Curious, do any of you require original signatures from your agents when they turn in paperwork, or do you allow copies?

In our contracts you can spell out what is acceptable, originals, copies/faxes and/or electronic signatures. My broker will accept any or all methods I identified in the contract.

In our office, agents keep originals.

Copies: Our system is pretty cool we fax them in and they are uploaded onto our tms system where they are stored online for each transaction so they can be pulled up electronically.They are held for 3 years which is the requirement for the ga real estate commission because of random audits of the files.

The files are replicated in about 6 other areas in case the system went down or had a virus.It's pretty awesome knowing everything is online and you don't have to woory about keeping up with old files and papers stacking up everywhere from closings.

if one of my agents writes a contract, then that original HAS to come back to the company. copies are acceptable if the contract was written from an agent from another company.

I usually just maintain copies of files.

I have them electronically stored in 3 different servers at different locations

Agents keep originals.

how do you electronically stored them?? software,machine, do you upload page by page??

high speed scanner

I manage all my transactions (personally) on my tablet P.C. and only turn them into my office once everything is signed off on.

Counter offers are done through a internet fax and my clients sign the computer screen and away it goes. I don't deal with papers anymore ... it's awesome!

sorry, I should've clarified. I store everything in .pdf

One of our printers can also feed documents and scan them. It goes quickly.

Copies:
Locally we are required to deliver 1 executed original document to each of the parties at the time of signing of an Agreement to Purchase.

This particular document results in a total 6 or 7 original documents being executed as follows:

Buyers (2) and Sellers (2) Listing broker (1) Selling broker (1) and agent (1).

Listing broker is required to forward a copy of their original to their clients attorney.

Selling broker keeps an original for his files and the buyer's will usually deliver one of their originals to their attorney and make a copy for their lender, if required for attachment to their mortgage application.

Although not required, it is advisable that all agents maintain a complete and duplicate file of his own in the event of a dispute or they change brokerage firms.