I feel that it is important to ask your real estate agent when interviewing them is if they use electronic signatures.
I was introduced to Docusign by an Arizona real estate agent by the name of Tony Marriott in 2007. Docusign wasn’t as easy to use then as it is today. It has evolved into an amazing & easy platform (with it’s newest update being just this past Wednesday-ish). It is free for consumers to use but as an agent I have to pay for the service to have the capacity to upload and send you the documents that need signatures.
Docusign even has an overview tutorial for first time signing users to set up their signature and walk them through the program. The only thing that you need is an email address, web browser & internet access to complete the process!
Docusign eliminates the essentials of:
- Faxing
- Scanning
- Printing
- Driving to get signatures
The Docusign service saves on:
- Time
- Ink & Toner
- Paper
- Gas
I can save the files on my computer until we receive all signatures and have an executed contract!
We used to have problems with lenders accepting electronic signatures but now that the practice is widespread, many lenders will accept them. Now not every seller in the Las Vegas valley these days accepts electronic signatures. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not huge on these and they require originals often times with “wet” signatures. The beautiful thing is they also require the contract to be rewritten per their terms and conditions once we have an accepted offer so we would have to rewrite the contract anyhoo.
I was basically using docusign for out of state sellers & buyers and then it dawned on me. I had a file looking like this in the middle of the tax credit for first time buyers:
And now my files look like this:
Right now the Las Vegas real estate market is VERY squeezed for inventory. Many buyers end up writing multiple offers. Using electronic signing services, such as docusign, will get your offers in quicker than the others (even though sellers are taking their sweet time!) It will also help you, the consumer, save money driving to sign the contracts or printing/faxing/scanning to sign the contracts.
Real estate is becoming virtual very fast. When you are interviewing agents, you will want to make sure that they have the tools for you to propel you to a successful close!
Originally posted at: http://www.lasvegas-realestate-communities-homesforsale.com