For many Notary Loan Signing Agents who started within the past two years, you may find that signings are slowing down as interest rates begin to rise again. You are starting to see text offers are slowing down and direct business that focused primarily on Refinances is drying up. If you find yourself looking around and wondering why more people aren't feeling a little more anxious about this, you aren't alone! Those of us who have been in the industry for a while though understand that Real Estate and Lending have always been feast or famine. But don't worry!
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, our industry as mobile Notaries was in demand more than they've ever been before for two solid years. Title and Attorney offices that never used mobile Notaries before turned to us and we were able to build new relationships and grow. But as things simmer back down to "normal," even those new relationships we built have less and less work to go around because most markets are a bit saturated for two reasons. The first reason is that during the Pandemic there was a major influx of Notary Loan Signing Agents joining the workforce due to more free time, job losses, and overall demand. The second is because the cat's just out of the bag now about our industry, thanks to Social Media, and everyone now knows what we can make if we do our job well. It is a fact, that between the end of 2019 and the Present Day there were at least 3-5 times more Notary Loan Signing Agents in every zip code across the United States than ever before. So as we return to normal on so many levels you may be asking yourself How Do I Stand Out?
There are five key components to a Notary Profile that you should consider in order to stand out within the databases to help you continue to receive more work as a Notary Loan Signing Agent.
#1) Profile Name & Photo (Not A Logo & Business Name)
It is always best for Notaries to use the name that is written on their commission as the name on their Notary Profile and not a business name. If you have formulated a business entity, such as an LLC, you can input your payment name on most profiles differently (or on your invoices when you send them), then on your actual profile name. If your business name sounds like a Signing Service and you are not contracted as a Signing Service with the Signing Agency or Title Agency they are going to pass you up thinking you are outsourcing work when it is not allowed.
There are people who will disagree with me on this but a professional photo is needed when you create a Notary Profile. The more professional the better. Many of us make more money than 90% of Realtors but will complain about having to spend money on headshots. You should take a good look at the top producing Realtors in your area and see if you can't find out who did their headshots and order some for yourself. Remember what they say- a photo is worth a thousand words!
#2) A Very Strong Well Written, Honest, Biography
#3) References
#4) Additional Training
Here is an example (we ask you to adapt as your own, not just copy and paste):
My name is John Star and I have been a Notary Loan Signing Agent since January 14th, 2022. I have taken the National Notary Association's Certified Signing Agent Exam and I have also continued my education with Notary2Pro and NotaryStars.com where I've obtained an additional 150+ hours of training for various loan products. Because of my training, I am comfortable with Purchases, Cash Purchases, Simultaneous Closings, Sales, Refinances, VA Loans, FHA Loans, Reverse Mortgages, Hard Money Loans, Agricultural Loans, and more! Please feel free to verify my training through Notary Stars using my membership ID: 0000.
Since I began my career as a Notary Loan Signing Agent I have been able to work with some amazing companies who would recommend me such as Amrock, Mortgage Connect, Superior Notary Services, and Unlimited Ink Notary to name a few. I entered this industry because I love working with people, traveling around my city, and truly enjoy making sure things get done right.
I am equipped with a dual tray laser printer, a mobile laser printer, and a reliable scanner for great quality scan backs. I also take pride in not charging more for using these items because I want to make sure your closing goes smoothly. I like to see myself as a problem solver, not a problem creator.
#5) Credentials Must Be Up To Date & Sufficient
So many notaries let their E&O, W9, and Background Check either lapse or fall to the wayside when updating their credentials.
You have to think about your profile like a Resume and one that is buried within over 100,000 other resumes- because it is! Notary databases have anywhere from 80k to 100k Notary profiles. The larger the city the more competition you will have. You just can't leave any stone unturned when it comes to the opportunity to get noticed!
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