What Is a Transaction Coordinator? And Why Every Michigan Agent Needs One
Ever considered hiring a TC and decided against it because you don’t see the value?
I'm Jessica Briscoe, a transaction coordinator based in Michigan, and I built Advantage Agent Services so that real estate agents can do what they're actually good at: selling houses, being with clients, and growing their business. Not chasing deadline dates and tracking down signatures.
What a TC Actually Does (And Doesn't Do)
Our actual list is over 121 items long - way too long to keep your attention. We communicate with & answer your client’s questions. We track down incessant title requests. We follow up with lenders. We double check documents for signatures and compliance approval. We write and send addendums. We write and send purchase agreements, listing documents, and listing descriptions. We order final waters & city inspections. We send occupancy reminders. We track repairs, contingency dates, and more.
What we don’t do? Bring the clients. But we give you a whole lot more energy and time to get out there and get them yourself!
There’s a lot of sitting at computers. The admin work that you won’t have time for because you are out making deals, shaking hands, opening doors, and planning open house strategies.
Why the Transaction Process Is So Easy to Get Wrong
Can you imagine walking up to your client and asking them if they know if their neighborhood has an HOA? How embarrassing…isn’t that what they are hiring you for? It has taken me thirteen years in real estate to have developed an expertise around the Southeast Michigan area and real estate transactions.
It is second nature to know which cities require inspections before closing, which home locations have an HOA (I probably also already have the bylaws and deed on file!), what the next steps are after a home goes under contract, and what questions I should answer to buyers and sellers before they even have a chance to ask.
Sure, you have been in real estate just as long. But unless you have managed over 3,000 career transactions from beginning to end, chances are you don’t have as much experience as our team does. We know the type of things you can only learn by doing, and that’s huge.
What Working With a TC Actually Looks Like Day-to-Day
Realistically, you’ll get a lot of text messages. I’ll ask you for a lot of ‘codes’ for logging in to your profiles. I know this seems counterintuitive - you might be asking “well what’s the point if you’re going to be bugging me all day?”
Let’s paint a picture: Its Saturday. You got a new client under contract on their dream home in Brighton. You have a full day of showings on Sunday and a schedule full of admin work to complete on Monday. But your new buyers are asking: “what are our next steps?” “who are your best inspectors?” “how much am I going to owe?” “can we go back for a second showing?” “can you call our lender, he has questions and needs the PA as soon as possible?”
Instead of stressing, letting the ball drop, or scrambling to respond…imagine you just forward the PA to us. Immediately we explain next steps to your client. We send PA to the lender. We calm the chaos before it even gets the chance to start. Isn’t that worth a little extra upfront work on your part?
Is Hiring a TC Worth It?
Let’s do the MATH: Selling a $350,000 home each month with a 3% commission = $126,000/year
Working 40 hrs/week x 50 weeks = 2,000 hours/year — That’s a rate of $63/hour!
Is your time best spent on contract to close or admin work?
NAR says agents spend an average of 10-15 hours per file on contract to close tasks. That means, you are paying yourself $630-$945 per transaction for tasks that could be outsourced.
Advantage Agent Services is a real estate Transaction Coordination company with expertise all throughout Michigan. We will handle your contract to close for a shocking $295! That saves you between $335-650 PER TRANSACTION so you can spend that time focusing on the better parts of your business.
Now, think about the tasks that actually makes you money in your business. (HINT, it’s probably not paperwork on pending files or answering questions to clients you already got under contract.) But somehow that’s what fills your nights and days sometimes - contracts, deadlines, emails at 10pm after the kids are in bed. Don’t get me wrong - those things matter, they just don’t have to be done by you. Imagine using that time to talk to new clients, get in front of new people, or honestly… just be done for the day.
I’ve had so many agents tell me, “I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”
Ready to Hand Off the Paperwork?
If you're a Michigan real estate agent who is tired of managing the transaction side on top of everything else — let's talk. Advantage Agent Services is currently taking on new clients for the summer.