Here’s a situation. You’ve negotiated your client’s perfect family home purchase deal. Everything is lined up, and you’re ready to close. But then, the dreaded signature chase begins.
Tracking down the client, printing paperwork, waiting for physical signatures- you know the drill, right?
Source Juggling multiple clients, keeping tenants happy, and collecting signatures on contracts and lease agreements is the daily grind for real estate professionals. So, it’s only natural to make you yearn for a simpler solution.
By streamlining all the lease agreements, purchase agreements, and legal contract signing process, eSignatures can save you valuable time and allow you to focus more on closing great deals!
However, with a growing number of eSignature software options available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Especially one that meets the requirements for your real estate business. That’s why we did the hard work of reviewing feature lists for you and compiled a list of the best electronic signature software for real estate professionals.
So, let’s dive into the details, starting with Signeasy.
Best electronic signature software for real estate 1. Signeasy Managing a multitude of contracts for real estate agents can be a real hassle. With Signeasy’s eSignature and contract management for real estate , you can bid those time-consuming, manual paperwork woes goodbye. Prepare, send, and manage contracts with ease. You can also create reusable templates from your frequently used documents. This eliminates the need to recreate them each time, saving you and your team valuable time.
Here are some key features of Signeasy:
A. Productivity and cost optimization Signeasy helps you ditch those administrative burdens and delays, increasing your overall efficiency. Plus, by going paperless, you'll save some serious money on printing, shipping, and storage costs. It’s a win-win!
Take S&C Homebuyers, for example. The premium real estate redevelopment company that deals with properties in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut increased its efficiency by 99.7% with Signeasy.
"With Signeasy, paperwork that took 12-24 hours now takes 2-4 minutes. That means, what earlier took an entire workday is now completed in a tea break. Efficiency is up by 99.7%. Deals are saved because they can be secured in real-time." B. Legally compliant and secure When it comes to real estate deals, security and compliance are non-negotiable. Signeasy has enterprise-grade security features like encryption, two-factor authentication, and single sign-on . With Trust Seal , real estate agents can rest assured that the contracts are not tampered with. Plus, it complies with regulations like ESIGN, HIPAA, and SOC 2, ensuring your data is always protected.
C. Mobility and convenience As a real estate agent, you’re always on the go. With Signeasy, you can sign documents from anywhere, anytime, on any device. Our top-rated eSign mobile apps for iOS and Android make signing on-the-go a breeze.
D. Integration and customization Signeasy seamlessly integrates eSignature and contract management capabilities with popular business applications like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Outlook, allowing you to sign and send documents directly from the tools you already use. Plus, our eSign API lets developers embed contactless document signing into your existing workflows. Talk about convenience!
E. Real-time tracking With Signeasy, you can monitor document progress with instant notifications for each stage (viewed, signed, declined). Our automated reminders ensure you don’t have to follow up with your clients after every deal manually.
Comprehensive reports can even provide insights into team activity and document volume. Moreover, our app allows you to sync contacts from Gmail or Outlook or import them for an effortless signing experience.
F. Custom branding With Signeasy, you can build trust in your document signing process by incorporating your company’s unique identity.
With our solution, you can seamlessly integrate your brand name and logo into your signing workflows. This provides a consistent and professional experience for your customers, reinforces brand recognition, and fosters trust.
G. File support Signeasy offers robust file support and field customization to streamline your signing process. You can work with a wide range of file formats, including PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and more (25+ document types supported).
Check out how Stribling Real Estate simplifies client paperwork with Signeasy
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2. Adobe Acrobat Sign If you’re looking for a tool that eliminates the hassle of manually managing your real estate contracts, Adobe Sign is worth trying. As a part of Adobe’s Document Cloud Suite, Adobe Sign offers various features to streamline the contract signing and sending process.
As it’s a part of the Adobe ecosystem, you can easily integrate with other Adobe products like Acrobat and Creative Cloud. With its seamless integration, you can create, edit, and sign documents within a single environment.
Adobe Sign’s eSignature software is legally binding in all US and most countries worldwide. This ensures all your purchase and selling agreements are legally secured. The best part is that with Adobe Sign, you will get access to myriads of electronic forms to simplify the process of filling out and reviewing these forms.
Here are some key features of Adobe Sign:
Sign and easily collect signatures Sign on desktops, tablets, and smartphones Seamless Microsoft 365 Integration Personalized signing experience with custom branding 3. Docusign For real estate agents, Docusign is another widely used solution to streamline the eSignature process. The platform is known for its extensive customization options and integration capabilities. It has over 350+ pre-built integrations, making embedding easier into other platforms you already use.
Docusign also offers features like document tracking and support for mobile signature app. So, if you rely heavily on mobile devices for client communication, these features will greatly benefit you!
However, unlike Signeasy, Docusign’s pricing can be higher, especially for larger teams or enterprises. This may be a drawback if you’re looking for budget-friendly solutions.
Here are some key features of DocuSign
Wide range of file formats support Over 20 pre-built tags and fields Seamlessly integrate with cloud storage Secure email authentication 4. Dropbox Sign Dropbox Sign’s mobile-friendly interface, forms, and easy-to-use features make it a great choice for new homebuyers, renters, and sellers. With this eSignature platform, you can easily review, fill out, and sign contracts right on your device.
The typical real estate transaction management software suite involves many different cloud apps and tools, but with Dropbox Sign’s no-code integration, you can automatically connect it to your cloud storage, CRM, and other familiar platforms.
Dropbox Sign is a secure and legally binding eSignature software solution. The platform follows high-security standards, including ISO 27001, eIDAS, and GDPR, with audit trails, encryption, and more advanced security options.
Here are some key features of Dropbox Sign:
Sign any PDFs, Word documents, and more Secure data collection during signing. Create custom signature workflows Enterprise-grade scalability Detailed insights into the signing process with comprehensive reports 5. airSlate’s SignNow With airSlate’s SignNow’s intuitive eSignature experience and document workflows, real estate professionals can offer clients a fast, modern process while maintaining full security and compliance.
airSlate’s SignNow meets the highest data protection benchmarks with full encryption, digital audit trails, authentication options like phone/SMS verification, and more.
Moreover, airSlate’s SignNow simplifies teamwork with agents and lenders by offering shared organizational dashboards, contract management, team document sharing, and user permission control features.
Here are some key features of airSlate’s SignNow:
Drag and drop signature fields Dual factor authentication HIPAA compliance Set automatic reminders Real-time notifications and reminders Integration with over 40 applications 6. PandaDoc PandaDoc is another great eSignature tool for the real estate industry. Particularly for its user-friendly interface and a library of customizable templates. PandaDoc’s features go beyond electronic signatures. It’s a comprehensive document management tool designed to improve customer experiences and streamline real estate transactions.
PandaDoc allows you to create, edit, share, negotiate, and even notarize documents- all within a single platform. So, while dealing with clients, you can eliminate the need for endless email exchanges and the hassle of transferring files.
Using PandaDoc, you can also automate your tasks, such as document tracking and sending auto reminders for upcoming lease renewals.
Here are some key features of PandaDoc
PandaDoc is compliant with ESIGN Act Notarize real estate document Offers various pricing plans Offers audit trails and document analytics Integrates with existing apps and workflows you already use 7. Zoho Sign Like most electronic signature software on this list, Zoho Sign lets you create, sign, and manage all your real estate documents digitally. What sets it apart is its effortless usability. Setting up a Zoho Sign account takes just a minute, and its user-friendly interface makes the entire eSigning process a breeze.
With Zoho Sign, you can personalize the document signing process by adding your company logo and customizing email templates. Moreover, the software is legally binding and compliant with most international regulations, including the ESIGN Act and EIDAS.
In short, Zoho Sign offers a combination of robust functionality, user-friendliness, and mobile accessibility to deliver a more convenient and secure signing experience for their clients.
Here are some key features of Zoho Sign
Easy document import to desktop or cloud apps Backup signed copies to cloud apps Multiple file formats Automatic field addition Track document status and send reminders What is electronic signature software for real estate? Real estate electronic signature software tools, also known as eSigning tools, let all real estate parties (agents, buyers, sellers, landlords) sign contracts and agreements electronically. This means no more printing, scanning, mailing, or waiting for physical signatures to be collected.
Everyone can sign documents online from any device, reducing the need for in-person client meetings and time-consuming back and forth with traditional paperwork.
According to a global survey of corporate decision-makers from commercial real estate companies by EY , 61% of respondents have adopted one or more technology tools. While 69% of respondents say technology as a strategic agenda is a high priority.
