Mobile notaries by their very nature are on the go. And they're constantly on their phones. The reason for that is because many signing service companies now have applications that host the information for their transactions.
I thought it would be helpful to look at the companies that have availed themselves of the technology that Apple iOS and Android has to offer. One thing to note about all the companies on this list is that they must be doing something right if they have the volume of business to justify the development of an app.
Also please realize that I have intentionally left Snapdocs off of this list. The reason for that is because Snapdocs, while it probably has a prominent place on your phone, is technically a website and not an app. Snapdocs is a large part of the reason I got into the loan signing industry and so it deserves its own post in due time anyway.
If you're a veteran notary, you may have most of these, but maybe there's one or two that you missed. If you're new to the loan signing industry, then get your phone out and head to the app store.
Let's get to it and see what's out there:
Solidifi Notary Network
Released in July of 2018, the Solidifi Notary Network app does a nice job of keeping a mobile notary organized. (Not all mobile notaries are signing agents and I guess you could say not all signing agents are mobile notaries for that matter. But this is my blog and I may occasionally use the titles interchangeably so please forgive me going forward – thanks!) Signing agents can accept or decline appointments, get directions to the appointment with Google Maps integration and contact the signers and confirm the signing all from the app. Nice job indeed!
Solidifi is a major player in the residential real estate market. They are the mortgage service “provider of choice” for more than 60 of the top 100 lenders according to their website. Established in 2004, Solidifi has been around for a while and is one of the most progressive providers of closing services in the real estate industry.
Amrock My Signings
I know a person probably shouldn't get excited about a signing service app, but such a person probably hasn't seen Amrock's My Signings app. The My Signings user interface is as slick as they come. It uses an eye-pleasing Paralucent font and is very easy to navigate. My favorite feature though is the UPS locator 😍. In my opinion, Amrock's My Signings app is the gold standard of signing service company apps.
If you've ever heard of Quicken Loans, Amrock is the company that closes their mortgage transactions. In addition to settlement services, Amrock also provides title insurance and property valuations. They are a tech-driven company and many of their closings are “hybrid closings” where a signer will sign both electronic and paper-printed documents.
Signing Catch
The Signing Catch app is released by Signature Closers and is for Apple and Android users. You can receive notifications of available signings and accept them from your phone. While the app does not have a bevy of features by any means, it is frequently updated and the layout is crisp and easy to read.
Signature Closers is located in Columbus, Ohio and provides signing support services to title companies and lenders. They've been around for a while and are one of the best signing service companies to work with. They pay on time and have a fairly steady flow of signings in our area.
Xome Signings
You can tell Xome put some money into the development of their app. It shows in the way the app's user interface is designed. The app is neatly organized and fairly easy to maneuver. Invoices are clearly listed and the map screen is large. The scheduled signing dashboard is tight with all the details you need all on the same screen. One of the neatest features is the ability to directly scan documents back the company.
Xome was formerly known as Solutionstar and is a subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage Holdings with headquarters in Lewisville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The company entices their customers with 0% commissions for sellers and significant buyer rebates for buyers. This outfit has thousands of closings every day. So while they may try to lowball you on a fee, just consider that it may be worth taking a little less if it can be made up by volume in the long run.
Timios Portal
The Timios Portal is pretty sparse. I may be telling my age, but it's the Dragnet version of all the signing company apps. It's “just the facts ma'am” with this app. The welcome page opens with a search function. You can input the signer's last name or just hit the magnifying glass button to search for any orders assigned to you. Once you click on your closing, the ‘My Files' page comes up that lists name, address and phone number along with the loan number and loan amount. Under that is a list of your documents that you'll need to print. You can view the files from inside the app.
Timios comes from the Greek word for honest. (I didn't know that, I discovered this on their website!) This company claims to have closed over 250,000 transactions worth $40 billion total. Timios also states that they are leading the way in paperless innovation, but their loan packages beg to differ!
