Visit www.AuthorityRE.com/Blog/ to visit our blog. We love sharing information and providing fresh content to all those interested! Best, Authority Real Estate 250 N. State St. Hemet, CA 92543 (951) 654-7200 www.AuthorityRE.com ...read more

Today I was asked a question by a fellow notary that made me ponder for few a moments before I replied.  He asked me how I "do it" with so much competition in my area(?).  "Do It?" Meaningsuccessfullyrun my Notary Loan Signing Business? Competition? I thought, YIKES!  Well, I guess itisout there, but I haven't based my business practice or motives on the woes of my competitors.  As a matter of a fact, I have to honestly say that I have learned from the best, in my opinion, both local and afar.  (AFAR?  Ok, Cheryl...ease up on the "SHREK" lingo!) Seriously, though, I constantly challenge myself and push myself to market my business.  Perhaps because if I don't, this so-called competition will.  So, I do check out the business practices of those that are seemingly successful at what they do, (not necessarily all Notary Signing Agents, either). I've talked to some of the VERY best in our industry.  Wow...They ARE VERY PLEASANT people, afterall!  I take notes. I apply reasonable and attainable business ideas and press forward with fortitude and entrepreneurial perseverence. My "competition" is my fellow notary. Ok, Yeah, so what.  Over 400 + notary signing agents just in my general vicinity alone. (and my phone still rings).  I guess this is what he was implying.  I'm fully aware of the competitive market.  But I don't see it in a bad way.  I am working everyday.  I am getting calls regularly.   Yet, I have no awe-inspiringsecret to successstory...(Well, not yet, anyway!) I see others in this industry as constant reminders that I must do a very,VERYgood job in my business, and to work harder and make sure that there are no mistakes...to cross every "t", dot every "i", make a good impression (notarial seal impression, that is), and do the best that I can do for my clients... To me, my so-called competition are my comrades, my leaders-who show me great opportunities, my followers-whom I must show great opportunities to as well...I see this as having a competitive edge.    Thank You For Enduring Yet Another Piece of Me. Cheryl Lee Anderson, Notary Signing Agent www.certifiedsigningscalifornia.com www.elitenotarynetwork.com     ...read more

Absolutely organized CLUTTER!  Jumbo Shrimp, Limited Lifetime Membership, Silent Screams...all oxymorons. But what about Organized Clutter?  Is there such a thing?  My husband seems to think so...Well...let's look at my desk for instance.  My Brother MFC 8460N Laser Printer to my right, My Hewlitt Packard flatbed legal scanner to my left, my monitor in the middle, my hanging files (and lots of them) within both drawers on either side of me...My label maker, stapler, pens. pencil sharpener, stack of business cards, postcards, mailing labels, pictures of my children, overdue files, my big fatty calendar-(displaying a beautiful blanket of appointments), reference materials, my notary stamp and journal locked away safely in its drawer, overnight packaging envelopes, etc., 2 phones, my Sun Light Lamp that so proudly lights my way, all organized and convenientlywithin MY reach. But seriously...as much as I love the way I can access anything I need at my desk, My wonderful, truck driving husband laughs at me...calling my masterpiece of a desk ORGANIZED CLUTTER!!  "But I work well this way,"  I tell him.  I'm not a mess...I am very efficient and everything has its place...( I think so anyway).  I've never lost anything, never misplaced a file...perhaps he doesn't understand the nature of the business...maybe he doesn't understand the nature of MY business...hahaha.Made me think about how others organize themselves...what makes others comfortable while spending ruthless hours at the desk sometimes...So I ask, what is on YOUR desk?  What makes you work more effortlessly, and efficiently? Thanks for reading!Cheryl Lee Anderson, Mobile Notary  ...read more

    What I didn't know, and how it is helping me to be successful...  So, I took my real estate exam in December '07.  I passed, and with that I was going to conquer the world...be TOPS in the Real Estate Industry here in Southern California!Although clouded by the current market woes and near fall-out, I was still going to set myself apart and make $$!  Well, yeah...ok.  It didn't quite work out that way.  Not because I COULDN'T make it happen, and definitely NOT because I failed, because the potential and ability is there, and willalwaysbe there...but it's because I became quite busy with another venture that was in its infancy stages during this time as well. I met a very wonderful and ambitious real estate gentleman who introduced me to his broker.  Now it all seemed ideal (to me) with its quaint and comfy office, few agents, and Down To Earth enviance, I thought I would just fit in...and with license waving in my green little hands...ready to be trained...earnest to break into and become a part of this potential million dollar industry...there I sat. Phones weren't really ringing, so real estate salesperson/receptionist skills didn't come into play. Surfin' through the MLS system till I nearly gagged was all but a thrill...hmmm, I thought...I've seriously gotta do something!  Take me out on some showings! Let me sit for an open house!  Let me cold call!  Let me place some yard signs...clean some yard signs?!  Anybody?  But nuthin!  So I got up, marched right into the broker's office and asked, "What is it going to take to get me started?"  I had to get my feet wet.  I was eager to learn, and I was willing to teach myself from observation alone...but one problem...not too much was going on to observe...at least at that time, and at least from where I stood.  Now, don't get me wrong, I was never discouraged and I never gave up.  I understood the reality of the current conditions.  Agents became a little tighter on what they chose to resource out.  I understood that.  They had mouths to feed and mortgages to pay, too.   So, the broker says..."start by putting yourSOItogether, and we will go from there." SOI?  What the heck is that? It is yourSphere Of Influence. It made sense...start by telling everyone I know who I have had an acquaintance, what I am up to...let them know I am available!  So, that is exactly what I did.I wrote a letter briefly explaining who I was,in case anyone forgot, and what I am doing now, and how I can help them.  But I didn't use it toward my Real Estate Business...(at least not yet).  My list was long and  I was happy with myself...but I was getting increasingly busy with what I was doing on the side.  So I started focusing on marketing myself, and then thought why don't I use my Sphere Of Influence to gain some recognition by those a little closer to heart and home?I modified and used this Sphere Of Influence idea for My Notary and Loan Signing Business!  I cannot even begin to tell you the magnitude of work for me which it has made.  What an incredible idea...and it was free, and easy...and since it gave those that I listed a sense of familiarity because they had met me before, or knew me personally, it cemented some relationships and generated a lot of notary work, and the referrals are AWESOME!I have marketed myself quite extensively, but would have missed this opportunity because I didn't think to even market to my family, colleagues, or friends.  As subtle as this little modest letter that I had written to my SOI, it has pushed my notary business forward.  I highly recommend it...and maybe, once I get the nerve or inkling to pursue my RE career, I will peruse this little gem then, too!Thank you for enduring a moment of me.Cheryl Lee Anderson  ...read more

My mother, the late JoAnn Howard, started our company in 1979.  We are the only family owned and operated, independent escrow company in the valley.  My sister, Tracey, and I continue to run Howard Escrow as our mother did, with caring, trusted and knowledgable employees that are here to help people through the biggest purchase of their lives.  We continue to strive for excellence through our memberships in the Escrow Institute of California, the California Escrow Association, of which our mother was the 1991 president and the Riverside County Escrow Association of which Tracey was President for the last 2 years.  We are here to help. Teri Howard-Wilson ...read more