We’re excited to announce that zipLogix, the leading electronic real estate forms provider, integrated DocuSign e-signature service within the latest release of zipLogix zipForm® 6. A new online forms product for real estate professionals, zipForm® 6 allows real estate professionals to subscribe to and easily deploy DocuSign directly from within the zipForm® 6 application. zipForm® 6 offers users unparalleled convenience with a library of pre-tagged real estate forms by state, readymade to send with DocuSign for electronic signature. Partners in the National Association of REALTORS® REALTOR Benefits® Program, DocuSign and zipLogix have joined forces to help real estate professionals save time and greatly simplify the real estate contract signing process, increase client satisfaction and accelerate deal close rates.

Walt McDonald, chairman at zipLogix, shares his thoughts about the benefits of the zipLogix and DocuSign integration:

Given this tough economic climate, real estate professionals are looking for a competitive advantage that delivers immediate business benefits. zipLogix electronic forms are convenient and a real time saver for real estate professionals. DocuSign offers fast, easy and secure eSignature services. Now with DocuSign integrated within zipForm® 6, our members can leverage the benefits of zipForm® 6 and DocuSign in one, convenient application.

DocuSign and zipLogix® 6 eSignature Solution At-a-Glance

zipLogix electronic real estate forms are pre-tagged with convenient DocuSign Sign Here and Initial Here tabs. Users access the form and simply deploy DocuSign within zipForm 6.

Figure 1. Creating a DocuSign eSign account is quick and easy from within zipForm® 6.

Volumes of real estate forms, including lengthy disclosures, are pre-tagged for quick electronic sending and signing. Real estate professionals click the DocuSign button and clients receive an email notification, adopt an e-signature and complete the forms in minutes. Plus, with DocuSign, the e-signing process is even easier and faster with DocuSign’s Designed for Mobile capabilities, which provides clients the ability to sign anytime and anywhere from any mobile device including Apple® iPhone® or iPad®, RIM® BlackBerry®, Google® AndroidTM and Windows Mobile®. Using zipLogix and DocuSign offers a competitive advantage over slow, traditional printing, faxing and ink signing methods.

Figure 2. Pre-Tagged Forms Library provide an advantage to zipForm® users: signatures are automatically inserted into real estate forms on the correct signature lines to coincide with their role in the sales process. As shown in Figure 2, Seller Two is aligned with the Seller Two signature line. Signers and tabs are color coordinated to provide clearly defined correct signature placement of all signing roles in the transaction.

zipLogix will offer pre-tagged real estate forms for 41 states. Initial rollout of zipForm® 6 will include the integration of DocuSign and the pre-tagged forms library for the states of Arizona, California, Texas and Georgia. Dave Thorpe, business development director at DocuSign, shares his thoughts on our partnership with zipLogix:

By accelerating the signing process, DocuSign provides a competitive advantage to close deals faster. DocuSign saves real estate professionals hours of time and provides their clients with anywhere, anytime e-signing convenience. This partnership between DocuSign and zipLogix offers a significant game changing tool for real estate professionals to succeed in a volatile market.

More than 20,000 real estate professionals have used DocuSign to accelerate their business, with thousands more subscribing each month. DocuSign real estate subscribers achieve higher sales, increase client satisfaction and maintain a competitive edge. Rather than driving across town to get a signature or inconveniencing clients to find a fax machine, real estate professionals use DocuSign to execute agreements with buyers and sellers electronically, eliminating the old process of printing, faxing and waiting for the return fax. As more than 95 percent of home buyers have Internet access, but less than 10 percent have fax service in their homes, DocuSign saves agents time and money while providing client convenience. Clients can electronically sign real estate forms using any Web browser, and documents are legally binding, backed by a comprehensive audit trail.

Electronic Signature Pricing and Availability

Pricing and additional product information can be found on the DocuSign Web site by clicking here.

To view a demonstration of the product, visit the DocuSign booth #816 or zipLogix booth #1801 at the 2010 REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., May 12-14, 2010.

iPipeline streamlined the policy delivery process to eliminate errors and automate sales distribution. DocuSign provides a fast, safe and secure e-signing tool to complete the final stretch of the e-Policy process. Adding DocuSign to our interactive e-Policy Solution offers carriers, distributors and producers a rich, easy-to-use tool that will simplify the workflow process and allow the consumer to easily sign electronically. We view DocuSign eSignature technology as a vehicle for increasing success in a highly-competitive environment and look forward to working with the DocuSign team.

By using iPipeline’s Network and e-Policy solution with DocuSign, carriers, distributors and producers can streamline the final leg of the insurance policy sales cycle with a cost-efficient, fast and secure online eSignature process. Twenty-five insurance carriers have already deployed iPipeline’s iGO e-App^TM, an intelligent fillable forms solution that safely and securely manages the online insurance application process. Once iGO e-App is 100 percent in “good order,” the carrier begins the underwriting process and issues an e-Policy for signature.

Via iPipeline’s Network, carriers can easily access DocuSign’s eSignature service, drag and drop familiar yellow Sign Here tabs and data fields within the policy, and send it electronically. An email notification is sent through the agent to the consumer announcing that the e-Policy is ready for e-Signature. The consumer is authenticated, adopts an eSignature, e-signs and completes the policy. Once completed, the new policyholder, agent and carrier receive an email notification with a link to the signed executed policy.

The illustration above depicts the iPipeline portal where consumers are easily guided by DocuSign’s familiar yellow Sign Here tabs and data fields to finalize the ePolicy signing process.

Steve King, president and CEO of DocuSign shares his thoughts about how next-generation technology can grow a business in a cost-effective manner:

In this economic environment, employing next-generation technology is the most cost-effective method to grow a business. This partnership leverages the best technology— iPipeline’s Network and DocuSign’s electronic signature service—to fulfill policies faster, safer and more efficiently. We look forward to working with iPipeline to further streamline business processes, reduce costs and ensure the continued success of its customers.

With six scheduled demos, many more impromptu one-on-one demos, questions about “Designed for Mobile”, and forms compatibility, I’ve pulled together some thoughts to share:

1. How do I get DocuSign on my mobile phone?

DocuSign “Designed for Mobile” comes with your subscription to DocuSign – there are no apps to download! It works for Apple iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and Google Android. With electronic signature “Designed for Mobile,” eSign is faster and easier for customers to complete transactions while on the go.

You and your clients can now view and e-sign documents on your handheld device and see a new status console optimized for mobile browsers.

2. Will DocuSign work with my forms?

We’ve partnered with many of the real estate forms providers, including zipLogix (zipForm® and WINForms®), Realfast (Realfast2Go™), IRES, Reveal Systems (TrueForms), LPS Real Estate Group which includes TransactionPoint and DocCentral – click here to learn more about our partners.

You can also DocuSign documents created in Adobe (PDF’s), MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint as well.

3. How do I get started with DocuSign and electronic signature?

You can sign up on the DocuSign web site. Once you’ve signed up, take a look at our subscriber resources:

• Sign up for a Live Interactive Training webinar for eSignature
• Browse our DocuSign Electronic Signature forums, which are online discussions of DocuSign features, how-to’s, product announcements and more.
• Watch our How-To videos, including “Sending and signing a Lead-Based Pain Disclosure using DocuSign”, “Sending from zipForm 6 and DocuSign”, “How to add another real estate agent as a carbon copy recipient” and more. Take a look to see if there’s a video that addresses your question!
• Read our blog and suggest post ideas in the comments

With a 30-Day Free Trial, you can experience the power of securely sending, signing and storing documents with DocuSign.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth at NAR – keep an eye on the blog for an exciting post-NAR announcement for those of you who stopped by!

