Table of Contents
- Understanding the Role of a Real Estate Agent
- What Is a Real Estate Transaction Coordinator?
- Transaction Coordinator vs a Real Estate Sales Agent
- Why Do Real Estate Agents Hire Transaction Coordinators?
- Outstanding Transaction Coordinators With AgentUp
Transaction coordinators (TCs) are often mistaken for real estate sales agents, as their roles overlap. However, these professionals play different roles in real estate sales.
Real estate agents and transaction coordinators work on closing real estate sales, but the roles have a few significant differences.
This article will clarify the difference between a real estate agent and a transaction coordinator.
Let’s get right to our topic, shall we?
Understanding the Role of a Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents are licensed sales professionals who help clients buy, sell, rent, and manage land, homes, apartments, office space, and other real estate assets.
Every state in the nation requires that real estate agents be licensed. To obtain a license, a person must do the following:
- Take a state-certified licensing class that often lasts a week or longer
- Pass a state licensing exam
- Undergo mandatory continuing education regularly
Additionally, real estate salespersons must establish a legal agency with their clients, who are, in this case, the buyers or sellers.
Agency is a legal relationship established by a contract that allows a salesperson to take actions that benefit their client.
An agent works exclusively for only one side of a transaction. The agent negotiates and works to secure the best deal for the client. In other words, an agent seeks to protect their client and takes actions that will benefit them.
With agency comes a set of fiduciary duties to protect and serve the client.
These fiduciary duties include the following essential responsibilities taken on by the sales agent:
- Loyalty: The agent is required to be loyal to their client, always doing what is in the client’s best interest
- Confidentiality: An agent is required to safeguard the confidential information of their client
- Obedience: An agent is required to do what the client asks as long as the request is legal and ethical
- Accountability: An agent must be able to account for all the money involved in the transaction
- Care & Skill: The agent is obligated always to give their best effort
- Disclosure: An agent must always fully disclose any relevant information to their client
So, as you can see, a real estate agent is a well-trained, licensed professional who establishes a legal, contractual agency relationship with their clients.
What Is a Real Estate Transaction Coordinator?

A real estate transaction coordinator is a trained professional overseeing the tasks of closing a real estate sale.
Some, but not all, states require a transaction coordinator to be licensed or supervised. Generally, a TC undergoes professional training but not as extensively as a real estate agent.
Once a real estate sale is contractually agreed upon, the TC is engaged. They take over the closing process, performing various administrative tasks to finalize the sale and transfer the property.
For example, a TC’s responsibilities include:
- Communicating with the clients, vendors, and agents
- Handling contracts and obtaining necessary signatures
- Scheduling home inspections and distributing inspection reports
- Ordering title work and updating the title company on any changes
- Keeping agents informed about transaction progress
- Answering client questions and providing regular updates
To go deeper into the role of a TC, please read what a transaction coordinator does.
Let’s discuss further the differences between a TC and a real estate sales agent.
Market Leading
Real Estate Transaction Coordinators
Hand off your transactions, media, and marketing to a real estate TC.
Transaction Coordinator vs a Real Estate Sales Agent

Several significant differences exist between a real estate agent and a transaction coordinator. Let’s examine these in more detail.
First, the transaction coordinator must legally remain neutral and objective throughout the sale, helping facilitate the transaction without representing the interests of the seller or the buyer.
This neutrality is required because the transaction coordinator does have agency with either side of the sale. Therefore, there are many things a TC cannot do, including the following:
- Negotiate on behalf of either of the clients
- Make offers or counteroffers for either side
- Provide legal, contractual, pricing, or inspection advice
- Strategize with either side concerning their best interests or advantages
- Offer pricing opinions or reports
- Answer questions that would create an advantage for one side over the other
In contrast, a real estate agent establishes a legal relationship with a client and may advocate and take actions to benefit their client throughout the sale and closing.
Further Differences
There are a few other differences between the two roles, including the following:
- A sales agent is experienced in every aspect of the sale. The transaction coordinator only knows the closing process
- Some TCs have primarily developed skills for one side of the sale – helping the buyer or seller. Sales agents are experienced in working with both sides
- Transaction coordinators are limited in what they can do in terms of resolving client conflicts. A sales agent may intervene in such instances and can negotiate acceptable solutions
Here’s a summary of the differences between these two professional roles:
Real Estate Agent
- Focuses on client relationships
- Searches for and shows properties
- Negotiates and advises clients
- Offers pricing opinions and strategies
An agent works on behalf of their client, guiding them through the entire process. Additionally, real estate agents are hands-on in the search process, including pricing and understanding client needs.
Transaction Coordinator
- Focuses on administrative tasks needed to coordinate the closing
- Typically hired by the real estate agent
- Cannot take action on behalf of either client
- May not offer pricing opinions or advice
The transaction coordinator manages the closing process while remaining neutral regarding the clients.
Now, real estate agents and transaction coordinators are not professional adversaries. Instead, real estate agents know that TCs are valuable partners.
Let’s discuss why this is the case.
Why Do Real Estate Agents Hire Transaction Coordinators?

Savvy real estate agents understand the many advantages of working with transaction coordinators.
Many studies outline these benefits, which include the following:
- 98% of real estate agents who partner with a TC close more transactions per month than agents who don’t work with one
- 50% of the leading real estate brokerages have transaction coordinators on staff
- A TC saves an agent, on average, 10 to 20 hours per transaction
- Agents working with a TC see a 25% improvement in productivity
- 95% of clients reported positive experiences working with a TC
- Transaction coordinators reduce errors by an average of 80%
- 70% of agents working with a transaction coordinator increase their sales within the first year
The positive numbers above clearly show the benefits of working with a real estate transaction coordinator.
In fact, real estate agents and TCs working together make a winning team.
Therefore, let us share where you can find talented, skilled transaction coordinators.
Market Leading
Real Estate Transaction Coordinators
Hand off your transactions, media, and marketing to a real estate TC.
Outstanding Transaction Coordinators With AgentUp
AgentUp is your go-to source for outstanding and affordable real estate transaction coordinator services.

As a recognized leader in the industry, AgentUp’s TC services will streamline your transactions, reduce errors, and ensure a timely, problem-free closing process.
AgentUp’s real estate transaction coordinators are highly trained, fluent in English, and experienced at working remotely. They also possess in-depth knowledge and experience of the US real estate industry.
The company makes finding the best TC services for your business easy. They offer free, 15-minute consultation calls to learn your business needs, discuss prices, and match you with the best TC services.
So, schedule a free consultation call and talk to a TC today to learn about all they offer to help you grow your business.
There are many reasons to choose to partner with AgentUp, including the following:
- Customized Services: They match you with the right services and solutions for your business needs
- US-based Customer Support: Their US-based customer support team is dedicated to offering exceptional service every step of the way
- Competitive Prices: Enjoy affordable transaction coordination services at competitive prices
- Trusted Industry Innovator: Their award-winning services have been featured on ABC, CBS, Fox News, USA Today, and industry podcasts and blogs
And there you have it!
We hope you enjoyed this article on the difference between a real estate agent and a transaction coordinator. If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to explore these additional related resources: