Real estate documents can be confusing and difficult to fill out correctly, even for experienced agents and brokers, especially in heavily regulated states like California. Despite advances in other industries, we still ask home buyers and sellers to fill out and review many documents by hand.
Glide has partnered with REALTOR associations representing over 200,000 agents to make it possible to prepare compliant real estate documents online in less time, with less room for costly mistakes.
Overview
Using Glide to complete seller disclosures is a three-step process:
1. The agent sends an email message to the client with an invite.
2. The client opens the message, clicks the link, and moves through the workflow.
3. The listing agent reviews the documents and answers client questions.
Each step is described below.
Step 1: Inviting clients to complete forms
The first set is to send the client an email message that contains a link to Glide's disclosures package.
1. On the Glide home page, select the transaction and go to the Disclosures page.
2. Click the Invite button under the Invite Seller to Fill Disclosures and move through the workflow.
3. On the Parties area, make sure the seller is marked as Fills Form.
4. At the end of the workflow, click Send.
Glide automatically sends the seller an email message with the invite to complete the disclosure package.
Step 2: The client completes the workflow
The client opens the email message from Glide and clicks Begin Disclosures.
After the client clicks the link, their Glide account opens in a new browser tab.
Clients need to have a Glide account before they can view and complete the disclosures package. If they do not have an account, they can complete the create account workflow.
Overview screen
Once your client clicks the Begin Disclosures button, a welcome screen displays. The workflow begins here.
Form introduction and advisories
Each form in the packet includes an introduction and Disclosure advisory. The client should read the advisory thoroughly and then click, I Accept.
California attorneys created advisories to help educate sellers on the duty to disclose. The Disclosure advisory explains important information for sellers to accurately complete their disclosure forms.
Glide keeps an electronic record confirming that the Seller has accepted each advisory before completing their disclosure forms.
Form packet status
The status of a packet changes as the client moves through the workflow.
Not Started: No answers provided.
Started: At least one answer was provided.
Unsubmitted: All forms are completed, but the client's latest responses are not submitted.
Completed: The client's latest responses are submitted for agent review.
Responding to questions
Once your client goes past the introduction, they move one question at a time until they answer all questions on the form.
Clients can skip questions, but they need to answer all required questions before submitting the forms for review.
Wherever possible, Glide follows the exact wording of questions on each form.
In some cases, Glide may introduce additional questions designed to simplify the form completion experience and identify potential compliance issues (e.g. asking if a property is a condo to identify potential issues on the transfer disclosure statement).
Contextual help content
Glide works closely with risk managers, attorneys, and professional standards committees to develop detailed contextual help content that helps reduce compliance risk and clarify the meaning of certain terminology.
This help content is designed to educate and inform a broad audience of consumers. It is not a substitute for legal advice.
Help content may include photos or links to external websites with additional information relevant to the form completion process.
Flagging questions for review
In some cases, clients may not understand a question. They may also want to consult with a spouse, review documentation, visit the property, or ask for your help to be sure of their answer.
In all of these cases, the client can use Glide's "Flag for Review" feature to mark a question for additional attention later. Questions flagged for review are clearly identified throughout the review process to ensure they receive adequate attention before completed documents are generated.
To learn more about flagging questions for the agent, see How Sellers Flag Disclosure Questions for their Agent’s Review.
Written explanations
Some questions may require additional explanation beyond a multiple choice answer. This is where Glide truly shines compared to the tedious process of handwriting or separately drafting detailed disclosure content.
Users cannot proceed without providing an explanation for any question that requires one (e.g. specifying where property exhaust fans are located).
Where space allows, enter responses directly into the designated area on each form. If responses do not fit in a designated area, they are automatically added to a separate page and referenced using a text-overflow addendum.
Attaching files
Most questions that include an option for a written explanation offer clients the opportunity to attach documentation. This encourages full disclosure by allowing clients to organize supporting materials such as property photos, receipts, and inspection reports naturally as they fill out each form.
Clients can attach documents from their local hard drive or cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Google Drive.
Supported file types include images (e.g. JPG, PNG) and PDF.
Attachments are automatically indexed and appended to each completed form as exhibits. A separate PDF file containing all attachments for each form is added to the relevant transaction.
Review page
Once your client reaches the end of a form, they can review their responses. This includes returning to any questions flagged for review. They can also answer missed questions.
All required questions must be answered before the form can be submitted for your review.
If a client flags a question for review, they must provide an answer to ensure their submission is complete.
The Fix Issues button guides clients to missed questions -- one at a time -- until all issues are addressed.
Submitting forms
After your client answers all required questions, they submit their responses for your review. Glide sends the agent an email notification when the client submits forms. You can then review your client's responses and generate final documents for signature.
New information may arise about a property after the client submits disclosure forms. In the past, this meant painful corrections to existing PDF documents. With Glide, your client needs to follow these steps to resubmit forms:
1. Log in to glide.com.
2. Click Revisit next to the form.
3. Navigate to the desired question and then update the response.
4. On the Review your answers page, click Continue.
5. Click Resubmit Forms.
Step 3: Reviewing client responses
Glide sends the agent an email notification that says the client submitted their responses for review. The agent can review the answers, answer client questions, and generate a PDF.
**Note: Once the client Resubmitted Forms, the Agent or TC should re-generate the PDFs in order for the updated answers to reflect on these forms.