Can this document be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

When is notarization required?

Notarization is required for recordable instruments in most states; witness counts vary. For deeds and certain powers of attorney, follow the state rules where the property is located.

What authentication should I use?

Use at least email verification with optional SMS code or knowledge-based authentication for higher-assurance transactions and to reduce fraud risk.

How do I fix a mistake after signing?

If an error is minor, execute an amendment signed by all parties. For substantive errors, consult counsel and avoid backdating or unilateral changes.

How long must I keep signed records?

Retain for at least three years after filing for tax purposes; HIPAA-covered documents require six years; real estate files are commonly kept seven years or more.

What if a signer has no email?

Use in-person signing with a witness or notary, or provide a kiosk/in-person signing option to capture a verifiable signature and audit trail.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Real estate
Real Estate Edge Engagement

Real Estate Edge Engagement

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

REAL ESTATE EDGE ENGAGEMENT

This Engagement Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into between Client Name: and Broker Name: . The parties agree to the terms set forth below relating to the property identified herein.

Property Identification

Property Address Parcel / APN Number Legal Description

Engagement and Scope of Services

Broker will provide the following services on behalf of Client as selected below. Broker's duties shall be performed in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with industry standards and applicable law.

Select Services (check all that apply)

Listing and marketing the property for sale or lease

Marketing strategy, advertising and signage

Negotiation of offers and contract coordination

Transaction management and closing coordination

Advisory and valuation services

Term

Engagement Start Date: Engagement End Date:

Compensation

Client agrees to compensate Broker as follows (select one or more as applicable). Compensation shall be earned as provided below and is non-refundable except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

Commission: % of gross sale price, payable at closing.

Flat fee: $ payable as follows:

Retainer: $ (credited against fees). Additional reimbursable costs:

If more than one compensation mechanism is selected, the parties agree that the primary compensation shall be:

Exclusivity and Authority

Exclusive right to market and sell the property Non-exclusive engagement

Client authorizes Broker to list the Property, place signage, advertise, engage cooperating brokers, and to perform such acts as reasonably necessary to effectuate marketing and sale. Client represents that Client is the lawful owner or has authority to retain Broker for the Property.

Marketing and Expenses

Broker may incur marketing and promotional expenses on Client's behalf. Client agrees to reimburse Broker for pre-approved expenses upon receipt of invoices. Broker shall obtain Client's prior written approval for any single expense exceeding $ .

Client Obligations

Client shall timely provide access to the Property, all known material facts and disclosures, keys and codes, and execute all documents reasonably necessary to complete the marketing and sale. Client warrants that Client will not knowingly withhold any material information concerning the Property.

Disclosures

For each item below, check the applicable box. Client must answer truthfully and is responsible for completing all statutory disclosures where required.

Lead-based paint (if property built before 1978): Yes No

Known mold or water intrusion: Yes No

Prior material structural or pest damage: Yes No

Confidentiality; Marketing Materials

Broker and Client agree that confidential financial information, offer terms, and non-public business information exchanged during the engagement shall be kept confidential, except as required to market the Property, to comply with law, or to consummate a transaction. Broker may use photographs, floor plans and descriptions of the Property in marketing materials unless Client provides written restrictions below.

Restrictions on marketing materials (if any)

Termination; Remedies

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party if the breach is not cured within seven (7) calendar days after written notice. Upon termination, Broker shall be entitled to reimbursement for costs incurred and, if termination is without cause by Client during an exclusive period, Broker shall be entitled to any fees specified in this Agreement if a transaction results from Broker's efforts within a period of time following termination as specified below:

Indemnification; Limitation of Liability

Client shall indemnify and hold Broker harmless from all claims, liabilities and expenses arising from Client's breach of representations, warranties, or failure to disclose material facts. Broker's liability for any claim arising out of this Agreement shall be limited to direct damages not exceeding the total compensation paid to Broker under this Agreement; in no event shall Broker be liable for punitive, special, indirect or consequential damages.

Dispute Resolution

The parties agree to attempt good faith negotiation of disputes. If unresolved within thirty (30) days, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered in the governing jurisdiction specified below, with each party bearing its own costs except as the arbitrator may award.

Governing Law; Entire Agreement

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state: . This Agreement, together with any attachments and exhibits signed by the parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations and understandings.

Notices

All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses below by email (where provided), personal delivery, or certified mail.

Client Notice Address Broker Notice Address

Additional Provisions

By signing below, Client and Broker acknowledge that they have read this Agreement, understand its terms, have authority to execute it, and agree to be bound thereby. Any person signing on behalf of an entity represents and warrants they are duly authorized to bind that entity.

Client:

By:

Date:

Broker:

By:

Date:

What the Real Estate Edge Engagement document is

The Real Estate Edge Engagement is a written agreement that documents the scope, responsibilities, and authorization for real estate services or transactions. It formalizes the working relationship between parties — for example, broker and client, property manager and owner, or listing agent and seller — and captures key terms such as services provided, effective date, compensation, and deliverables. The document is often used to start marketing, listing, leasing, or transaction-related workflows and is frequently combined with disclosures, authorization forms, and identification documents required by state law.