Based on the number presented above, it’s clear that the real estate industry is gradually recognizing the importance and priority of adopting technology solutions. And electronic signature software is definitely bridging the gap between tech and real estate.
What should real estate companies look into before choosing electronic signature software? No matter which tool you use, the following are the must-have features you should look for in an electronic signature software. :
1. Security and compliance Do you know that a data breach at Real Estate Wealth Network exposed the personal information of a staggering 1.5 billion property owners, sellers, and investors in 2023?
In the real estate industry, where sensitive information like property ownership and financial details are constantly exchanged, choosing the right secured eSignature platform is crucial.
So, always look for software that offers powerful authentication methods beyond simple passwords. Multi-factor authentication, secure digital signatures with hardware tokens, and email verification are all important options to ensure that only authorized individuals can access and sign documents.
Next, eSignature solutions should comply with relevant regulations like the E-SIGN Modernization Act in the US or eIDAS in the EU. Also, certifications like SOC 2 demonstrate a vendor’s commitment to data security best practices.
A detailed audit trail tracks every step of the signing process, from the signer’s email and IP address to the document fingerprint and timestamps. This detailed record serves as inarguable evidence in case of disputes or legal proceedings.
2. Intuitive user experience When choosing an eSignature, consider how intuitive the user experience (UX) is for both you and your clients. User-friendly software allows you to send contracts to multiple signers, manage bulk signings, and easily create reusable templates.
A smooth signing process for buyers and sellers reflects positively on your business. Look for features like real-time status tracking and the ability to sign multiple documents in a single session, which will create a hassle-free experience for all parties involved.
Remember, user-friendly software with intuitive features like drag-and-drop data fields and various signing options empowers your team and streamlines the signing process for your clients. This adds more to an efficient and successful real estate operation.
3. Integration with existing tools Imagine sending contracts for signature directly from your CRM platform or managing signed documents within your project management software. Integrations eliminate the need for repetitive data entry and manual file transfers, saving you valuable time and effort.
When eSignatures integrates with familiar tools, the learning curve is minimal. Your team can leverage existing knowledge, leading to faster adoption and improved productivity.
Look for solutions that offer native integrations with your favorite apps, like Freshteams, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce. Additionally, consider platforms with powerful and flexible APIs for even greater customization.
4. Seamless mobile experience Make sure to check whether the electronic signature software comes with user-friendly mobile apps for iOS, Android, and the Web. With a seamless mobile experience, you can close deals on-site, review contracts while traveling, and keep projects moving forward, even outside the office.
For example, Signeasy has earned a stellar 4.9-star rating on App Stores and over 9 million app installs. Signeasy’s iOS and Android applications have won the hearts and trust of users worldwide for their intuitive features.
5. Budget-friendly pricing system If your real estate organization is going through rapid growth, it’s important to weigh the cost-benefit ratio before deciding to invest in an eSignature solution. Look for a platform that offers flexible pricing plans and can accommodate increased signing volume as your business expands, ideally with minimal additional costs.
And don’t be afraid to shop around! Compare pricing plans of various eSignature providers to find one that aligns with your budget. Many offer free trials or even limited free plans, allowing you to test-drive the software before committing.
By carefully considering these factors, you can ensure that your eSignature solution delivers a positive return on investment, empowers your growing real estate business, and streamlines your workflow.
6. Customer support Last but not least, a factor to consider when choosing the best electronic signature app for your real estate business is- customer support. If you encounter a technical issue with the platform without prompt and responsive support, delays and frustration can quickly escalate. However, a reliable support team can troubleshoot issues quickly, minimizing disruptions to your workflow and ensuring deals stay on track.
So, what should you look for in eSignature customer support?
Real estate transactions can involve geographically dispersed parties. Choose a provider with quick support to ensure timely assistance regardless of time zone. Look for a provider that prioritizes personalized interactions. Your team should feel heard and understood, ensuring a positive support experience. Clear response and resolution timeframes manage expectations and keep your operations running smoothly. For a diverse team or clients across borders, multilingual support ensures clear communication and avoids misunderstandings. A comprehensive knowledge base with self-service options empowers your team to find solutions independently. How does electronic signature for real estate contracts work? Let’s say you have a client interested in a rental property. Traditionally, finalizing the agreement would involve them physically coming to your office to sign the contract and provide additional documents. With eSignatures, this entire process can be completed remotely.
You will send the rental agreement (or any other real estate contract) to your client via email, link, or QR code.
Your client can create their eSignature in a few ways- by drawing on the screen, typing their name, or uploading an image of their signature. Once signed, they can easily reshare the completed document with you electronically. The beauty of eSignatures is that you can track all of the progress in real time.
Many eSignature programs prioritize security. They may require your client to use a PIN or complete additional verification steps to confirm their identity. This creates a secure audit trail of every signature on the document. Also, most eSignature tools keep everyone informed. They can automatically notify all parties involved once a signature is completed.
To understand how eSignatures works in the real-world scenario, you can take the example of K Real Estate , a residential property group based in New Zealand.
Traditionally, K Real Estate relied on paper for everything from appraisals and agency agreements to contracts. This meant a lot of printing, scanning, emailing, and waiting for clients to return signed documents.
Roar Kristoffersen, K Real Estate’s co-director, described the process as “clunky,” with clients sometimes resorting to sending photos of signed documents on their phones!
K Real Estate found a perfect solution in Signeasy, an eSignature platform designed for a mobile-first experience. With Signeasy, K Real Estate can now:
✔Close deals faster
✔Simplify communication
✔Ensure legal compliance
✔Embrace a paperless future
K Real Estate’s experience is a great example of how eSignatures can work in a real estate business.
“ Now, it’s just, ‘let’s use Signeasy because it’s 100 times faster and it’s precise .” Roar Kristoffersen, Co-Director How does electronic signature for real estate agents work? Electronic signatures or eSignature software tools simplify the way real estate agents are used to create, sign, and manage documents. Now, with a single platform or a centralized workspace, you can create, sign, edit, and access sales contracts, floor plans, mortgage forms, brokerage agreements, and many more!
Here are some ways electronic signatures for real estate agents work:
Faster deal closing : eSigning real estate paperwork allows all parties to sign electronically from anywhere, on any device. This significantly speeds up the closing process, especially when multiple buyers are eyeing for the same property. Reduce errors and misunderstandings: eSignatures eliminate the risk of errors from manual signatures and physical document handling. Plus, eSignature platforms provide secure document transmission, encrypting them during transfer and storage. This ensures everyone involved is working with the latest, unaltered version of the contract.Maintain compliance and security: Electronic signatures are legally binding and include features like biometric verification, timestamping, and audit trails. This ensures all parties agree to the contract terms. On top of that, physical documents are vulnerable to theft or damage. eSignature platforms store documents securely on servers, eliminating these risks. Additionally, eSignatures make it difficult to forge signatures, reducing the risk of fraud. Keeping your documents digital also simplifies adhering to legal regulations. For example, Signeasy meets GDPR, SOC 2, ESIGN Act , eIDAS, and HIPAA compliance standards.
Save time and money: Traditional paper contracts involve printing, copying, and mailing costs. These expenses can be heavy on your pocket, especially for lengthy contracts. However, eSignatures eliminate these costs, saving you both time and money.What are the laws behind electronic signatures for real estate? Electronic signatures for real estate are legally binding by two sets of legal considerations in the US.
The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act : This federal law, passed in 2000, established a national standard for eSignatures. It essentially confirms that eSignatures can be considered legally valid and enforceable as long as they meet specific criteria.The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA): This law allows individual states to create their own eSignature legislation based on the UETA framework. All but one state (New York) have adopted UETA. New York uses its own Electronic Signatures and Records Act (ESRA).Apart from these, eSignatures have also been legally binding in European law since 2016 by electronic IDentification and Authentication Services (eIDAS) regulation.
All the laws outline specific criteria that an eSignature must fulfill to be considered legally binding. Here are a few of the main requirements:
Intent to sign: All parties involved must have a clear intention to agree to the contract. Essentially, no one can be tricked into signing electronically.Consent to electronic transaction: All parties must agree to use eSignatures for the contract. This ensures everyone is comfortable with the electronic format.Association with the contract: The electronic signatures must be clearly linked to the signed agreement. This creates a clear record of who signed what.Clear attribution: The eSignature needs to be demonstrably attributable to the person who created it. This helps prevent fraud and ensures accountability.Retention of electronic records: All parties involved must have ongoing access to the electronically signed contract. This ensures everyone can easily reference the agreement if needed.As long as all the above-mentioned necessary requirements are met, eSignatures offers a secure and legally binding way to manage contracts for real estate operations.
Here are some of the most common regulations behind the eSigning process across the world:
