’t know that the signing service schedulers ever contact the signer directly. I thought phone calls like you’re referring to would come from the title company or lender. The only time I call a signer about a time change at the last minute is when docs are late and I won’t be able to make it at the originally scheduled time. If there is a time change which is not related to late documents then usually I’m the last to know. They’ll send me an email saying “Time change…..are you still available?” or words to that effect.
@steves11 Each assignment that I have ever received has already been coordinated with the signer. For example, when the assignment comes out and reads “Are you available 02/13/2026 at 3:00 pm. Supposedly, the scheduler has confirmed that appointment with the signer already. If not, there would be no need to post it, and the Signing Agent would be able to schedule at their own convenience. This is what I mean when I say they schedule and confirm the appointment, then we have to confirm again. I have to run down 90% of my appointments to get them to confirm their appointment. That too is time-consuming when they know they are to expect a confirmation call.
Sometimes it’s true that signers can be very hard to get a hold of. Other times, they anticipate your call and are waiting for it. I’ve actually had a few call me first, before I had a chance to call them. I don’t know that the scheduler from the signing service ever talks to the signer, though. If anything, I would think that the Title Company actually schedules the appointment and then relays the message to the signing service, who then blasts out the request to the notaries.
I actually prefer text messages to confirm appointments unless it’s a last-minute signing when timing is critical and I don’t have the patience to wait for a response. The signers seem very comfortable with that. Everyone has a cell phone now, and I find that they respond faster to texts than they do to voicemail messages. It sort of confirms something that I’ve believed for a long time. Many (if not most) people really do not like talking on the phone if they can avoid it.
I retain an out of state phone number that reads White House TN and people only answer when they expect to hear from a notary. But they always answer a text. I’m with you for sure. And I won’t change phone numbers because I answer any local number - it’s usually business. So a TN number lets me weed out spam.
I usually don’t answer any call that I don’t know who’s calling. People who use “Unknown Number” or “Private” or other variations to hide who they are never get answered by me unless I know ahead of time who it will be. People are afraid that if they use their real name, then whoever they’re calling won’t want to talk to them. In that case, what have you lost? If the call is important the caller will leave a voicemail message. Most calls that I get from unfamiliar numbers don’t leave a message. I have lost some potential jobs that way, because I didn’t answer the phone, but I figure that’s part of the cost of doing business.
Schedulers often use their cell phones. I tend to answer area codes in CA, PA, AZ, TX, sometimes FL. When I get a call from a scheduler I save the number under the hiring party name. I expect we all have our processes. I thought I had blocked every spam number in the state of TN, but apparently I haven’t they keep coming. I did reverse that dumb iPhone update that requires a caller to record their name before I get notified. I hated that.
I do exactly what you’re saying….save the number and put it in my contacts with the hiring company name. I’ve had as many as 8 different phone numbers saved for the same company. I too will answer calls from particular area codes that I get a lot of business from. Area code 412, 330 and 602 are three of the big ones. I agree with you about that iPhone update. It’s really kind of annoying.
Signing Companies lie ..to get the signing scheduled and off their desk..then they can blame you./ us the notary.
You’re right RE FI’s. TAKE easily 50 plus minutes especially with a review to be sure u got it all signed.
Even if u point and and shoot..lol. ( u sign later)
I always made it a point to tell people at least an hour on a reFi of 150 pages .and im honest about it if they tell me i was told 10 minutes..
I laugh..sir ma’am it takes 10 minutes for me to set up and log you into my journal. These companies like to “ stretch the truth” i would say.. then add..these are important document and we have 150 pgs to sign.and review..no way i can do it in 10 minutes .lets see when DO you have time? Can u arrange your schedule? Tell your bank officer whaat happened.
i always wrote myself to the signing companies or whoever hired me..everybody knows what scheduling does and you need to protect yourself
Especially with the signer.
They will tell their bank officer how honest and diligent you were giving them an real scenario .
Of course you will do whatever you can but you the notary..cannot be put in this position when somebody lies about a signing duration just to get it scheduled..
I have made serious contacts with title and bank officers being brutally honest about what their people,or signing companies, tell clients.
I have completed several refis in 15 - 20 mins, many of them were for busy Drs in their office. If they don’t have any questions and just want to sign - then it is possible. I just tell them to sign everywhere you see your name, and if you have a question let me know. 15 mins later…done. It is definitely possible.
