What is a transaction coordinator? | Cost | What does a transaction coordinator do? | Transaction coordinator vs. real estate agent
| How is a transaction coordinator different from a real estate agent? A transaction coordinator assists with scheduling, paperwork, important deadlines, and closing. A real estate agent also handles these tasks — plus more complex services including negotiations and marketing. |
When you sell a home, you’ll have to deal with the pressures of negotiating a deal — plus complex legal paperwork that varies by location.
Unless you’ve sold several homes yourself, you probably aren’t familiar with the many legal and financial requirements. For many homeowners, this is a stressful prospect. If you miss a detail or fail to complete the paperwork properly, your deal could run into delays, financial penalties, or lawsuits. Or, the deal could simply fall apart, leaving you without a buyer.
While 90% of home sellers enlist the help of a real estate agent, some prefer less hands-on support. A transaction coordinator is a good solution for these home sellers, offering lower fees while still providing basic assistance with:
- The escrow process
- Closing
- Legal paperwork
- Communication
If you’re looking for the best transaction coordinators in your area, our friends at Clever Real Estate can help. Clever offers a free service that provides expert advice and personal introductions to the best real estate professionals in your area.
If you end up deciding to work with a real estate agent, Clever can also match you with top-rated real estate experts from leading brokers including Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Century21. Plus, Clever can help you save thousands, thanks to pre-negotiated listing fees of just 1.5% (a fraction of the standard 3% listing agent commission).
👋 Get started by telling Clever’s licensed concierge team about your home sale!
What Is a Transaction Coordinator?
| 👍 Good For Sellers With… |
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| 👎 Bad For Sellers With… |
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A transaction coordinator (sometimes called a “TC”) is a real estate professional who manages all the administrative aspects of a real estate transaction. A transaction coordinator will typically manage your home sale transaction from the time you accept an offer through closing.
Real estate agents often hire transaction coordinators to assist with paperwork — but if you don’t feel you need an agent, you can hire a transaction coordinator directly.
In a nutshell, a real estate agent provides the same services as a transaction coordinator — plus marketing services and help with negotiations.
The tradeoff is that a real estate agent charges a percentage-based commission. By contrast, a transaction coordinator works for a flat fee that’s generally less expensive.
Transaction coordinators are popular with “for sale by owner” (FSBO) sellers. But it’s worth noting that the majority of FSBO sellers already know the buyer, suggesting they don’t need much help with marketing or negotiations.
If you’re putting your home on the open market, you may end up with regrets about a transaction coordinator’s relatively limited service offerings.
While the transaction coordinator will manage your sale after you’ve struck a deal with the buyer, you won’t have an agent to help you find a buyer or get the best possible deal.
If you’re trying to decide whether you need a real estate agent or a transaction coordinator, we recommend reaching out to our friends at Clever Real Estate. Clever’s team of fully licensed real estate professionals can provide expert advice — and personal introductions to the best transaction coordinators or realtors near you!
| 👋 Next steps: Talk to an expert! If you’re weighing your options for buying or selling a house, our friends at Clever can help! Clever’s licensed concierge team is available to answer your real estate questions, or help you find the right agent for your needs. |
How Much Does a Transaction Coordinator Cost?
Transaction coordinators typically charge a flat fee. The exact cost will vary, but is usually between $350 and $500.
Because transaction coordinators don’t charge a percentage-based commission, these fees are typically much lower than the cost of working with a real estate agent.
What Does a Transaction Coordinator Do?
Before an Offer
| 📋 Administrative Support |
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During Closing
| 📋 Administrative Support |
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| 🏦 Escrow |
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| 🤝 Disclosures, Inspections, and Contingencies |
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| 💰 Tax Paperwork |
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After Closing
| 📋 Administrative Support |
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Transaction Coordinator vs. Real Estate Agent: Which Should You Choose?
| Service | Transaction Coordinator | Real Estate Agent |
| Handles paperwork, including the purchase agreement | ✅ | ✅ |
| Schedules showings and open houses | ✅ | ✅ |
| Coordinates closing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Keeps track of important deadlines | ✅ | ✅ |
| Markets your property | ❌ | ✅ |
| Negotiates sale price | ❌ | ✅ |
| Negotiates contingencies | ❌ | ✅ |
Transaction coordinators charge a flat fee and are best for sellers who don’t need much support during their transaction. This typically includes sellers who have lots of past experience with real estate, or who already have a deal worked out.
Real estate agents provide more robust services, including expert guidance through tough decisions such as negotiations and pricing. However, you’ll typically pay more to access this level of support.
If your primary goal is to save money on your next home sale, our friends at Clever Real Estate can help you get the best of both worlds. Clever’s nationwide network of real estate agents include top-rated experts from Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and other leading brokers. You’ll get the best service and pre-negotiated savings on commission.
The average Clever seller saves $7,000, just for finding a great agent through Clever’s free service!
💰 Find a great real estate expert and learn how much you can save!
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FAQs
What is a transaction coordinator?
A transaction coordinator (sometimes called a “TC”) is a real estate professional who manages all the administrative aspects of a real estate transaction. Transaction coordinators typically charge a flat fee that’s less than realtor commission — but they don’t provide assistance with negotiations, marketing, or other services you’d expect from a realtor. Learn which option is best for you!
What does a transaction coordinator do?
A transaction coordinator provides assistance with the paperwork and administrative aspects of a home sale. This includes the escrow process, closing, legal paperwork, and general support for communication. While transaction coordinators charge less than a realtor, most home sellers need the full suite of services realtors provide. Weigh the pros and cons!