The Social Media and Technology Symposium was designed to teach over 200 real estate professionals how to effectively utilize marketing and social media strategies and current technology to promote themselves and enhance their business.

DocuSign presented an hour long session to introduce DocuSign electronic signature solutions. Doug Rybacki, DocuSign’s Director of Product Management, presented to 60 attendees which included real estate professionals who also use zipForm or WINForms.

Some common questions Doug was asked included “How does the signature get in there?” as well as “How do I sign up?”

How to Sign Up:

Just go to the DocuSign real estate web site and click the “Buy Now” button.

You can also go to the DouSign and zipLogix site at click “Buy Now” as well if you use zipForm or WINForms.

How the Signature Gets In There:

First, the sender creates an envelope and uploads the documents for signature. The sender addresses the envelope with the signer’s name and email address.

Then DocuSign sends the signer an email notifying them they have documents to be signed.

The signer clicks on the secure link, authenticates himself or herself into the system and goes through a process to adopt an electronic signature.

Advanced Functionality

Some hot topics in electronic signature included Anchor Tabs and Templates. These features make the process of tagging a document so easy. Anchor tabs can drop initial for a buyer on each of a 10 page purchase agreement in all the correct places at the correct size. Templates enable you save even more time if you tend to send the same types of documents to your various clients.

If you missed DocuSign at the Citrus Valley Social Media and Technology Symposium, you can catch us in San Diego at RE Bar Camp San Diego on November 12th and at REALTORS(s) Conference & EXPO 2009 November 13th – 16th.

• We kicked off October with our Fall Release, bringing additional powerful functionality to DocuSign’s electronic signature services. Key features include Designed for Mobile, Sign on Paper (Mixed Mode Signing), Request Documents, Fix on the Fly, Resizable Electronic Signatures and more
• Stories about fast tracking sales, increasing access to working capital, or cutting costs and accelerating workflow with DocuSign for Salesforce
• Time Saving Tips to help you take advantage of workflow rules and Advanced features and tips on how to integrate DocuSign with your forms creation software – zipForms, WINForms, Adobe and others
• A presentation by Ken Moyle, DocuSign’s Chief Legal Officer, about the Legality of Electronic Signatures in Real Estate. Ken gave this presentation at the California Association of Realtors EXPO (CAR EXPO) to share some key information
• DocuSign Lite, a free electronic signature service that lets you try the power of electronic signature without account creation or a credit card

Next month, we have more up our sleeves – you’ll have to check in with us in-person at NAR EXPO, RE BarCamp San Diego, or Dreamforce. Otherwise, you can always check in with us via this blog, Twitter, or Facebook!

For Windows:

For purposes of this discussion, I’ll use WINForms in this example. However, the steps are similar for the other forms creation software tools.

The virtual print driver allows DocuSign to communicate directly with WINForms.

To download the virtual print driver:

1. Go to the sender download page on the DocuSign web site
2. Click on the blue Download button underneath the top option, Download DocuSign Professional Standard
3. Select “Run” when prompted to save or run
4. After the driver completes its download, it will automatically launch the installer

Once the installer is finished installing the DocuSign virtual print driver, you’ll be able to upload documents directly from WINForms into a DocuSign Envelope.

To use the print driver:

1. Open the document you want to send for esignature via DocuSign
2. Go to File
3. Select Print
4. Select the printer: “Send in DocuSign Envelope”

If your computer gives you a message indicating that your .NET framework needs to be upgraded before the driver can be properly installed, here’s what you do:

1. Click here to download the necessary .NET framework
2. Click download
3. .NET framework downloads and launches an installer that automatically replaces the older version on your computer

You can now download the DocuSign virtual print driver properly. If you’re using Firefox, you can download the .exe file and then open it directly from your computer.

Want to see how to use zipForm 6 / WINForms with DocuSign? Click this link to see more training videos.

