Is there a demand for mobile notary service?

Question

This one is for everyone in Snohomish County, King County, or Skagit County. While were at it, let's throw in Island County WA.

Is there much demand for mobile notary services around here these days? I've talked to two in the last year at the closing table and it seems like business has been good for them.

The reason I ask is that I am currently in between projects and will have some free time to start and learn a new business. Mobile notary is something that has been on my mind. Not only do I see an opportunity building an income source without a set schedule, I also see a weakness in the way mobile notary services advertise around here and believe I can change this to benefit the industry. This is based on what I see online and would need to confirm some information first; preferably with someone active in the industry.

So does anyone have any input on this? Not only am I interested in providing this for the RE industry (closing docs), I am also interested in any info you have on providing these services to jails, hospitals, or anything else in the area.

Thanks in advance!

Chris Mason · Answer

@Roger Vi - Go talk to a few local title/escrow companies near you. Ask them if they are looking for flexible mobile notaries to put on their list. If it sounds like there are spots, go get put on aaaaaaaalllll the lists of aaaaaaaaaalllll the title/escrow companies.

Roger Vi · Answer

@Jenna Estefan @Jay Hinrichs Chris Mason Thank you to all of you for the confirmation that this is still being used frequently in this area. That is all i needed to reassure that I am not wasting my time researching and calling around about this! I really appreciate it...

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

@Roger Vi Lane Kawaoka definetalty a need. REFI packages are huge and doing it at a bank is problematical as they are not familiar with all the things that need to be signed.. plus lenders Many TIMES REQUIRE IT> they want to eliminate the risk of fraud.

Kevin Fox · Answer

There's definitely going to be a need for notaries in RE for as long as notarization remains a recognized and regular practice for ensuring the validity of contracts.With that said, though, I would be mindful of entering into a business where there is virtually no way to create a distinguishable difference between your service and the services of competing firms. Aside from being on time, not smelling like garbage, and refraining from saying anything nasty about my client's and/or my own mother; can't say that there's much a notary could do that really gets my attention and gives me motivation to rely exclusively on them for that service.

Jenna Estefan · Answer

I'm an agent here in Skagit County. We use mobile notaries pretty frequently. Some people are replying that banks, etc do it for free, but you're correct in that title/escrow will use a certified mobile notary for closing docs. They typically charge around $150 for a mobile signing fee. There are many cases where the seller/buyer is not local and escrow sends them a mobile notary. I had one transaction where the buyers were purchasing an REO property in Anacortes and the escrow company was located on the East Coast, so they had to send a mobile notary to my buyers. We actually had to get an extension on that deal because "they buyers lived on an island and they couldn't get a notary to them" on the day the lender had the closing docs sent to escrow, which is kind of ridiculous, if you know the area. I believe that there will always be demand for mobile notaries, just from my experience. That being said, I have no idea what kind of business you would be able to generate in the area. I would follow @Chris M. 's advice, go talk to the local title/escrow companies.Hope that helps!

Colleen F. · Answer

I can't speak to your area but I just had a mobile notary come to our house for a closing that I could not make in AZ. He said that he could work as much as he wanted. There must be a shortage of them because it took them some time to find me one. For a single paper it is fine to go to the bank but for what you need to sign for a closing that is when they send the mobile notary. I think we had maybe 3 closings like this. They do it a lot for refi's

Lane Kawaoka · Answer

I typically just go into the nearest credit union. Not to sound mean or anything but this really seems like trading time for money. I mean it's cool that your picking up side jobs but I don't see this being much different than driving for postmates or uber.

Colleen F. · Answer

Glenn R. here they do it for free for customers but they don't do lots of signatures they get annoyed even when you are a customer.

Roger Vi · Answer

Thanks for the tip Chris Mason Seeing that you are a lender, how is the demand for mobile notaries where you are? Where do you think this is headed in the future?

Robert Seltzer · Answer

In response to the original post, the requirement is driven by the life style of the client you serve. I always use a mobile notary. It provides the most flexibility in time and location for signing papers. Thanks!