Murrieta Temecula Mobile Notary

This week I decided to take my Notary business to another level.  I contacted several local notaries to create a Notary Network Group.  Much to my delight, the idea was well received by those that I contacted.  

 Although, the notary work has slowed down considerably, there are times I receive notary calls that I cannot cover.  By entering into a partnership with other notaries, we can refer work, provide service whenever needed, thereby creating a loyal client base.  By coming together and combining our talents, the group will be able to share ideas and provide support to members of the group.  I am an advocate for pooling talent. 

 Another added benefit of a Notary Network group is that it will allow each of us to take a break.  Lately, I have turned down opportunities to go have fun for fear of missing a Notary assignment.

 I am eager to meet the other Notaries.  I am excited to experience new opportunities, and new ideas that I know the group will bring.

It is a fairly accepted realization that Notary work is cyclical.  This is especially true in the Real Estate segment of the business.  Sometimes there is a lot of work and at other times the volume of work is very low.  For example, in April I completed only two loan signings for the entire month.  This month I am well over that number for loan signings.

I am a part time notary and I?ve also increased my marketing efforts to gain more direct notary work.   A notary public cannot afford to depend on notary work as their only source of income. 

I am a tax preparer and I have decided to add yet another venture to my business portfolio.  I have decided to train to become a Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant (VBA).

More often than not, my trip to the local Southwest Detention Center is uneventful and goes smoothly.  However, my trip this week was anything but uneventful.  

Starting off, I scheduled an appointment with a very nice gentleman that needed a Power of Attorney (POA) signed by his parent.  I am accustomed to checking in with the guard at the front desk, showing my ID and walking back with the visitor to the Attorney booth to perform the notarization.  This particular evening, the guard instructed us to wait until visitor?s hour.  I did not argue, but I was not too happy since the time shown on the wall clock was only 6:30 p.m.  We get past that small inconvenience and I decide to fill out the notary forms while we waited.  Seven o? clock arrived faster than I realized and the client and I are ushered back to the visiting pod. 

The client patiently waits for the guards to bring up his relative and I wait not as patiently.  Imagine our surprise and dismay when the wrong prisoners are brought into the pod.  We are told by the guard via intercom that we have made a mistake and we don?t have an authorized visit for tonight.  Ok!  - we walk back to the front desk and the guard informs us that the previous guard was mistaken and we are told to go back to the visitor?s pod. 

Fortunately, we wait another 5 minutes or so, and the right inmate is sent to the Attorney booth on this trip.  I notarized the documents and after approximately an hour and ? I?m on my merry way home.

 What did I learn from this trip ? I realize that all of my trips won?t necessarily be for 30 minutes or less.  I should expect the unexpected. 

We are in the midst of a new real estate market that is quite different than it was four years ago when I became a Certified Loan Signing Agent.  Not so along ago in the recent past, it was a high-flying Real Estate market.  People were selling their homes and receiving profits of $100,000-$200,000 and sometimes even more.  Others refinanced their existing mortgages and took out the equity.  Some used their profit to purchase rental property.   Still others took their money and placed it in their dream home that they thought they would never be able to afford.  Some bought fancy sports utility vehicles, furniture ? you name it the sky was the limit.  There were a glut of buyers and a low supply of homes.

 Atlas, we are now in a Buyer?s market and that is another kind of animal.  Contrary to before, there is a glut of homes on the market and housing prices have plummeted.  Some are claiming that this is the worse housing slump since the Great Depression.  The majority of homes on the market are from foreclosures, short sales, or even bankruptcies.  Some will be fortunate enough to profit during this distressed housing market; many others will not fare so well.

Historically, the housing market has been cyclical.  Not unlike other industries, there are highs and lows.  Hopefully, this low will be over soon without leaving too many victims in its path.

Several things influenced me to prepare a Power of Attorney (POA).

• My age
• I?m single
• More frequent visits to the doctor

 I prepared this document and gave copies to my children.  It did not occur to me that perhaps I should have the same documents for my adult children.

