Confessions of a Remote Notary: Conquering The Digital Closing Room

Before we begin: This article contains affiliate product recommendations. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information about how we work with affiliates, please see our Affiliate Disclosure Page.

Remember that time you had to awkwardly tell a title company, "Um, could you hold on while I find that page again?" while frantically clicking through 97 PDF tabs? Or my personal favorite: "Sorry, everyone! That was just my neighbor's leaf blower you heard screaming through the background of our closing."

Trust me, I've been there. My first few months as a remote notary were a comedy of errors that would have made for a great sitcom - if only my mortgage clients had been in on the joke. Title companies weren't exactly breaking down my door for repeat business, let's put it that way.

The Day Everything Changed (Okay, Two Monitors Changed Everything)

Picture this: It's 2:55 PM, and I'm preparing for a 3:00 PM closing. I've got seventeen browser tabs open, my RON platform running, and I'm doing that thing where you squint at your screen while moving windows around like a digital juggler. We've all been there, right?

That was the day I accidentally shared my screen showing my open Gmail instead of the closing documents. Nothing confidential was exposed, thankfully - just my embarrassing number of unread emails and that newsletter I still haven't unsubscribed from about cat yoga (don't ask).

Enter the Dell UltraSharp Monitor. Getting a second monitor felt like finally learning to ride a bike without training wheels. Suddenly, I could keep my professional video feed on one screen while managing documents on the other. No more digital acrobatics! The title company rep actually asked me after the closing, "Have you been doing this for years? That was seamless!"

But of course, just when I thought I had it all figured out, my audio decided to remind me that looking professional is only half the battle...

The Great Audio Debacle of 2024

It happened during what should have been a routine closing. There I was, feeling pretty good about my fancy new dual-monitor setup, when a client politely asked, "Are you notarizing from inside a washing machine?" Turns out, looking professional doesn't mean much when you sound like you're speaking through a drive-through intercom from 1985.

Until one day, a kind soul (okay, it was a frustrated title company manager) finally said, "Your closings are great, but you sound like you're notarizing from inside a submarine."

That's when I discovered the Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones Not only did I stop sounding like I was broadcasting from the depths of the ocean, but I could finally block out my neighbor's apparently endless home renovation project. (Seriously, Dave, what are you even building over there?)

Speaking of neighbors and their mysterious construction projects, all that background noise was actually the least of my problems when it came to post-closing documentation...

The "Where Did I Put That Document?" Chronicles

You know what title companies love even more than clear audio? Speed. Especially when it comes to getting those signed documents back to them. Remember fax machines? Title companies do. They have a special fondness for requesting documents be scanned and sent "ASAP" - which used to send me into a panic-induced paper-shuffling frenzy.

My old scanner moved so slowly, I'm pretty sure I saw a snail lap it once. I actually started timing it - three minutes per page. Do the math on a 100-page closing package, and you'll understand why I developed a temporary eye twitch.

Enter the Epson WorkForce ES-400 Scanner. Now there's a game-changer. It sits on my desk like a silent efficiency guardian. Double-sided scanning? Check. Multiple pages at once? You bet. Making me look like I actually know what I'm doing? Priceless.

The Real Talk

Here's the thing about working with title companies - they're not just looking for someone who can stamp documents. They want a closing partner who makes their life easier. Someone who doesn't make them explain technical difficulties to anxious homebuyers or apologize for delays to real estate agents.

The right tools aren't just about impressing title companies - they're about giving yourself the confidence to handle any closing situation that comes your way. Because let's face it, there's nothing quite like the feeling of finishing a complex closing and knowing you nailed it (even if you're still wearing pajama pants below the camera frame - your secret's safe with me).

Your Turn

Ready to step up your remote notary game? Start with the basics:

• Give yourself screen real estate to work with

• Sound like a professional (even if your dog disagrees)

• Handle paperwork like a boss

Remember, investing in your remote notary setup isn't just about buying equipment - it's about investing in your peace of mind and professional reputation. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go unsubscribe from that cat yoga newsletter...

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally believe will add value to remote notaries. All opinions expressed here are my own and are not influenced by any affiliate relationships.