Commitment issues – some of us are more commitment-phobic than others. What if you like the idea of electronic signature, but aren’t sure if you want to commit to it yet? What if change makes you uncomfortable?

Both perspectives are valid. If you’re concerned about cost, electronic signature starts at $15.95/month with a pre-paid annual subscription. If you’re concerned about commitment, you have a 30-day money back guarantee. You don’t even have to install software! If you have special needs, such as integration with existing software platforms or workflow capabilities, you can speak with one of our account managers or professional services folks about how DocuSign’s electronic signature service might best suit your needs.

DocuSign for Real Estate already integrates with the major real estate forms providers and software services such as zipForm, WINForm, Realfast, IRES, TrueForms, TransactionPoint and DocCentral.

If you really want to try before you buy, take a look at DocuSign Express for Drawloop. You can use electronic signature without registration or account creation. You can also use DocuSign Express for Drawloop in a variety of ways – from the web, from the iGoogle gadget, or from the Mozilla Firefox browser plug-in. DocuSign for Drawloop is a “lite” offering, so you can get a taste of life with electronic signature. With a subscription to DocuSign Electronic Signature, you’ll be able to take advantage of additional features, such as:

• DocuSign’s document dashboard, enabling you to manage your digital documents for signature
• Multiple signers and documents per envelope
• More envelopes each month
• Additional options, such as workflow capabilities, custom branding, templates, etc.

One reason you might be uncomfortable with change is that the paperless electronic signature process is unknown. DocuSign provides its users with resources such as:

• “How-to” and demo videos to learn more about using DocuSign
• Blog posts to provide a more in-depth perspective on electronic signature and DocuSign’s services
• Forums to engage in discussion about electronic signature features, workflow and other questions and suggestions
• Live Chat help when you can’t find the question to your answer anywhere else

Why not give electronic signature a try? With a 30-day money back guarantee as well as several options to try ESIGN for free via DocuSign, you really have nothing to lose and quite a bit to gain, such as time savings, convenience, and increased customer satisfaction.

The team over at Bloodhound Realty “get it” – as early adopters of technology, including electronic signature, they’ve realized that their offers have to be first, fastest and best so that their clients can get their dream homes.

To achieve these goals, they leverage the following technologies:

Apple MacBook Pro, with software to do contracts anywhere, as quickly as possible
• zipForm®, from Arizona Association of Realtors
• DocuSign, with zipForm® integration, enables Bloodhound Realty to capture signatures online, as electronic signatures

For example, they can pull out a purchase and sale agreement in zipForm® and write-up the offer and send via DocuSign for electronic signature right from the kitched of the home their buyers want to make an offer on. Mrs. Buyer might be elsewhere – at her mother’s, at the grocery store… while Mr. Buyer is traveling for business.

With DocuSign’s sequential signing feature, the Bloodhound Realty agent can set up the document in DocuSign’s electronic signature and online contract execution dashboard for the buyers to sign. That complete package is then forwarded to the listing agent via the CC: feature, where everyone who is designated as a “CC’” will get a completed listing package.

The documents are clean and clear – no data degraded from the back and forth of fax… is that an “8” or a “5”?

How long does printing, faxing or running documents around town to get signatures take?

As I’m reading blogs, I keep an eye out for blog posts that mention electronic signatures and electronic contract execution (ECE). The bloggers at John Hall & Associates created a great FAQ about ZipForm and DocuSign, specifically addressed to real estate agents in Arizona.  For those who don’t know ZipForm, it is one of the leading tools used by hundreds of thousands of Realtors across the country to create Real Estate contracts, purchase and sales agreements, listing agreements, etc.

