Can an offer to purchase be signed electronically?

No. Schedule 2 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act excludes agreements for the sale of immovable property, so the OTP is signed in ink. Use DocFilla to fill it in completely and legibly, then print it for the signatures.

What is a suspensive condition?

A condition the sale depends on, most often the buyer getting a bond by a stated date. If it is not met in time the agreement falls away. Write the date in; do not leave it to be agreed later.

Does the seller have to tell me about defects?

Under the Property Practitioners Act the seller completes a mandatory disclosure form before the agent markets the property, and it is attached to the OTP. Read it before you sign.

Can an agent send me the OTP to complete?

Yes. The agent sends the form with DocFilla; you complete your part on your phone and the completed copy returns to them for printing and signing.

Property

Fill in an offer to purchase online

Upload the agent's offer to purchase and DocFilla fills the buyer's details, addresses and the conveyancer's lines. Print it for signing: a sale of land is signed in ink.

An offer to purchase, the OTP, is the contract that sells a house in South Africa. It is long, the blanks matter, and once both parties sign it is binding. DocFilla fills in the parts that are about you, so the agent's copy is complete and legible before anyone signs. The signatures themselves go on paper.

About 15 to 30 minutes with your details saved

Upload your offers to purchase

How it works for this form

1
Upload the agent's OTP as a PDF. Multi-page offers with annexures are read page by page.
2
The purchaser's names, ID number, marital status, addresses and contact details fill from My details. The purchase price, deposit, bond amount, occupation date and suspensive conditions are typed in with the agent.
3
Download the completed PDF and print it. The buyer, the seller and the witnesses sign in ink, and the agent attaches the seller's disclosure form.

What the form asks for

Purchaser's and seller's full names, ID numbers and marital status, including how you are married
The property's description and erf number, as on the title deed
Purchase price, deposit and when the deposit is paid
Bond amount and the date by which the bond must be approved
Occupation date and occupational rent
Fixtures and fittings included, and anything excluded
Conveyancer appointed by the seller
Addresses for notices, and the signatures of both parties and witnesses

What to attach

Copies of both parties' IDs
Marriage certificate or antenuptial contract, where you are married
Proof of the deposit, when paid
The seller's mandatory disclosure form, which the agent attaches
Bond pre-approval, if you have one

Mistakes people make

Leaving the bond deadline or the occupation date blank. A missing date is the usual reason a sale stalls.
Giving only one spouse's details when the marriage is in community of property. Both must sign.
Treating a verbal promise about repairs as part of the deal. If it is not written in the OTP it is not agreed.
Signing a copy that still has blanks, meaning to fill them in later.

Questions about this form

Can an offer to purchase be signed electronically?: No. Schedule 2 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act excludes agreements for the sale of immovable property, so the OTP is signed in ink. Use DocFilla to fill it in completely and legibly, then print it for the signatures.
What is a suspensive condition?: A condition the sale depends on, most often the buyer getting a bond by a stated date. If it is not met in time the agreement falls away. Write the date in; do not leave it to be agreed later.
Does the seller have to tell me about defects?: Under the Property Practitioners Act the seller completes a mandatory disclosure form before the agent markets the property, and it is attached to the OTP. Read it before you sign.
Can an agent send me the OTP to complete?: Yes. The agent sends the form with DocFilla; you complete your part on your phone and the completed copy returns to them for printing and signing.