Earnnest is the exclusive digital partner of CRMLS for initial escrow deposits. Agents can request payments via web or mobile while clients can easily send their earnest money online, backed by the highest levels of security and transparent tracking every step of the way. This guide covers:
How to Invite an Escrow Holder
How to Create an Earnest Money Request
How to Complete a Payment (For Clients)
Access Earnnest
Log into the REcore dashboard and select the Earnnest tile from the products section.
Invite an Escrow Holder
An escrow holder must be a part of the Earnnest network to complete transactions, therefore the CRMLS welcome page provides the option to invite them to join as in-house or preferred.
Note: If you wish to skip this step or the escrow holder is already a part of the network, skip to the Create an Account section.
To invite an escrow holder:
(A) Add your full name and email.
(B) Add the escrow holder’s business name and email.
(C) Click Invite Escrow Holder to send the invite email.
Note: For escrow holders, learn more about Earnnest by visiting earnnest.com/escrow-resources.
Create an Account
There are two options to begin creating an Earnnest account:
Option A: If the escrow holder has previously been invited or is already a part of the network, select send an earnest money request to create your account.
Option B: Invite the escrow holder. Once the “submission received” message pops up, select send an earnest money request to create your account.
Once either option A or B has been completed, enter your email address.
A one-time code will be sent to your email. Enter it on the log in page to continue.
Note: The one-time code will expire in five minutes. If it expires, request a new one.
Add account details, including name, email, and phone number, then click Create to continue.
Next, select Register as an agent and click Continue.
Click Begin. Account setup will then be complete. An information overview will pop up and you will receive an email confirmation.
Create an Earnest Money Request
From the Payment Requests page, select Request Payment.
If you have the email address of the person making the payment, select Yes, I have their email.
If you don’t have their email address, choose No, I don’t have their email. In this case, you can invite someone who has the payer’s email to proceed with the request.
Note: By selecting “No, I don’t have their email,” the request will be saved as a draft in your Payment Request page until the invitee sends the request to the payer.
To create a request:
(A) Enter the earnest money amount.
(B) Enter the property address.
(C) Search for and select the Escrow Holder.
(D) Enter the payer information.
Before sending, please verify the email addresses of individuals or organizations who need to be notified about the payment request. All parties involved will receive receipts for their records.
Click Send Request. The payer will receive an email prompting them to complete the payment. Both you and the recipients included in the request will receive receipts once the payment is successfully completed.
Complete a Payment Request (For Clients)
Earnnest offers real estate agents and escrow holders flexible options for securely collecting earnest money payments. Requests are initiated via email or via a shared link.
For a client to complete a payment, they must:
(A) Enter their payment details.
(B) Enter personal info to confirm their Identity.
(C) Connect their bank account (Earnnest uses Plaid Bank Verification).
Once the client has reviewed the payment details, they can click Pay to complete the payment.
Note: If your clients have any questions about Earnnest payments, direct them to: earnnest.com/payer-resources.