Questions they address include:

• How to sign up for ZipForms, both online and desktop
• The difference between ZipForm Online and ZipForm Desktop
• How to use ZipForm Desktop
• How to use ZipForm Online
• How to give clients copies of contracts at signing, given that AAR no longer prints forms
• How to sign forms with DocuSign
• Who to talk to in Arizona about ZipForm

Arizona realtors can go to the Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR) Web site to sign up for ZipForms. Remember to have your NRDS number, which you can find on your NAR member card or in the address field of REALTOR® Magazine you receive monthly. You can also call AAR – 602.248.7787

ZipForm Desktop and ZipForm Online

You can choose to download ZipForm Desktop to your computer, or you can use ZipForm Online. ZipForm Online allows you to store your forms and files online, which means you can access your data from any computer, as long as you’re connected to the internet.

DocuSign is recommended

John Hall & Associates recommends electronic signatures, specifically DocuSign. Needless to say, I appreciate the recommendation. DocuSign’s ability to add value to the real estate market stems from:

• A strong legal framework, which is really important when you are working with transactions that are worth millions of dollars.
• The most familiar ‘yellow sticky tab’ signing process that can be done by anyone in any browser, including Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Safari, and which places the signatures and initials directly into each page on the dotted line (amazingly enough, some so-called ESIGN solutions can’t even do that!)
• Controlling the signing sequence the same way as it is done with paper so the right people sign in the right order
• Tight integration with nearly ALL the leading software tools used by realtors, including ZipForm
•  The fact that most home buyers don’t have fax machines at home, but DO have internet access means your customer satisfaction is increased because they don’t have such a hassle signing

With no initial setup costs, the ability to be up and running in minutes, and a 30-day risk free guarantee, you can try DocuSign Professional and start sending your real estate documents right away.

Other real estate bloggers have written about DocuSign’s electronic signature and online contract execution processes as well and we look forward to more stories about how we’ve helped you cut costs or accelerated your business.

I believe this is a great tool for REVA’s to get their agents to use. It installs a ‘printer’ on your computer, and when you ‘print’ to it, documents are pulled into it. Just set up the buyers or sellers to use it, then you drag ’sign here’ flags (just like the post-it ones) to where they sign. Choose your recipients, and send it out to be signed.

April’s ability to leverage technology tools allow her to be more effective as a VA. As the leading innovator of software services for electronic signature and electronic contract execution (ECE), DocuSign helps thousands of Real Estate customers like April and her agents, in their businesses by reducing their operating costs and accelerating their business processes. DocuSign for Real Estate To make it easier for real estate agents to find information about DocuSign’s electronic signature and online contract execution processes, we’ve shared some case studies from REMAX, Allied Home Mortgage, Real-a-Save, and Crosstown Mortgage.

Why Is DocuSign so Great for Real Estate?

DocuSign successfully serves real estate professionals for several reasons:

1. DocuSign’s electronic contract execution process provides the strong legal framework, important when your transactions are worth millions of dollars! 
2. Our yellow “Sign Here” tabs make the signing process so simple, anyone can sign from any browser, and ensures signatures and initials are not forgotten – no more rework!
3. With sequencing capabilities, our online contract execution process can ensure the right people sign in the right order, keeping you in control.
4. It is LIGHTNING FAST and your customers will love you for it!  No more driving across town, or making your customers find a fax machine. (less than 10% of home buyers have fax, while over 95% of home buyers have email.)

Additionally, DocuSign has partnered with nearly ALL of the leading software tools used by realtors, such as Zipform, WinForm, TrueForm, and Realfast. In addition, we have a partnership with a multiple listing service (MLS) in Colorado, IRES, and with a leader in the mortgage broker/title space, Fidelity National Financial. 

You can also find out how to use DocuSign with your existing real estate document software to extend your capabilities. As we continue to focus on helping our customers, we’ll keep blogging more to share useful or interesting information discussing various electronic signature and online contract execution questions in our forums, and keeping you in the loop about what we’re doing at DocuSign to help you cut costs and speed up your business processes.

Finally, let us know if you think we should integrate into other applications you use!

Photo courtesy of flickr user TheTruthAbout…, used under Creative Commons.