I just got my certification as an NSA, and I haven’t done any jobs yet. I’ve realized that just to get listed in certain places I need a fax number, and that means a monthly cost of at least $10, no matter if I’m making money or not. On top of that, I’m noticing there are a lot of traps such as hidden costs that pile up and portability issues, if I decide to change services later on. Any input would be appreciated.
I’ve been an LSA for six years never needed a fax number. Still don’t. You need the ability to create a scanned document. That’s all.
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That’s really good to know. Thank you for sharing that.
Faxing anything is obsolete. I would ignore it. They just still have the same instructions from 25 years ago. Or just put in any number (such as your cell number). Guaranteed that it will never be used for faxing.
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Two copies of docs will generally fit in my notary bag (formerly a laptop case).
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I thought so too, but I saw it there and thought some companies still used it. I work for a CPA part time and they have to use it all the time. Thank you for your input. It was very helpful.
Let’s put it this way…It’s rare enough that I wouldn’t make a special effort to accommodate it for just one company, unless that company was going to give you a ton of business.
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Yes, It’s a big regular expense with no guarantee of revenue.
I subscribed to E-Fax from the early 2000s to about 2012. That was when title companies were faxing the full package of loan documents to the notaries; some were also requiring “fax backs”. That’s where the term originated. Today, if you’re working directly and you want to freak out a Title officer, fax them a full loan package. Faxing ensures privacy and is not a concern today.
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They may have a dedicated “all in one” printer that has fax capabilities. If you scan the documents into a PDF file, you should be able to call the fax number they provided in their instructions and send from your cell phone. I have only had 1 (seriously, 1) that requested a fax back vs a scan back.
You don’t want any reason for the title company to say you didn’t follow their instructions. You want paid the full price they offered for doing the full job, so make sure you are sending the docs back exactly as they ask for it.
I have one from Amazon will hold papers for three appointments. It was very inexpensive.
My printer does have fax capabilities. I though you needed a landline to do that. You gave me a great hint. I’ll look that up.
No one faxes any more. You’d use a scanner to scan the signed files. There are so many monthly costs for me. One of them is the $19.99 monthly fee just to use Adobe Acrobat. Then there are monthly website and hosting fees. And Signing Order has an optional monthly fee if you want to see orders in your area. Then, of course, there are fees for ongoing training and seminars. I occasionally take the SCORE webinars.
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I’d suggest looking at a NotaryRotary membership. Along with the listing benefits, they include an eFax number as part of the membership, which can help avoid paying a separate monthly fax service fee when you’re just starting out.
When you’re new, keeping overhead low is important because those small recurring costs (fax, E&O upgrades, background checks, profiles, software, etc.) can add up quickly before income becomes consistent.
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Thank you for sharing that. I’ll check them out.
I have been a LSN since 2019 Ive NEVER faxed anything… just put your phone #
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I work with at least a dozen or more signing firms and a few Title Cos. direct. All require scan backs. I was using the public library scanner for awhile because my HP was slow, but eventually bought a high speed scanner. Scans a large package in minutes.
I use Adobe Reader and it is free for everyone. What do you use Adobe Acrobat for in your notary business? Thanks!
I use it to combine, separate, or reorganize documents. Sometimes you scan an extra page at the last minute and you have to insert it into another document.
Ok. I have a printer with letter and legal trays, so I haven’t needed to separate a documents package. That said, I get combined monthly pdf operating statements and invoices for my rental properties from my property manager each month, so I bought a lifetime subscription to freepdfconvert.com to separate them for my records. At the time I bought it, the subscription was one-time $99.00.
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