Parties and Authority
Identify each party with full legal name and indicate the authority for entity signers; attach corporate resolutions or POAs when needed to confirm signatory power and avoid later disputes.
A well-drafted Commitment reduces ambiguity on price, deadlines, and conditions, protecting parties and supporting enforcement. It establishes who must act by when, documents consideration and contingencies, and creates a reliable record for closing, title work, and potential disputes.
Each participant should verify authority to sign and include any required attestations, notarizations, or witness statements per state law.
A corporate officer or authorized agent signs on behalf of an entity; include a corporate resolution or power of attorney if authority is not readily apparent.
An individual signs using their full legal name as it appears on ID; mismatched names can delay recording or trigger requests for corrective affidavits.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signer Order | Sequential or parallel routing per contract |
| Authentication | Email link, SMS code, or KBA |
| Required Fields | Make signatures, dates, and price mandatory |
| Audit Trail | Enable IP, timestamp, and action logs |
Ensure the selected platform provides a robust audit trail and supports the export formats required by your counterparties and county recorder.
Identify each party with full legal name and indicate the authority for entity signers; attach corporate resolutions or POAs when needed to confirm signatory power and avoid later disputes.
Provide both the street address and recorded legal description or parcel ID to ensure accurate title search, recording, and mapping at the county recorder’s office.
State the purchase price, earnest money amounts, and any seller credits or closing cost allocations to remove ambiguity about monetary obligations at closing.
Detail financing, inspection, appraisal, and zoning contingencies with explicit deadlines and cure periods so each party can track obligations and triggers for termination or extension.
List the intended closing date, escrow instructions, who pays recording fees, and the county or jurisdiction where deeds and mortgages will be recorded.
Include signature blocks for each party, space for notary or witness details when required, and a statement about electronic execution if the document will be e-signed under ESIGN/UETA.
Often 7–14 days from Effective Date; define exact calendar date or day count.
Set a concrete date for lender approval to avoid financing uncertainty.
Specify a calendar date and time or a range and responsibilities for delays.
State when deed/mortgage will be recorded after closing and who pays fees.
Define due date for deposit and conditions for release or forfeiture.
Determine if the document requires notarization or witnesses under state law.
Decide between in-person notarization or Remote Online Notarization if the state permits.
Use acceptable ID checks; RON requires credential analysis and MFA.
Ensure required witnesses sign in the notary’s presence when state law dictates.
For RON, retain the full A/V recording per state RON rules.
Record notarial act details in the notary’s journal as required.
Include the notary acknowledgment block and any self-proving affidavit if available.
Retain notarization and witness records per state retention rules.
Tim Martin required full remote execution for multiple residential closings.
A small investment firm centralized Commitment approvals to speed acquisitions.
| Document Type | Primary Purpose | Typical Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Commitment | record obligations | pre-closing |
| Purchase Agreement | set purchase terms | pre-closing |
| Letter of Intent | non-binding summary | early negotiations |
| Title Commitment | title insurer terms | after title search |
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial, no card | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor |
| Bulk Send | Yes (Business Premium+) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |