Hey Jason, I have never used a checklist. Your broker should be assisting you in this process as you go. Surely, he or she can help you with a checklist as you go either as sellers agent or buyers agent in your transactions.I guess there are forms out there but I never looked, or maybe I misunderstand your question-is has been a long day.

Hi Jason,

I like the checklist approach.  In California, through winforms, there is a pretty good checklist that you can use.  My guess is that you have the same thing available in Texas.

Our office has a transaction coordinator as well.  We pay a little more ($400) per transaction.  The lady who does this for us is awesome, and keeps things moving along nicely and on schedule.  I get a call if there are any problems.  I strongly recommend that you use the transaction coordinator and use the extra time you will have generating leads.  By the way, the MREA book is your best friend.

Good luck!

I guess once we get going the procedure to follow is automatic, I do lists for the buyers sothey don't get confused..

Jason - My opinion on using transaction coordinators is twofold:

Newer agents: Really need to learn the entire process from finding a client to follow up after close and everything in between. Understanding this process, and it's trails and tribulations, is critical. It would be difficult to educate your clients if you don't live it and understand it yourself.

Established agents: If your business is at a point where utilizing a transaction coordinator will allow you to better serve your clients, then by all means, do it.

Check out Top Producer 7i, for most Agents that have 7i we don't make the most out of it. Now if you do?, you will have more ways of making templates of Checklists-Buyer/Seller Marketing plans, Incrediable Follow-Up plans that will blow your prospects mind.

P.S

You DID'NT HEAR IT FROM ME.....REALLY.

Richard Harris

It's a good life!

And for Keller Williams agents, there is a special version of Top Producer called ProManage and it includes all the Touch 33 and stuff that they teach in Millionaire Real Estate Agent.  There is also video training on how to work Promanage on KW Connect.

Jason,

I made a check list myself because my office didn't have anything that fit what I wanted.  I'm not sure what computer they're on - I think the OTHER one.  I could send you them by e-mail and you can change them to fit what you need.

I am in a team and the check lists are very important because if one person does something and notes it - then the next person knows what's been done and what needs done.

We are speaking with a new agent later today about working with us, I think it will be very well worth it to hire her to oversee our pendings.  I will want her to use our check lists, so we'll always be able to grab a file and know exactly what has been done and what still needs done.

I guess you will need to go to my site and e-mail me so I'll have your e-mail address.  I didn't see it on your site.

Jason, I took a quick look at your site. no pic of you. You have one on here so you should have one there, real important for the cutomer to idenify with. I agree with Jay that in the begining you should be handleing all aspects of the deal and savre yourself a few bucks to boot. As far as a checklist I have a real simply one if you like, I can email it over in a PDF. Just send me an email from my site. Best of luck in your venture.

I spent 8 years in the Army, so I know exactly what you mean.  But I do agree with Jay, you should handle it yourself and develop your own checklist.  Your going to learn a lot more by going through the process over and over again, making you a better agent.  You will know when it's time to get help, you won't have time to think.

Jason, welcome to this crazy world of real estate.

Hopefully this will help:

Buyer's Handbook: http://www.greatiowahomes.com/buyers/handbook.cfm

Seller's Handbook: http://www.greatiowahomes.com/sellers/handbook.cfm

It's from a brokerage in Iowa, but it's pretty detailed and I found it helpful myself.

Good luck.

Our office transaction coordinator charges $150 per transaction.  It is cheap enough that I use her as a double check against my work.

Esstentially, I generate the paperwork and then pass it to the transaction coordinator to review and manage.

She also tracks the REPC deadlines (in case I drop the ball), coordinates showings, and schedules events (appraisal, property inspection, closing, etc.)

So, basically I agree that you should do the paperwork yourself (especially as a "newbie") but a transaction coordinator is an absolute necessity just to make sure you don't miss something.

Jason,

I am a fellow Keller Williams Agent and you are with the right company ... actually, no offense to everyone out there, but KW is the best company by far!  Ron Tarvin hit it on the nose, the Pro Manage is excellent!  Get Top Producer 7i ... it's $39.95 a month and has all you need.  However, since you work 9 hours a day ... if you have time, take an extra hour and take advantage of KW Connect and all the outstanding tools Keller Williams has to offer on-line.   Here's what I do (and 99% of my clients are okay with it)... First of all, ALWAYS use a transaction coordinator.  Work with one for your few two or three transactions so you know how to do it but our job is not to deal with paperwork, it's to help our clients to buy and sell real estate.  I let my clients know from the get go that part of my fees includes a transaction coordination fee.   I charge my clients the $350 transaction fee (which pays my transaction coordinator at close of escow ...it's part of their closing costs) and they have no problem with the fee because they all agree that they would much rather have me spend my time selling their home or closing their purchase then doing paperwork.  

Take care and hope to meet you in Atlanta at next year's Keller Williams Family Reunion!  

Hello to all,

I agree with Jay, You'll learn more from doing. But, I would strongly suggest you make your own checklists. you'll be more organized and nothing will fall through the cracks.

I also agree with Matthew, Keller Williams is by far the best. The culture, the training, the respect.....is priceless!!

P.S. Before you knock KW, please get company information from your local KW office. Ask to see the Team Leader, tell them who referred you to KW. Hope to see You In Atlanta in February 2008 for family reunion.

I say make your own and follow it along to learn as well. Everyone has their own style that works for them. I am in a team and we use Google Spreadsheets with our checklists for buyers and sellers. This way we can access it anywhere, anytime and we are always on top of our dates. spreadsheets.google.com

We also use SettlementRoom.com. It will save you time in the long run. This is an online program that allows you to upload all of the contracts and contacts that are being used in the transaction and emails them with a login. This way they are not coming to you constantly asking you to fax or email something. It is all on the web for them to access whenever they need it. Frees you up to do more prospecting.