After you have entered your rental agreement into the software, it will be available for both existing and new customers to sign.
Note: There is not a way currently for you, as an owner, to also sign the agreement. In 2000, federal legislation passed the Electronic Signatures in Global and International Commerce Act (ESGICA). This act outlines what is needed for an electronic contract to be legally binding, including a "valid intent to sign" by both parties. Most states agree the facility owner is showing valid intent by providing the contract to the customer. However, Missouri recently made some changes to their state laws (as of September 2017) which may change electronic signature requirements. To be safe, you are always encouraged to check with a local lawyer or your state's self storage association.
How a new online renter signs the agreement
Note: A customer CANNOT complete an online rental without signing the agreement/contract. Also, there is not a way to clear the signature after it has been accepted by the customer.
1. The customer goes to your website and clicks on the Rent Storage/Rent a Unit tab.
2. Next they can click Rent Now on either the main page and on the screen that pops up.
3. The tenant will be taken to a new screen where they can enter their personal information. They will create a username and password, fill in all the required fields, and confirm the rental details. If you offer insurance, it will allow your customer to select an insurance plan during this step as well. Our system will use all of the information submitted in steps 1. through 3. to create the storage agreement using placeholders to pull in all the customer-specific information into the agreement prior to signature. Please make sure the customer completes these steps.
4. The final step of the online rental process is to confirm all of the rental details and sign the storage agreement. Here they can see their price plan, billing cycle, and account information. They will also have access to read through or save a copy of their storage agreement before signing.
KEEP IN MIND: At the bottom of the page, they will not be able to complete the rental or move forward with creating an account until they have clicked the "I have read and agreed to the above agreement(s)" box and signed their agreement. Once it has been signed, a copy of the storage agreement will be saved as a PDF on the customer's profile.
