Recently I was offered $60 for a Seller signing that is over an hour round trip. I countered more than double and my offer was accepted. A Seller signing generally has a light number of pages, but at that distance I needed more to compensate for fuel and wear and tear on my vehicle. Sometimes I wonder why the offered fee is so crazy low. When my fee was approved, I couldn’t help but think that the signing service could have offered that amount in the first place instead of making a phone call to negotiate a fair rate. It seems like more work to me.
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They ALWAYS start low to EVERYONE on the apps & platforms…hoping to find an idiot right out of the gate, I guess. If they don’t, then they actually have to WORK.
And you are right…and it isn’t just the actual expenses…it takes more of your TIME (is money).
Posting the following just to make my point that higher fees are possible (and also just how awful platforms can be):
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SS/Platform offer 4 hrs before Appt.–$70, Seller Pkg.w/Scan–Counter $100 in 2 hrs. It’s a 7 minute drive so I can squeeze it in.
1/2 hr. later, SS agrees to $100, but no time change–I say No, scheduling conflict.
2 hrs. before Appt., SS offers $125–No takers.
1 1/2 hrs. before Appt., SS offers $150. MORE THAN TWICE ORIGINAL OFFER! -
SS/Platform mid afternoon offer $50, 10 pages, same day/open time. It’s a 2 hr. drive, so NO. 1/2 hr. later, offer is up to $80. 1/2 hr. later–$100. Another 1/2 hr. later–$125. AGAIN–MORE THAN TWICE ORIGINAL OFFER!
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Yes they are. Same dilemma
You know its really nice you call people idiots.
I calls 'em as I sees 'em. What would your preferred word be for a person who provides a service at cost or a loss while believing they are a profitable business? The IRS will call your business a hobby when you can’t show a profit…and disallow all deductions.
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Its none of our business what other people accept.
@earl226 Earl, what you don’t seem to understand is that every notary who takes those lowball fees is, possibly, taking work away from you. They are discounting the entire industry to the detriment of all those other notaries who do this full time and it is their living. No, it’s not MY business what YOU charge, but if you’re charging less than me you’re getting the job and I am not.
Maybe this is just a “hobby” for you - some pin money for golf or bowling or whatever, but Arichter is right when she says if you don’t show a profit every year “The IRS will call your business a hobby when you can’t show a profit…and disallow all deductions.” - and I’ll add here that not only will they do that, they will audit you, go back through previous returns (I’ve heard 5 years) and you’ll be responsible for tax, interest and penalties,
We don’t say it to put people down (mostly) - but this is no joke. If you have a business you better be able to turn a profit…or else.
JMO
I really have to disagree with you. It’s everybody’s business to help newbies turn a profit,
Most of them have spent a lot of money to do this JOB as self-employed business owners.
The hard reality of this business is that most, if not ALL, of the people promoting this to newbs ARE also the same people hiring NSAs. It’s to their benefit to convince us to work for less for the simple reason that it puts way more money in their pocket. You’ve been here long enough to know this is true.
A more simple reality is that IF we all priced for profit, we’d all make a profit…because, odds are, that the closest person to a signing location will be less expensive than anyone more distant. By pricing for profit, we’d pretty well sort ourselves out by ‘Fee, less cost/time involved = profit’. Surely you can see the logic of this.
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I won’t answer Linda or you, most of my customer and business is refis pay me $100 up. But I don’t knock someone trying to get experience.
I agree with earl226.