Geek Estate Blog - Latest Comments in Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

Design2Express — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:35:16 -0000

Nice info Michael I always think that when every thing is moving in electronically then how we sign our online checks so its make it easy now. thanks for sharing

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

Sam DeBord — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:40:51 -0000

So true. Our software companies create the newest technologies and then have to sell them in other states.

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

Sam DeBord — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:39:42 -0000

I've heard of people using it here, too. The MLS doesn't control licensing, so your contract can be a legal WA contract with an electronic signature. However, if you're using the NWMLS's contract forms to write that contract, as an NWMLS member you're committing to following their rules for the use of those documents.

I'm not an expert on the subject at all, I just know the NWMLS had said "no" the last time an associate of mine asked if they could use the e-sigs. Between WA DOL, NWMLS, Realtor, and RE/MAX, there are a lot of intertwining rules that don't always match up.

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

DocuSign — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:55:51 -0000

Michael, That's an excellent idea :) Yes - DocuSign's Chief Legal Officer, Ken Moyle, is also the Public Policy Chair of the Electronic Signature and Records Association (ESRA) so he is very active in trying to create more legal resources, etc.

Ken gave a talk on the Legality of Electronic Signature for Real Estate at CAR EXPO earlier this month: http://docusign.com/blog/20...

ps - if my links aren't helpful, please do let me know!

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

DocuSign — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:48:38 -0000

Hi Sam - DocuSign actually has realtors in the Seattle area who use electronic signature. Pardon my ignorance, but I didn't know that the NWMLS was a policy body or that you needed approval before implementing technology for your business. Any further information to further educated me would be much appreciated!

DocuSign has a 30 day free trial, so you can try it out first http://www.docusign.com/rea...

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

Michael LaPeter — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:06:33 -0000

Nick and Jay, I totally agree. I make sure to let out a long audible sigh on the phone whenever someone says their brokerage/ company doesn't accept them.

Thanks also for the feedback from Docusign, that seems like a great use of time on your company's part. It might not hurt to also contact associations like C.A.R (www.car.org) and work with them to provide more legal resources, F.A.Q.'s, etc.

Sam: That's too bad. It's funny how the cities you'd think would be at the forefront, like Seattle or San Francisco, so often lag. I remember watching my brother in Boise open lockboxes from his cell phone in awe, while in SF I was still toting around a separate brick of a lockbox key... oh well!

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

Sam DeBord — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:10:04 -0000

Looks like a great system - I don't believe the NWMLS has approved electronic signatures, though. Anyone? Have I missed an update? It's amazing, but Seattle's MLS seems to be last to the party whenever a new techology is available.

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

DocuSign — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:19:54 -0000

Thank you for bringing your perspective about DocuSign, electronic signature, and weighing the benefits as well as considerations of adopting electronic signature for your business.

For brokerages and companies that don't yet accept electronic signature, we have been working together with various policy makers and influencers to understand their perspective on e-signature and provide them with information that they weren't aware of or hadn't considered. An example of this is: http://docusign.com/blog/20...

Thanks again for the great post :)

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

Rail Life — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:48:51 -0000

The service is invaluable in terms of time, paper trail, and integrety of the document. The old days of fax to agent, lender, title ending up with mush that you can't read is just one of many examples to think about.

Re: Should You Switch To Electronic Signatures?

Jay Thompson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:40:34 -0000

DocuSign rocks my world. Clients **love** it.

As for those that won't accept them, DocuSign will help educate them.