Can I sign this electronically?

Yes in most cases: ESIGN (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA (1999) treat electronic signatures as legally valid where not excluded by statute. Ensure any consumer disclosures required by 15 U.S.C. §7001(c) are provided when consumer-facing rights are involved.

Is notarization required?

Not always. Notarization depends on state and recording needs; deeds and some recorded documents generally require a notary. Check your local recorder or notary commission for jurisdiction-specific rules before relying on electronic notarization.

Who must sign the agreement?

Authorized representatives of each contracting party must sign. For entities, use an officer or other person with delegated authority and record their title to ensure enforceability and proper attribution.

How do I update the agreement after execution?

Amendments should be written, signed by same authorized parties, dated, and attached as an exhibit to the original. Minor administrative corrections can be initialed by all parties to avoid ambiguity.

How long must I keep the executed agreement?

Retain the agreement for the full active term plus an adequate post-termination period. IRS guidance generally recommends three years for tax records (IRC §6501(a)); HIPAA records require six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)) if PHI is implicated.

Can a signer revoke consent to electronic records?

Yes for many consumer-facing transactions if the ESIGN consumer disclosure applies; the party seeking to withdraw must follow the consent withdrawal procedures specified in the disclosure and the agreement.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Real estate
Real Estate Alteration Agreement

Real Estate Alteration Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

REAL ESTATE ALTERATION AGREEMENT

This Real Estate Alteration Agreement (Agreement) is entered into as of by and between Owner: and Contractor: . This Agreement sets forth the terms under which Contractor shall perform alterations to the Property described below.

Parties

Owner Full Legal Name Owner Contact Address Owner Phone / Email Contractor Full Legal Name Contractor Business Address Contractor Phone / Email / License No.

Property Identification

Property Address (Subject of Alteration) Parcel / APN Number Legal Description

Scope of Work

Contractor shall perform the alteration work described in the Plans and Specifications attached as Exhibit A and as further described below. Contractor warrants that all work will be performed in a good and workmanlike manner and in compliance with all applicable building codes, laws, and regulations.

Detailed Scope of Work

Permits, Approvals and Plans

Responsibility for obtaining all necessary permits, inspections and approvals: Owner: Contractor: . The party obtaining permits shall provide copies of permits and final approvals to the other party promptly upon receipt.

Schedule

Commencement Date: . Substantial Completion Date: . Time is of the essence; Contractor shall pursue completion diligently subject to permitted delays.

Price and Payment Terms

Total Contract Price Deposit / Earnest Money Retainage (Percentage) Payment Schedule / Milestones

Final payment is contingent upon completion of work, delivery of lien waivers for all subcontractors and suppliers for work through final payment, and written acceptance by Owner after final inspection.

Changes in Work

Any change in the Scope of Work or Contract Price shall be made only by a written Change Order signed by Owner and Contractor specifying changes in work, adjustments to contract price, and any extension of time.

Hazardous Materials; Disclosures

Presence of known hazardous materials (including lead-based paint, asbestos, mold) on the Property: Lead-based paint: Yes No ; Mold: Yes No . If any Yes box is checked, describe and allocate responsibility below.

Description of Known Hazardous Conditions (if any)

Insurance, Bonds and Indemnity

Contractor shall, at Contractor's expense, maintain commercial general liability, workers' compensation, and automobile liability insurance with minimum limits as required by law or as set forth in Exhibit B. Contractor shall name Owner as an additional insured where applicable and provide certificates of insurance prior to commencement of work. Contractor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Owner from claims arising out of Contractor's performance except to the extent caused by Owner's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Warranties

Contractor warrants the workmanship of the alteration for a period of months from final acceptance. Manufacturer warranties for materials shall be assigned to Owner to the extent transferable.

Inspections and Acceptance

Owner shall inspect the work within a reasonable period following written notice of substantial completion. If Owner identifies nonconforming work, Contractor shall promptly correct such work at Contractor's expense prior to final payment.

