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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!, St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent (Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374)

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Rainmaker
787,902
Brian L. Sirota, Esq.
Bristar Realty (Realtor/Attorney) - Orange, CA
For Solutions: (714) 501-7660

The correct answer for writing the year shorthand is simply proper punctuation.   Falsely adding digits would then be obvious.

Use the Apostrophe before the last two digits:

2019='19.   2020='20.   

Jan 02, 2020 09:53 AM
Rainmaker
1,090,922
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

It's not a bad idea and I can see the reasoning behind it but I am not sure it's necessary.

All the contracts, listing agreements, etc. that I prepare FS or TD have the date/year automatically filled in and as far as legal documents in general, the date, month and year appear in the document as well as the signature line so it would be almost impossible to tamper with. 

You can make an argument for both schools of thought on this one.

 

Jan 02, 2020 08:50 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,630
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

As a Notary Public I always use the complete date Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! 

Jan 02, 2020 08:11 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,439
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It might help but if forgery or fraud is the mindset, other devious/mischievous methods may occur. 

Jan 02, 2020 08:08 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes I guess. Never thought about it because I'm not a forger. I will practice it starting today.

Jan 02, 2020 08:40 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I think you're correct.... and I usually write out the year anyway....

Jan 02, 2020 11:32 AM
Ambassador
5,230,142
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Either way is fine with me but, when I write it, I use 2020.

We used 1820 & 1920 so, I think instead of shortening everything as we're known to do, we can at least write the full year - for the sake of history!

Jan 02, 2020 11:05 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Nice that our modern docs are all created in dotloop or docusign and the dates are filled in completely both on the form and in the actual signatures.

 

Jan 02, 2020 08:28 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Wanda,

You make a great point. We got used to just doing 18 or 19 but thanks to you I’ll be writing out the full four digit year. Thank you !!! Gold Star !!!

Jan 02, 2020 08:00 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

The dates are digitally signed on my contracts. 

My thought - if someone were to alter a date - they could also alter 2020. 

Jan 02, 2020 12:47 PM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

02JAN2020 is the usual style used by military. I almost always use 4 digits for the year.

Jan 02, 2020 12:00 PM
Rainmaker
1,197,545
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

thanks for sharing but have not given it any thought and not sure how big a problem it will be.  

Jan 02, 2020 11:29 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,321
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Yeah . . . actually, for sure yeah.

HOWEVER, it would be really hard to make those changes in our already e-signed documents as they are harder to modify.

We do need to have anyone ink-signing make sure and do a Mad Dog on it.

LOL 70s kids will get it . . . the rest of yall are kids! 

Jan 02, 2020 10:43 AM
Rainer
427,267
J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

Haven't thought about it, but that is not a bad idea I suppose.

Jan 02, 2020 09:31 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Haven't given this any thought... have not run into an issue yet with altered dates on documents, especially those that are esigned. At the end of the day, anyone intent on fraud will find a way to do it.

Jan 02, 2020 09:10 AM
Ambassador
3,383,334
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

That makes perfect sense.  Of course, anyone help bent on altering a document is going to find a way to do it.

Jan 02, 2020 07:58 AM
Rainmaker
1,503,008
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Not a bad idea, but it's seldom that dates are handwritten.  Even if someone did manually change, say a listing contract or BBA to 2018-2019, the preprinted dates in the contract are in the CCYY format and would show the fraud.  Not to mention your copy of the contract would have accurate dates.

 

It's not something I'm going to worry about personally.

Jan 02, 2020 01:04 PM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Everything is done via esign which is complete dates. If somebody is going to forge something they will find a way one way of the other.

Jan 02, 2020 12:11 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,283
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

NO...unless expressly stated we have a free hand here

Jan 02, 2020 09:51 AM
Rainmaker
961,383
Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate
Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR
Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

This is surely getting a lot of publicity. I like the 2 digit dating but will try to change my habit to make the year 4 digits.

Jan 02, 2020 09:34 AM
Ambassador
2,178,703
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Probably a good idea... and it looks cool too!

 

Jan 02, 2020 08:43 AM
Rainer
378,517
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

depends if there is doing to be dates on signatures as well, but I normally write it out.

Jan 02, 2020 08:37 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

There seems to be an entity hell-bent on having everything under a microscope!

Jan 02, 2020 08:35 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Wanda,

Whatever will help keep fraud at bay.  A

Jan 02, 2020 08:24 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

I always use a 4 digit year. 2020 is more susceptible though

Jan 03, 2020 08:32 AM
Ambassador
3,854,909
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! Good suggestion and I had not thought of that!

Jan 02, 2020 03:29 PM
Rainmaker
4,161,130
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! very true, great idea to put complate dates.

Jan 02, 2020 02:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I go with what the electronic form ask for.

Jan 02, 2020 11:31 AM
Rainmaker
1,390,113
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

I think that's a great suggestion.

Jan 02, 2020 11:29 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Four digits appears to be a much better option than 2 digits.

Jan 02, 2020 08:28 AM
Rainmaker
1,726,096
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Brian L. Sirota, Esq. Nailed this one!

Jan 03, 2020 07:46 AM
Rainmaker
900,248
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

I guess writing out makes the date a bit less confusing. And then we have the military or European ways of writing dates, where the date of the month comes first: 2 January 2020 or 02/01/2020...

Jan 03, 2020 06:55 AM
Rainer
231,948
Eva B. Liland Century 21 Doug Anderson
Century 21 Doug Anderson - Lancaster, CA
Glad to be of Service 661-714-1643

Sounds like a good plan to follow and as others have mentioned, usign esign or Docusign or similar, it's done automatically.

Jan 03, 2020 05:41 AM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

For me two digits except for the year, it needs to be all four

Jan 03, 2020 02:00 AM
Rainmaker
629,708
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

I hadn't thought about it. Thanks for the heads up 

Jan 02, 2020 08:56 PM
Rainmaker
536,943
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

Great new thing to practice.  Never thought about it but can see how it may be a problem.  Online signing saves us the trouble.

Jan 02, 2020 05:51 PM
Rainmaker
5,217,359
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Can't hurt. I use 4 digits for the year as a matter of practice.

Jan 02, 2020 01:42 PM
Ambassador
5,049,477
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

It probably makes sense, although our Docusign docs will have the full date. I suspect it would be obvious in some cases if docs were altered. Good to keep in mind...what does it hurt?!

Jan 02, 2020 01:29 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,431
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

A recommended practice.

Jan 03, 2020 04:17 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I read this warning yesterday and will keep it in mind as well as let others know when I think of it.  Thank you for the warning, it will help many of us.

Jan 06, 2020 09:34 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,565
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

All of us need to remember this.

Jan 06, 2020 07:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

There is already software available that will allow dates to be changed and go undetected.

For the most part, we deal with honest people. For those who are not, they will still attempt to achieve their fraudulent goal.

 

Jan 04, 2020 09:14 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,716
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I had 3 closing yesterday and had everything sign 2020

Jan 03, 2020 03:50 PM