Georgia Real Estate Voice

Going Paperless, using electronic signatures with DocuSign and EchoSign - As a Real Estate agent in Decatur GA, it seems that we have more and more documents that need to be signed. By the time a transaction closes, we can easily have 100 pages or more printed and faxed back and forth, from listing agreements to disclosures to purchase and sale agreements to counter offers and amendments. Managing the paper can be a lot to handle and a lot to store. I decided that there had to be a better way and there is. 

I checked out 2 different electronic signature companies, DocuSign and EchoSign. I have now tried them both. Here's my comparison of the 2.

Docusign

• Limit of 40 envelopes per month. An envelope is the same as an email basically.
• No fax option as of yet, that option is said to be coming 9/18/09.
• Easy to use and for clients to use
• Cost $15.95 a month 40 envelopes
• Sign using mobile phone
• 30 day free trial

 Echosign

• Option for people to print, sign and then fax it back to keep it in the online folder on Echosign
• Easy to use and for clients to use
• Cost $14.95 a month for unlimited signatures
• No limit on the amount of emails or envelopes
• Sign using your mobile phone.
• Free account that limits you to 5 free documents a month.

 Check out EchoSign  Check out DocuSign

I first tried EchoSign with my client who lives in Washington DC. I manage his property in Tucker, GA. The tenants called and said they wanted to extend their lease. I contacted my client in DC. I sent an extension via email through EchoSign to the tenants, they signed off electronically and it was forwarded to my Client in Washington, DC, he signed off on it and it was automatically forwarded to me. I clicked sign and then a fully executed signed agreement was sent to all the parties involved. It took a total of 30.5 minutes. EchoSign keeps track of the time for you. That was pretty amazing. I didn't have to drive anywhere to get it signed or wait for a fax to come in or keep sending anything to multiple parties.

The next day I tried DocuSign with a Buyer Client. The whole transaction has been done paperless except for the Buyers Broker Agreement that I brought with me when we went to look at the house. My client didn't need to have a scanner or a printer or a fax. All she needed was internet access. It has saved a tremendous amount of time and paper. The contracts are clear and not fuzzy from being faxed back and forth. You put the "signature" boxes where they need to go on the document by dragging and dropping it in place. Your client sees the "sign here" yellow tabs and that's where they know to click.

Last night I sent off a 14 page offer through DocuSign to another Buyer client. He commented that even his mom thought it was cool. Just think if I had to print that document, send it to my client for him to print, then he signs it and faxes it back to me that's already 42 pages! By the time I send it to the listing agent it used up 56 pieces of paper. They send to their client, add 14, their client sends it back add 14 and then the listing agent sends back to me there we are at 84 pages and we have hardly started! Whew! Tired yet??? With an electronic signature, there is nothing to print and everyone gets a clean copy.

I have been using the electronic signatures for about 2 weeks now on 6 different transactions. My clients love that it's easy to use.  (They knew they were my guinea pigs in my test. ) I haven't been able to use it on my short sales yet because the banks I'm dealing with aren't taking documents via email. That's a story for another post.  The other great part about an electronic signature company is that you can access your documents from anywhere you have computer access. Using an electronic signature makes it easy for home sellers, home buyers and real estate agents. It's a beautiful thing!

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in or around Decatur, GA contact local expert and Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners at 404-456-5024.

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.  Search Search Decatur GA homes for Sale