Liens, Releases and Final Payment

Contractor shall not permit liens to be recorded against the Property for work performed. Contractor shall provide conditional or unconditional lien waivers from Contractor and its subcontractors and suppliers as applicable upon receipt of each progress payment and final payment.

Default, Termination and Remedies

If either party materially breaches this Agreement and fails to cure within 10 days after written notice, the non-breaching party may terminate this Agreement and pursue available remedies at law or in equity, including specific performance and damages. Termination shall be subject to entitlement to payment for work performed and costs incurred consistent with this Agreement.

Governing Law; Entire Agreement

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state in which the Property is located. This Agreement, including any exhibits and approved Change Orders, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior discussions, proposals and agreements, whether written or oral.

Notices

All notices shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth below (or such other address as a party may designate in writing) by certified mail, courier or personal delivery.

Notice Address for Owner Notice Address for Contractor

Attachments and Exhibits

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference: Exhibit A — Plans and Specifications; Exhibit B — Insurance Requirements; Exhibit C — Payment Schedule / Milestones; and all executed Change Orders.

Additional Terms or Special Conditions

Owner (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

Contractor (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

What the Real Estate Alteration Agreement Covers

A Real Estate Alteration Agreement is a written contract that records consent, scope, and responsibilities when a tenant, contractor, or licensee makes physical changes to a property owned by another party. It typically identifies permitted alterations, required permits and inspections, cost allocation, who owns improvements, restoration obligations at lease end, insurance and indemnity requirements, and consequences for noncompliance. The agreement can be executed on paper or electronically where permitted; ESIGN (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA (1999) generally recognize electronic execution for commercial and many intrastate transactions.

Why documenting alterations matters

A clear Alteration Agreement reduces dispute risk by allocating costs, approvals, and restoration duties, ensures compliance with building codes and lease rules, and creates an enforceable record of consent and timing for inspections and lien avoidance.

Common parties who prepare or sign this agreement

All parties benefit from a signed agreement that ties approvals to permits, insurance, and an enforceable timeline.

Property owners and landlords — protect property value and control permitted changes under lease terms.
Commercial or residential tenants — secure written approval for desired alterations and clarify restoration obligations.
Contractors and subcontractors — confirm scope, payment responsibility, insurance, and lien waiver expectations.

Step-by-step: completing a Real Estate Alteration Agreement

Follow these steps to prepare, review, and execute a clear alteration agreement before work begins.

01

Draft scope: Describe work, materials, and location in clear terms.
02

Assign responsibilities: Specify who obtains permits, pays costs, and insures the work.
03

Review compliance: Confirm building code and lease requirements are met.
04

Execute and retain: Have authorized signers sign and keep the contract on file.

Real-world examples of how these agreements are used

Two concise examples show common scenarios and how the agreement reduces risk.

Retail Tenant Remodel

A storefront tenant requests interior demolition to update layout.

Landlord requires licensed contractor and permit proof.
The agreement assigns permit responsibility to tenant, requires restoration at lease end, and specifies a fixed restoration allowance, preventing later disputes over restoration scope.

Residential Balcony Upgrade

A tenant proposes installing composite decking on a balcony.

Owner requires engineering sign-off and contractor insurance.
The agreement mandates owner approval of materials, contractor liability insurance, inspection before occupancy, and clear restoration terms if the lease terminates early.

Essential clauses to include in the agreement

Include these six elements to make the Alteration Agreement operational and enforceable across jurisdictions.

Scope

Precise work description, drawings or exhibits attached, approval thresholds for change orders, and excluded work to prevent scope creep and disputes.

Permits

Who obtains permits, timeline for filing, responsibility for fees, and requirement to provide permit copies and final approvals to owner.

Insurance

Minimum insurance types and limits, named additional insured where required, and obligation to provide certificates before work starts.

Restoration

Whether tenant must restore to original condition at lease end, exceptions for approved permanent improvements, and acceptable restoration standards.

Payment and Liens

Who pays contractors, schedule of payments, and requirement for lien waivers to prevent encumbrances on title.

Compliance and Indemnity

Requirement to follow codes, indemnify owner for damages, and remedy defective work within stated cure periods.

