Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Realform, from legal compliance to technical requirements.
General
What is Realform?
Realform is an eSignature platform built specifically for Australian real estate agencies. You can generate VIC-compliant authority forms, send them to vendors for digital signing, auto-calculate GST and commissions, and maintain a complete audit trail with Certificates of Authenticity. It's the first signing platform designed from the ground up for the Australian property market.
Who is Realform for?
Realform is built for real estate agencies — from sole practitioners to multi-office firms. If your agency sends authority forms to vendors for signing, manages commission splits, or needs compliant audit trails, Realform replaces the manual paperwork and generic eSignature tools you're using today.
How is Realform different from DocuSign or HelloSign?
Generic tools like DocuSign are designed for any industry and any document type. Realform is purpose-built for Australian real estate. We come with pre-formatted VIC-compliant authority forms, auto-calculate GST and commissions based on Australian rates, and provide agency-specific features like team roles, form template libraries, and bulk sends. You don't need to set up templates from scratch or figure out compliance — it works out of the box for your agency.
Legal & Compliance
Are electronic signatures legally binding in Australia?
Yes. Under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) and corresponding state legislation, electronic signatures are legally valid for real estate agency agreements, provided the method is reliable and appropriate for the purpose. Realform's signing process uses email-based OTP identity verification, a tamper-evident audit trail, and generates a Certificate of Authenticity for every completed document — all of which strengthen signature enforceability.
Does Realform comply with individual state regulations?
We currently support VIC-compliant forms, and our signing and audit trail procedures are designed to meet the electronic transaction requirements of all Australian states and territories. The Certificate of Authenticity we generate includes timestamps, IP addresses, and a unique document fingerprint for evidentiary purposes in any jurisdiction. NSW, QLD, and WA template support is under active development.
Can I rely on the audit trail in a dispute?
Yes. Every signed document includes a detailed audit trail that records each step: when it was sent, when the signer opened it, when the OTP was verified, and when each signature was applied — all with timestamps and IP addresses. A Certificate of Authenticity can be generated instantly, providing a tamper-evident report suitable for submission in legal proceedings or tribunal hearings.
Forms & Templates
What forms are included with Realform?
Our template library includes VIC-compliant Exclusive Selling Agency Authority and General Selling Agency Authority forms, pre-formatted to ADL specifications. Smart fields automatically calculate GST, commission splits, management fees, letting fees, and advertising costs as you fill them in. Pro and Enterprise plans include additional template slots for your agency's frequently used forms.
Can I upload my own PDF forms?
Yes — on Pro and Enterprise plans, you can upload custom PDF templates, define field positions for signatures, dates, and data entry, and use them with all the smart filling, signing, and tracking features. Uploaded forms are treated as agency templates available to your whole team.
What about multi-page forms and complex layouts?
Realform handles multi-page forms without issue. Each page is rendered clearly in the signing interface, and signers navigate through the document page by page. Smart field positioning works across all pages, so signature boxes, dates, and data fields stay exactly where you place them — even on complex layouts with tables and split sections.
Signing Process
How does the signing process work for vendors?
When you're ready to send a form, Realform emails the vendor a secure signing link. The link opens in any browser — no app or account needed. The vendor verifies their identity via an OTP sent to their email, reviews each page of the form, and places their signature in the designated fields. The completed document is immediately available for both parties to download.
How does Realform verify signer identity?
Signers verify their identity using a one-time password (OTP) sent to their email address. This provides reasonable identity assurance appropriate for real estate transactions under the Electronic Transactions Act. For higher-risk transactions, we recommend confirming the signer's identity through your existing agency processes (such as sighting ID in person) before sending the document.
Can vendors sign on their phone or tablet?
Yes. The signing interface is fully responsive and works on any device — desktop, tablet, or phone. Vendors receive the same secure link via email, and the form renders correctly on mobile screens with touch-friendly signature fields. This is one of the most common ways vendors sign, often within minutes of receiving the email.
How long does a vendor have to sign?
By default, signing links expire after 7 days for security. The original sender can extend the deadline or resend the link. You can see the status of each sent document — pending, viewed, signed, or expired — from your dashboard at any time.
Plans & Billing
Can I switch plans later?
Yes — upgrade or downgrade at any time. If you upgrade mid-cycle, the price difference is prorated. Downgrades take effect at your next billing date. You keep access to all your documents and templates regardless of plan changes.
What counts as a signing?
A signing is counted when a vendor or buyer completes a digital signature on a form. Draft forms, unsent documents, and documents that are viewed but not signed don't count. Only completed signatures are deducted from your monthly allocation. Unused signings do not roll over to the next month.
What happens if I exceed my signing limit?
On Pro and Enterprise plans, you can continue sending forms if you exceed your limit — additional signings are charged at a per-use rate. You can also upgrade your plan at any time to increase your monthly allocation. On the Free plan, you simply need to wait until the next billing cycle or upgrade to continue sending.
Can I have multiple staff on one account?
Yes. Each plan includes a staff member limit: Free (2 staff), Pro (5 staff), Enterprise (15 staff). All staff share the agency's form templates, document library, and signing allowance. You can manage roles and permissions from the account settings. Additional staff slots can be added on Enterprise plans.
Security & Data
Where is my data stored?
All data is stored on Australian servers (DigitalOcean Sydney data centre). We do not transfer your documents, client details, or agency information outside of Australia. This ensures compliance with Australian privacy law and gives you full control over data residency.
Is my data encrypted?
Yes. All data is encrypted in transit using TLS 1.3. Documents at rest are encrypted using AES-256. Access to documents is controlled through authenticated sessions with role-based permissions. We also enforce automatic session timeouts and secure cookie handling.
Can I control which staff access which documents?
Yes. Agency owners can assign roles with different permission levels. Staff members only see documents they created or were explicitly shared with. The Enterprise plan includes additional access controls for multi-office agencies, allowing you to restrict document visibility by office location or team.
Support
How do I get help if something goes wrong?
Free plan users have access to our help centre and knowledge base. Pro plan includes email support with a typical response time of 1 business day. Enterprise plan includes priority support with faster response times, a dedicated contact channel, and custom onboarding to help your team get up and running quickly.
Is there onboarding or training available?
All plans come with a getting-started guide and help centre. Enterprise plan includes custom onboarding — we'll work with your team to set up templates, configure workflows, and train your staff. For agencies migrating from another system, we can also assist with data migration and template reproduction.
Do you offer a demo before I sign up?
You can try Realform free without entering a credit card — just create an account and start sending forms. There's no time limit on the Free plan. If you'd like a walkthrough for your agency, contact our support team and we'll arrange a personalised demo covering your specific workflows.
Technical
What browsers are supported?
Realform works on all modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge (current and previous two major versions). The signing interface works on both desktop and mobile browsers. Internet Explorer is not supported.
Are there any file size limits for uploaded PDFs?
Uploaded PDF templates must be under 25 MB. Generated signed documents typically range from 1–5 MB depending on page count and embedded signatures. Most real estate forms fall well within these limits.
Is there a limit on how many templates I can create?
Free plan includes 1 template, Pro includes 5 templates, and Enterprise includes unlimited templates. A template is a reusable form layout with defined fields. Individual documents created from a template don't count toward this limit.
Can I integrate Realform with my existing software?
Enterprise plan includes API and webhook access, allowing integration with your agency management system, CRM, or other tools. Our REST API supports document creation, sending, status checking, and webhook notifications for signing events. Please contact us for API documentation and integration support.