Why this engagement matters for real estate transactions

A clear engagement reduces ambiguity about duties, commissions, and timelines, creates an enforceable record of consent, and helps prevent disputes over scope and payment.

Typical parties who complete a Real Estate Edge Engagement

The document is completed by parties who need a formal service agreement for a real estate matter.

Brokers and agents — Establish agency relationship, commission terms, and listing or buyer representation duties.
Property managers and owners — Define management scope, fees, maintenance responsibilities, and reporting cadence.
Title companies and lenders — Confirm engagement terms for title services, escrow handling, or loan-related deliverables.

It is also used by counterparties who must verify authority, payment terms, and service expectations before work begins.

Real-world examples of how firms use the engagement

These brief examples show typical outcomes when the engagement is used to replace or supplement paper workflows.

Martin Properties — Tim Martin

A regional brokerage moved lease execution and tenant paperwork online to reduce in-person appointments and speed closings.

Signatures completed remotely on mobile and desktop.
"I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security. Whether on mobile or working offline, I can get forms back to their necessary parties efficiently."

Optica Ventures — Brian Fitzgibbons

A small investment firm standardized engagement terms for acquisitions and property management mandates to reduce negotiation time.

Templates ensured consistent clauses across deals.
"The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers."

Step-by-step: completing the Real Estate Edge Engagement

Follow these sequential steps to prepare and execute a complete, legally defensible engagement.

01

1. Identify parties: Enter full legal names and company entities.
02

2. Define scope: Describe services, exclusions, and deliverables clearly.
03

3. Set compensation: State fees, commissions, and payment timing.
04

4. Sign and date: Collect signatures, dates, and notarization if required.

Recommended online workflow configuration

Configure your e-sign workflow to match the document's signing order and authentication needs.

Field	Configuration
Signing Order	Set role-based sequential signing to enforce agent, client, and title order.
Authentication	Require email plus SMS code for higher-assurance signers.
Notifications	Enable reminders and completion alerts for all parties.
Audit Trail	Capture IP, timestamps, and action logs for every signer.

Typical electronic signing flow for the engagement

A standard online signing process reduces friction while preserving evidence of signer intent and attribution.

Upload document: Sender uploads the draft engagement file.
Place fields: Add signature, initials, date, and optional conditional fields.
Send to signers: Generate email links or direct signer invites.
Capture audit: System logs timestamps, IPs, and completion certificate.

Digital signing and system requirements

Use a platform that supports secure eSigning, audit trails, and required integrations.

File formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Integrations: CRM and cloud storage
Authentication: Email, SMS, or KBA

Typical eSignature vendor comparison for Real Estate workflows

Price and feature availability vary by plan; signNow is listed first to show a representative baseline for common capabilities.

	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	Yes, 7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes (Premium tier)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA available)	Yes	Yes	No	No

Penalties and risks if the engagement is incorrect

Recording Rejection: Delay or refusal of county recording; additional fees

Tax Penalties: Backup withholding or IRC §6721 fines for incorrect reporting

I-9 Errors: Civil fines per DHS for improper employment verification

Notary Omissions: Deeds or instruments deemed invalid without proper acknowledgement

Contract Disputes: Ambiguous scope increases litigation risk and costs

Privacy Breach: HIPAA or state privacy fines if PHI improperly handled

Security and compliance features relevant to engagement records

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

At-Rest: AES-256 encryption at rest

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001

Regulatory: ESIGN, UETA compliance

Healthcare: HIPAA compliant with BAA

Audit Trail: Tamper-evident logs and timestamps

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the engagement

Using informal or incomplete party names that do not match legal documents, which delays title or escrow processes.
Omitting exact compensation terms or formulas, creating disputes over commission splits or management fees.
Failing to include notarization or witness blocks when state law requires them for recordable instruments.
Sending unsigned or improperly initialed agreements; initials alone are often insufficient to indicate full consent.

Frequently asked questions about the Real Estate Edge Engagement

Answers to common questions about enforceability, eSigning, notarization, and corrections for the engagement form.

Need help? Contact support

Can this document be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
When is notarization required?
Notarization is required for recordable instruments in most states; witness counts vary. For deeds and certain powers of attorney, follow the state rules where the property is located.
What authentication should I use?
Use at least email verification with optional SMS code or knowledge-based authentication for higher-assurance transactions and to reduce fraud risk.
How do I fix a mistake after signing?
If an error is minor, execute an amendment signed by all parties. For substantive errors, consult counsel and avoid backdating or unilateral changes.
How long must I keep signed records?
Retain for at least three years after filing for tax purposes; HIPAA-covered documents require six years; real estate files are commonly kept seven years or more.
What if a signer has no email?
Use in-person signing with a witness or notary, or provide a kiosk/in-person signing option to capture a verifiable signature and audit trail.

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