How I Became a Transaction Coordinator (And Why I Still Love It After 10 Years)

This summer marks 10 years since I got into real estate—and like a lot of people in this business, I didn’t set out to become a transaction coordinator.

I started with a real estate team that usually had five to ten deals going at once and ran everything with Brivity, a giant whiteboard, and a paper checklist. I’d print contracts, check signatures, and literally kiss the ones that were clean and complete. (If you know, you know.)

From Closing Coordinator to Listing Manager

Within a few months of being hired, I got my real estate license and officially became the team’s closing coordinator. My job was simple in theory: handle everything from “under contract” through closing. But if you’ve ever worked in real estate, you know there’s nothing simple about contracts, deadlines, or client emotions.

Not long after, I transitioned into managing the seller side. That meant I got to be involved earlier in the process—before listing appointments, during staging prep, throughout renovations, and all those “Do I really need to paint this room?” conversations. I loved it. I loved the systems, the checklists, the pressure, and the feeling of keeping sellers calm and moving forward.

I even brought my golden retriever, Hank, to the office occasionally. I found an old photo this week of our little desk setup, and it reminded me of how far I’ve come. Even bringing my dog to work wasn’t enough to keep me tied to an office. I wanted more flexibility—more freedom to build something on my own terms.

Hank loved everybody at our KW office. Especially our MCA.

Stepping Out on My Own

Eventually, I started wondering if I could take what I’d learned and scale it—to serve more agents, in a more streamlined way. That’s when I stepped out on my own and became an independent transaction coordinator in Georgia.

At first, it was just me. I loved the flexibility—the ability to set my own hours and work from wherever life took me. But I quickly learned the downside: no real days off.

This week, Facebook showed me pictures from a trip Patrick and I took to Colorado six years ago. I remember working from the car between hikes, answering emails instead of looking at the trees and mountains. That trip was a turning point. I knew if I wanted this business to last, I needed help.

I started small—with a part-time assistant. Then came a full-time VA. Then a second transaction coordinator. That’s when my role began to shift.

Building the System Behind the Service

Over time, I went from transaction manager to transaction system manager. I started with TC Workflow, and later moved everything into Open to Close. Each week, I’d keep a list of the emails or tasks I had to manually tweak—and each weekend, I’d spend hours building the infrastructure to make those tweaks into templates, smart blocks, and automated reminders.

It was slow work, but it paid off.

Now I lead a small but mighty team that runs on systems—ones we’ve tested, refined, and built to scale—but with plenty of human care baked in. My focus is now on supporting my team, improving our operations, and helping our agents grow their businesses through consistency and clear communication.

2025 Goal Setting Event at my House

What I Love About Being a Transaction Coordinator in Georgia

One of the best parts of this job is how many contracts we get to see. We’re right in the middle of it all—spotting mistakes, recognizing patterns, seeing trends before they hit the headlines. I remember early 2021, when escalation clauses and appraisal waivers started showing up in every deal. Then in late 2023, we saw the return of sale/lease contingency contracts. We don’t just move paperwork—we stay ahead of what’s happening in the market.

Looking Back—and Looking Ahead

In the past few years, this business has grown beyond what I ever imagined. I now serve agents across 11 different brokerages in two states—Georgia and South Carolina. I’ve had the honor of speaking at the TC Empowerment Conference for the past two years, sharing what I’ve learned with others in this field. I’ve also extended my real estate license to South Carolina and volunteer as a guest attendee with the GAR Forms Committee, helping shape the contracts and tools we all rely on.

TC Conference in Nashville

It’s been 10 years since I started in this industry, and I still love the work. It’s not glamorous, but it’s deeply rewarding—helping agents focus on what they do best by supporting the contract-to-close process behind the scenes.

A Few Things I’ve Learned Along the Way

1. A smooth contract isn’t magic—it’s intentional.

2. The best agents communicate early and often.

3. You can’t scale chaos. Systems matter more than hustle.

4. Clients remember how you made them feel, not how fast you got the disclosures signed.

5. No matter how much you automate, there’s no substitute for real connection.

If you're an agent looking for a transaction coordinator in Georgia or South Carolina—someone who understands the contracts, respects the process, and actually gets it—we’d love to support you.