May 2006 Featured Notary:
Anne Arnold

Anne Arnold
AA Notary Service

Q: Anne, thanks for agreeing to share your experience with us this month. Let’s start with when you began your career in the industry.
A: I got commissioned in April 2005 and did my first signing the next month.

Q: Why did you decide to become a notary?
A: I had worked in the corporate world for many years. It was exciting; I worked in the film industry, traveled a lot and had a wonderful time. However, being the mother of a small child, I found that my commute and travel schedule were beginning to interfere with being a parent. I decided to leave my career and pursue something that would allow me to at least work closer to home. My sister-in-law is a loan officer and convinced me to become a notary.

Q: What was your first signing experience?
A: I got a call from a signing service that needed me to do a same-day signing, with e-docs. I accepted the assignment before really thinking it thorough. It was only after I’d hung up the phone that I realized I’d need a laser printer to print out the docs! I had a total of 3 hours prior to the signing to buy a printer, set it up, print out the docs and get to the borrowers house. It was a crazy afternoon, but somehow I managed to get it all done and make it to the borrower on time. She was a very nice woman and we had a very nice chat. It was during that signing that I realized I was going to like this job and meeting new people.

Q: How many hours a week do you work?
A: I only work part time. It really varies from week to week and month to month. I’ve had weeks where I’ve done three jobs a day that have taken me all over the Los Angeles area (3 jobs a day may not sound like much, but when you’re driving around out here, it’s a lot!). I’ve had weeks where I’ve done 2 or 3 signings total, too.

Q: Do you work with signing companies?
A: In the beginning I took jobs from any signing company that called. It was important for me to get some experience. Now, though, I only take jobs from signing services that pay well and on time.

Q: What percentage of your business is loan signings, legal, medical, other?
A: I’d say 95% of my signings are loans. I’ve actually done quite a few signings for couples who are adopting. I’m an adoptive mom, so these signings mean a lot to me!

Q: If you don’t mind sharing, what do you average for a loan signing?
A: I usually charge $125 for a single package and $150 for a combo. If there are e-docs, I add $25 and I also charge extra to travel outside of a 20 mile radius.

Q: Do you have a minimum fee?
A: Yes, $75.

Q: How have changes in the industry or economy affected you?
A: I’ve seen a tremendous slow-down in the past several months. But, I’ve been told by other notaries that winter is traditionally a slow time. I’m seeing things pick up a bit lately.

Q: How do you overcome those changes?
A: I spend my down time researching other escrow and title companies to whom I can market my services. I also try to market myself to other industries who may need notary services (hospitals, nursing homes, banks, etc.) I also try to indulge in my other interests, like cooking, painting and spending time with my family. Those are the important things in my life!

Q: Do you have a business plan?
A: Not really. I do keep meticulous records of my signings, though. I definitely run it like a small business.

Q: What percentage of your net income do you spend on advertising?
A: I don’t know, but not a huge amount.

Q: Where do you advertise?
A: I spend my advertising money on paying for premium positioning on various notary websites.

Q: How do you network?
A: Through my existing contacts. An example is, I did a signing for my sister-in-law early in my career. She worked through a particular escrow company. I had to go there to get the docs and return them, so I met some of the people who worked there. On one of my trips, I happened to mention that I was available to them as well if they needed a notary. This may sound like a no-brainer—you’d figure they already knew that—but when I mentioned it, the escrow assistant was surprised and said they’d definitely call me. Which they have, many, many times!

Q: What professional organizations do you belong to?
A: I used to belong to the NNA (National Notary Association), but I currently don’t belong to any.

Q: What advice would you give a notary starting today?
A: To always be professional! Have a good attitude no matter what and don’t think you’ll make a lot of money doing this in the first year. It’s a long road and you have to be consistent in your work at all times. And if you ever make a mistake (which we’ve all done), be the first to admit it and take whatever steps necessary to correct it!

Q: What advice would you give notaries who wants to take their business to the next level?
A: Get involved in networking groups. There are several organizations on the web that specialize in putting business people together to network on a weekly basis.

Q: What was your most unusual/humorous/memorable signing experience?
A: Last year, we were having terrible fires in our area. People were being evacuated from their homes all over. I had a signing scheduled in an area that was near, but not in an evacuation area. It was for a celebrity, too. I went to their home (which was absolutely unbelievable!), and by the time I got there, there was ash literally raining down everywhere. The wife of the celebrity came into the room wearing a mask and asking me if I believed in the “end of days.” All the while, her husband was running around the house gathering up their personal belongings and running them out to the car. He’d come in to the room where I was sitting, sign a page and run out again. It was an interesting sigining! They evacuated, I left and everything turned out fine for them in the end.

Q: What books are tops on your recommended reading list?
A: In the beginning, I actually spent a lot of time reading the loan documents that I was working with. I found that doing this along with re-reading the materials I received through the NNA’s Signing Agent training course was invaluable in learning more about what I was doing.

Thanks again, Anne. I think you’ve proved that part-time doesn’t mean half-hearted.