SimplyConnect
SimplyConnect is the mobile platform designed by Mortgage Connect LP. After the login screen is passed, an order summary is shown with a link to a map for directions. This page gives the signing agent an option to upload pictures (usually identification) securely back to the company. This app is no-frills but gets the job done. There is a note in the app description that says future releases are planning for more features and further functionality.
Established in 2008, Mortgage Connect LP is a mortgage service provider that works with many of the nation's top lenders. In 2016, this company launched an eClosing Solutions as part of their “seamless” closing experience.
Exos Signing Agent
The Exos Signing Agent app is a nice entry on this list. Not many complaints here as you can accept an appointment with real-time calendaring and see updates to the orders in your queue. One of the nicest features is the in-app messaging as this app gives you your own inbox.
Exos claims to be light years ahead of its competition with its digital platform emphasis. Funny how when I research all these companies, every one of them is the premier company in the industry! This company may live up to the billing due to their investment in artificial intelligence (AI).
Bancserv NotaryServ
This is the bare-bones minimal app that claims to be cutting-edge and it does have some nice features like one-touch calling. It would be nice if it would remember your user name and there's no way to negotiate a price on the fee either. But all in all it tells you who to meet with, where to go and how to get there.
Bancserv was founded in 1989 and bills itself as a nationwide mobile notary service. They carefully screen, test and approve their agents. While Bancserv's base fees may be a little low, they'll accommodate travel fees. This is a solid company to work with as far as I'm concerned.
Conclusion
These are the heavy hitters in the loan signing industry. Each of these companies produce enough closings to justify having their own app so it's worth taking the time to sign up for each of these companies.
Similar to Snapdocs, you can be prepared for lower fee offerings, but balance that out by the volume that hopefully comes your way. If you click on the company, the link takes you directly to their website. Let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them for you.
I would also be interested in seeing any other signing service apps that aren't listed above. If you're aware of such an app, please share and thanks for doing so!
Thank you for sharing. I will spend tomorrow the day after Thanksgiving signing up. I will not renew Notary Cafe Pro as I have received nothing from them. By the way I am in NC.
No problem, Deborah. Hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving!
Deborah,
How long have you been in this industry?
I would encourage you to reconsider your membership with Notary Cafe. They are a directory when people are searching for a mobile notary in their area. Think of it like a phonebook of sorts. Understand when people search they are sorting through multiple names, searching for the person. Their deciding factor may be they feel most confident in the person because of credentials/ years of experience, could be location, could be cost, could be the listing description and photo makes the client feel most at ease. I have had years when I received dozens of calls based on my Notary Cafe listing and years when I have received little to no referrals. In the end it is a viable tool that really is there to help you as a notary get your name out to the public.
Agreed! I spent $36 to become pro status on Notary Cafe and I’ve received zero calls from that profile. Definitely canceling after this membership expires.
Good information, KY Notary
Thanks Gary!
Great info, thank you for sharing.
Other than SnapDocs, these are all for experienced LSA’s.
Any good ones for newbies???
Blessings
Marcela – thanks for reading and commenting! You ask a really good question and it’s one I don’t have a good answer for to be honest. I realize everybody has to start somewhere and for me that was two places: 1) a LONG time ago when I started practicing law – that’s where I first learned to “close” a loan real estate transaction and 2) more recently I gained a good bit of experience when Snapdocs was first released. If I were you, what I’d emphasize to companies is that although you may not be experienced as far as number of loan signings are concerned, you can tout yourself as a professional. The way I see it, there are rookies in every profession and (like I said lol) we all have to start somewhere!
My only other recommendation is to join http://www.notaryreviews.org. For the price that you pay for membership to this site, I feel like it delivers a fantastic return on your investment. It has a very active forum community and the database of signing services and title companies is unsurpassed as far as I’m concerned. Hope this helps you in your journey – please stay in touch and let me know if there’s anything else you may need assistance with!
I love the apps you shared. This is absolutely awesome for Public Notary in Tucson, AZ
Thanks for your comment! Nice domain!