Scope of Authority
Specify exactly which actions the manager may take without owner approval (e.g., routine repairs up to $X, emergency remediation) and which require prior consent to avoid disputes over expenditure or lease terms.
A clear written agreement prevents disputes, establishes fiduciary and accounting expectations, and ensures regulatory compliance for property operations and tenant interactions. It also defines how income is collected, how expenses are allocated, and how decisions are escalated.
Typical participants include property owners, professional management companies, and investor representatives who need clear operational authority and reporting.
Parties should confirm signatory authority, relevant state rules, and whether notarization or witness signatures are required in their jurisdiction.
A property owner or investor signs to delegate management; should verify manager insurance, indemnities, and reporting cadence. Owners often reserve approval rights for major capital expenditures and lease concessions to protect investment value.
A licensed manager or management company signs to accept authority and responsibilities, including tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance oversight, and monthly financial reports. Managers should confirm compensation, termination notice, and limits on contractually binding the owner.
Specify exactly which actions the manager may take without owner approval (e.g., routine repairs up to $X, emergency remediation) and which require prior consent to avoid disputes over expenditure or lease terms.
Define management fees (percentage of gross rent or flat fee), reimbursable expenses, timing of payments, and any performance bonuses to align incentives and avoid ambiguity.
State the agreement start date, duration, renewal mechanics, and termination notice requirements including cause/for convenience clauses and post-termination duties.
Require monthly financial statements, bank reconciliation practices, inspection reports, and an agreed accounting standard for revenue recognition and reserves.
Set minimum insurance coverages, name the owner as additional insured when appropriate, and define indemnity obligations for negligence, misrepresentation, or third-party claims.
Include privacy, tenant law compliance, and record retention requirements; specify where originals are stored and the manager's duty to produce records on demand.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature Type | Visible e-signature with audit trail and timestamp |
| Authentication | Email link by default; add SMS or KBA for higher assurance |
| Document Format | PDF/A for archival; keep editable DOCX for internal drafts |
| Retention | Set access permissions and retention policy per corporate rules |
Choose a platform that supports the file formats, authentication levels, and retention policies you need for legal and operational compliance.
Match platform capabilities to your regulatory obligations (HIPAA, state notary rules) and to internal policies for access control and long-term archival.
Agreement begins on the stated MM/DD/YYYY; obligations and insurance requirements attach from this date.
Managers should deliver financial statements within 15 days of month end unless a different cadence is agreed.
Owner payment or accounting for net rents typically occurs monthly with specified cutoffs.
Commonly 30–90 days written notice for termination without cause; define for-cause remedies separately.
Provide certificates of insurance upon contract start and on renewal dates.
Ensure final document is printed or saved as the executed version for notarization and that all blanks are filled.
Signers must appear before the notary when an in-person notarization is used.
Signers must present government-issued photo ID per notary rules and platform authentication standards.
If jurisdiction requires witnesses, they must sign and provide printed names and addresses as specified.
Notary completes acknowledgment block, seals, and records entry in notary journal.
For RON, preserve audio-video record and identity-proofing artifacts per state requirements.
Return the fully executed, notarized copy to all parties and to any required registries.
Notary retains required journal entries and RON recordings for the statutory retention period.
| 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 trial | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | No cap | No cap | No cap |
Tim Martin used online execution to streamline portfolio management and compliance.
Optica adopted standardized agreements for consistency across assets.