Attorneys recommend that Singles over 18 prepare powers of attorney and designate healthcare surrogates.  They further recommend that parents obtain authority as their adult children?s attorneys-in-fact to make financial and healthcare decisions in emergencies.   I have two grown children that are unmarried and in this age group.  However, if anything happened to either of them, I would not be able to access their medical or financial information.

 Medical providers are unable to release any information because of strict privacy guidelines under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).  Financial information is also unavailable to outside parties due to privacy regulations.

 It is an unpleasant thought to think of anything happening to our children, but accidents and unforeseen occurrences are a fact of life ? better prepared than unprepared in cases of emergency. 

Visit the site below to set up these essential documents at a low cost.

  At that time I hand the document, my journal, and fingerprint pad to the police officer.  He hands these items to the inmate.  The inmate signs and I?m on my way back home or to another appointment.

Your typical business often has varying business cycles.  Sometimes business is up and you are really performing well and other times, you are praying for the phone to ring.

The month of April has really been slow on the Notary side of my business.  So far, I have not received one call from any title or signing companies.  I checked my records and confirmed that the month of April has consistently been slow for me during the past four years.

This is a good time to reflect on what has worked to increase business and what has not.  I can also re-evaluate my client base and concentrate on methods of differentiation.  And, when all else is said and done ? it?s back to marketing myself to keep the phonecalls coming in.

 
Quite a number of years ago, I remember searching madly for a notary.  It wasn?t often that I needed the services of a notary, but I recall that locating one was quite a task.  I let my fingers do the walking and I finally found a notary in a Real Estate office across town.

 
Fast forward to 2008, and the mobile notary is now on the scene.  I have joined their ranks.  You may ask ? what is a mobile notary?  A mobile notary travels to your location, be it your home, work or the local coffee shop.  You can have loans papers, affidavits, wills or Power of Attorney documents notarized.

In today?s busy social and work environment, a mobile notary may be just the fix you need to avoid one more errand or task to your list to your to do list.

I travel to Murrieta, Temecula, Wildomar, Winchester, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Sun City, Menifee, Perris, Moreno Valley, Hemet, San Jacinto, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

 
Give me a call ? I am available evenings, weekends, holidays or by appointment

Your satisfaction is guaranteed.

I started off the New Year with a purchase from VistaPrint. With the other increases in cost for renewing my notary commission, it?s great to have access to the bargains available from them.

 I?ve ordered from other companies in the past where the value was not as good.  You cannot beat the quality of their product for the price you pay.   I ordered 250 glossy business cards with a logo for under $50.00.  I also obtained 20 oversized post cards.  VistaPrint regularly includes a free product with your order.  I received 10 magnetic calendars for free that I can add in with gifts to my best clients. 

They offer numerous products such as brochures, calendars, note pads, ink pens and more.  The really cool thing is you don?t have to be artistic, VistaPrint offers an array of templates to choose from.  This is a great way to brand you with custom products from this company.

I managed to experience an increase in income of 25% for 2007 in spite of the loan industry upset. 

The year started out slowly with very few closings during January, February, March and April.  In fact, I did not complete one signing in the month of February.  For a brief moment, I thought I was going to have to find another part-time source of income.  Eventually, when May rolled around, the signing work picked up momentum again. 

A portion of the increase in business for me can be attributed to my increased marketing efforts.  I purchased a couple of Premium memberships, signed up with an additional 100 or so signing and title companies.  My daughter also helped me create a website that brings private notary requests.  

Notaries, Escrow, Title and Signing Companies had a few challenges to stay in business in 2007.  Many of them did not make the cut and had to close their doors.  The non-paying signing companies that did not pay even when the loan market was good will not be missed. 

Housing prices are still decreasing and the market is continuing to adjust itself.  What will 2008 bring for the Loan industry?  Good question ? let?s hope it will bring prosperity and more closings in the coming year.