Security and legal compliance elements to record

ESIGN / UETA: Record electronic consent

Audit trail: Capture timestamps and signer IP

Encryption: TLS in transit, AES-256 at rest

Access controls: Role-based signer permissions

HIPAA BAA: Required if PHI is included

Retention policy: Store per regulatory requirements

Common preparation and execution mistakes to avoid

Vague scope language that omits materials or exact locations, leading to disputes over whether work falls inside the agreement.
Failing to require permits or verify the contractor will obtain them before work begins, risking code violations and fines.
Omitting insurance or additional insured requirements, leaving owners exposed to third-party claims for accidents or property damage.
Not securing contractor lien waivers or payment schedules, which can result in mechanic’s liens against the property.

Typical routing and approval workflow

A straightforward electronic workflow reduces delays: prepare, assign reviewers, collect signatures, and archive signed copies.

Prepare: Upload document and place fields.
Review: Owner or property manager checks technical details.
Sign: All parties sign via accepted method.
Archive: Store final PDF with audit trail.

Suggested digital workflow settings for e-signature

Configure these fields to support a secure, auditable signing process for the agreement.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email link or SMS code for signer verification
Signing Order	Sequential: owner first, tenant second, contractor last
Attachments	Include permit PDFs and drawings as exhibits
Retention	Retain executed copy and audit log for required period

Technical considerations for electronic completion

Proper configuration ensures signatures are attributable, records are reproducible, and any required notices or consents are captured during signing.

File formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Integrations: CRM and cloud storage connectors
Compliance: ESIGN, UETA, HIPAA options

Key timeframes to include and monitor

Specify clear deadlines for permit procurement, start and completion of work, inspections, and restoration to reduce disputes.

Permit Filing Deadline:

Submit permit application within 30 days of approval or as stated.

Owner Approval Period:

Owner responds to alteration requests within 10 business days.

Work Start Window:

Begin work within 60 days after permit issuance or specified date.

Inspection Schedule:

Schedule required inspections as per local building department.

Restoration Deadline:

Complete restoration within 30 days of lease termination unless otherwise agreed.

Penalties and legal risks for noncompliance

Permit Violations: Fines and stop-work orders

Mechanic’s Liens: Unpaid contractors can encumber title

Insurance Gaps: Claims may be denied if uninsured

Code Noncompliance: Remediation costs and legal liability

Lease Default: Breach may lead to eviction or damages

Delay Damages: Lost rent or project cost increases

eSignature pricing and feature snapshot for document execution

Comparison of starting prices and key features relevant to signing and managing Real Estate Alteration Agreements; signNow is listed first per vendor ordering rules.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Bulk Send	Yes (premium tier)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year cap	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently asked questions about execution and enforceability

Answers to common questions about signing, notarization, and legal effects of Real Estate Alteration Agreements.

Need help? Contact support

Can I sign this electronically?
Yes in most cases: ESIGN (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA (1999) treat electronic signatures as legally valid where not excluded by statute. Ensure any consumer disclosures required by 15 U.S.C. §7001(c) are provided when consumer-facing rights are involved.
Is notarization required?
Not always. Notarization depends on state and recording needs; deeds and some recorded documents generally require a notary. Check your local recorder or notary commission for jurisdiction-specific rules before relying on electronic notarization.
Who must sign the agreement?
Authorized representatives of each contracting party must sign. For entities, use an officer or other person with delegated authority and record their title to ensure enforceability and proper attribution.
How do I update the agreement after execution?
Amendments should be written, signed by same authorized parties, dated, and attached as an exhibit to the original. Minor administrative corrections can be initialed by all parties to avoid ambiguity.
How long must I keep the executed agreement?
Retain the agreement for the full active term plus an adequate post-termination period. IRS guidance generally recommends three years for tax records (IRC §6501(a)); HIPAA records require six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)) if PHI is implicated.
Can a signer revoke consent to electronic records?
Yes for many consumer-facing transactions if the ESIGN consumer disclosure applies; the party seeking to withdraw must follow the consent withdrawal procedures specified in the disclosure and the agreement.

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