Get Ready for Loan Signings

by Sharon Hassler, Founder/Webmaster, GoGetNotary.com

With mortgage rates at historic lows and home prices down, some areas of the country are seeing an increase in both purchases and refinaces. The first-time homebuyer’s credit may also be paying off as buyers take advantage of an $8,000 tax credit that comes right off their income, not as a percentage deduction. According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, by March 6 of this year, nearly 568,000 first-time home buyers had already filed and claimed this credit. Somebody’s buying houses!

Are you ready for business? It may come as a crawl rather than a crush, but now’s the time to polish up your presentation both online and off. Review your business cards and improve them if you can. Look over your Internet presence and freshen up your web page and/or website. Mention your ability to handle loan modifications signings. Post a dated message that shows you haven’t quit, such as, “Information updated April 26, 2009. Actively seeking loan signings and loan modification signings.” If you don’t yet have a website, here’s a good starting point for a simple but effective notary website.

Call or visit title, escrow and mortgage companies near you to let them know you want their business. Odds are, they’ll use independent contractors (you, the signing agent!) for signings before they rehire full-time staff. Call or email every company you’ve ever worked with or talked with to let them know you’re ready for assignments.

Spread the word now, and don’t think, “Why bother? Everyone else will be doing the same thing.” Only a very small number of notaries reading this article will actually follow these suggestions. Do something immediately, even if it’s just to schedule an appointment with yourself to begin to work on these ideas. Then take action within the next 24 hours or it will fall by the wayside. Be part of the 5% who are proactive!

©Copyright Sharon Hassler. All rights reserved. Sharon Hassler, Founder/Webmaster for GoGetNotary.com, is a former loan officer, real estate agent and marketing consultant. She served as Communications Manager for First American Title-Arizona for 11 years. For more about Sharon, visit GoGetNotary.com/Get/Sharon.