Basic Reasoning!

In the past few months work has become extremely perplexing. I have witnessed other notaries/signing agents shuting down and taking what they call “real jobs”. I have seen small settlement services and title agencies fall prey to the mortgage crunch and shut their doors. It all has been very hard to watch and sobering. Some have vowed to come back and others have given up and moved on.
A few years ago this field was known only to those in this type of work. Most notaries in PA were and still are title clerks for AAA, messenger services, and banks, etc. Then came changes in the banking arena and refinance law, and following close behind…the refinance boom. Next came national based organizations telling us we could make hundreds even thousands of dollars more doing “witness closings” in this boom. They would teach us, supply us and encourage us. And viola a new “at home business” craze was born! There was no telling how many “signing agents” the business world needed! Our numbers increased drastically. Many entered the field through seminars, conventions, online courses and many more avenues, all offered by national organizations. And most of them became extremely successful.
In the meantime our state based organization here in PA was telling us that there was no need for this extra training. As notaries we could this. It did not require special training and certification. This job was just another facet of notarization. Some heeded that advice and went out on their own. Some had great success also.
Over the next few years the national based organizations ranks swelled and increased their revenue ten fold. Every “signing agent” belonged to at least two organizations and some many more. Not to mention the signing services along with the paid notary databases and web advertising sites.
Shortly after the PA based organizations jumped on the band wagon and started providing supplies and advice along with training for this “field”. More people flocked to be trained and take advantage of this booming business. Our ranks grew beyond anyone’s imagination. So much so, that our field was flooded. Signing agents were being churned out at a phenomenal pace.
But in reality the same amount of work was available. There was too many of us! So the fight for business began. Some became extremely cut throat and competitive. Others cut corners and produced bad work. The reputation of signing agents fell to an all time low.
The next hit is the implosion of the financial lenders. Bad loans and unscrupulous brokers, etc. caused shock waves through the financial community and here we are, stuck in the middle.
Sadly now the work has slowed to a stream and most are left out in the cold, shutting down our business at an alarming rate. Organizations have now shifted their focus to the companies and future endeavors like E- Notarization and left us behind. Their support base has shifted from us to bigger fish. So in reality the only ones who benefited from this boom are the organizations themselves. So did we see this coming? Have we done this to ourselves? Or have we had our blinders on and ignored the signs? And if so how did we become so complacent?
Remember in life there is always a natural thinning of the herd and the business world is no exception. So make your business decisions accordingly and try to look down the road. Try to make decisions for the future, and most of all make them without those blinders and emotion.
And this is my last word on organizations!!!! Next ……….Title agents…..trying to shut us down and putting us down. It is time to defend ourselves. Enough is enough!