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What Happens After You Send the Contract to Your Transaction Coordinator?

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:27:56 GMT

BEHIND THE SCENES

You negotiated the offer, collected the signatures, and sent the contract to your Transaction Coordinator. Now what?

For the agent, submitting the contract may feel like the finish line after days—or sometimes weeks—of negotiations. Behind the scenes, however, the contract-to-close process is just beginning.

Once a contract is submitted to SymplTC, I begin reviewing the documents, organizing the file, confirming critical information, and connecting the people who will help move the transaction toward closing.

Here is a closer look at what happens after you click “Submit.”

The Initial Contract Review

Most contracts are submitted through the Submit a Contract form on the SymplTC website. Agents will also frequently email the contract and copy the cooperating agent or Transaction Coordinator.

The first step is a detailed review of the executed contract and supporting documents. I pull and confirm important information, including:

Sales price
Earnest money and option fee amounts
Effective date and contract deadlines
Financing terms
Home warranty information, when applicable
HOA information, when applicable
Title company and escrow officer information
Survey and T-47.1 affidavit, when available
All parties and their contact information

This review often reveals information or documents that must be corrected or collected before the file can move forward efficiently.

Sometimes a contract submitted as “executed” is not actually fully executed. A required signature, initial, or acceptance date may be missing. Seller’s Disclosure Notices may be missing initials, HOA documents may not include the association’s phone number, and the buyer’s pre-approval letter or lender information is frequently left out.

Title information can also create unnecessary delays. The contract provides space for both the title company and the escrow officer, but the title company’s name is often entered in both places. That means I must circle back to determine who is actually handling the file and obtain the correct contact information.

�� QUICK TIP: A complete handoff helps prevent delays. Submit the fully executed contract along with accurate contact information for the lender, title company, and escrow officer.

Building the Transaction File

After the initial review, I build the transaction in AFrame.

All contract dates and deadlines are entered, reminders are established, and contact information is added for everyone involved in the transaction, including:

Buyers and sellers
Listing and buyer’s agents
Transaction Coordinators
Title and escrow contacts
The lender and lender team

I also load the appropriate checklist based on whether SymplTC is coordinating the seller or buyer side of the transaction.

This creates the framework I use to monitor the file from execution through closing. Each task, document, follow-up, and deadline becomes part of an organized process—not something left to memory.

Getting the Transaction Team Connected

Once the file is established, the first introduction email is sent to the transaction team. Depending on the file, that may include title, both agents, other Transaction Coordinators, the lender, and members of the lender’s team.

The complete executed contract packet is included, which may contain:

The executed contract
Financing addendum
HOA addendum or documents
Additional executed addenda
Survey and T-47.1 affidavit, when available
Other documents needed to begin processing the transaction

The goal is to make sure everyone has the documents and information needed to begin their part of the process.

Guiding the Client Through the Next Steps

The client represented by my agent also receives a separate next-steps email.

For sellers, I provide a brief overview of what comes next, the important contract dates, and copies of the fully executed documents.

For buyers, I provide information about delivering earnest money and the option fee, title company contact information, important dates and deadlines, and copies of the executed contract documents. Buyers are also given the information they need to contact the title company directly if they have questions, especially regarding the secure delivery or wiring of funds.

These early communications help clients understand what happens next and who they should contact with specific questions.

Active Coordination Through Closing

One of the biggest misconceptions about transaction coordination is that the TC enters a few dates, sends a few emails, and waits for closing.

That is not what happens behind the scenes at SymplTC.

Throughout the transaction, I am actively:

Monitoring contract dates and deadlines
Following up with title regarding earnest money and option fee receipt
Tracking the title commitment and other title documents
Conducting weekly lender check-ins
Identifying and gathering missing compliance documents
Confirming documents have been properly signed or countersigned
Preparing amendments and sending them for signature when requested
Communicating with agents, clients, title, lenders, and other TCs
Updating the checklist as each step is completed
Submitting the file for brokerage compliance review
Following the file through approval

This process can save an agent approximately 15–20 hours per transaction , giving them more time to serve their clients, generate new business, and focus on the responsibilities that require their direct involvement.

However, partnering with a Transaction Coordinator does not mean the agent can go missing once the contract is submitted. Questions will come up, decisions may be needed, and missing information may require the agent’s assistance. Prompt responses help keep the transaction moving and allow me to do my job effectively.

The strongest transactions are always built on communication and teamwork.

Preparing for Closing

As the transaction moves closer to closing, I continue working through the checklist and confirming that the file has received all required compliance approvals.

Once the necessary steps are complete and the file is approved, I request the Commission Disbursement Authorization, commonly referred to as the CDA, and send it to the title company.

My goal is to have the CDA delivered to title 7–10 days before closing , whenever possible. Meeting this goal largely depends on your brokerage’s compliance process, so I encourage you to remain responsive and help resolve any outstanding items promptly. This gives the title team time to prepare and helps reduce last-minute questions or delays involving commission disbursement.

A Smooth Closing Starts With a Strong Handoff

Behind every smooth closing is a process that begins long before closing day.

When the contract is complete, accurate contact information is provided, and communication begins early, I can organize the file and get the transaction moving without unnecessary delays.

SymplTC manages the details, monitors the deadlines, and helps keep the process on track—but the best results happen when the agent and Transaction Coordinator remain engaged and work as a team.

Have an executed contract ready? Use the Submit a Contract button below, and we’ll take it from there.

Contract Changes You Need to Know

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:15:18 GMT

TREC UPDATES

As of July 1, 2026, TREC and Texas REALTORS® rolled out updated contract forms that touch nearly every transaction you'll close this year. Here's what changed and what you need to do about it.What's Changing — The Full List

Updated Contracts (All Mandatory):

One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) — No. 20-19
New Home Contract (Completed Construction) — No. 24-20
New Home Contract (Incomplete Construction) — No. 23-20
Farm and Ranch Contract — No. 25-17
Residential Condominium Contract (Resale) — No. 30-18
Unimproved Property Contract — No. 9-18

Addenda & Amendments (All Mandatory):

Amendment to Contract — No. 39-11
Addendum for "Back-Up" Contract — No. 11-9
Addendum for Property Subject to Mandatory HOA Membership — No. 36-1

BRAND NEW FORMS:
✓ Mandatory - Seller's Disclosure about Groundwater and Surface Water Rights — No. 61-0

✓ Voluntary - Seller's Notice to Buyer of Removal of Contingency Under Back-Up Contract — No. 62-0 (replaces TXR 1913)

The Highlights — What You'll Actually Notice

The Biggest One: A Brand New Water Disclosure Form TREC 61-0 is a completely new mandatory form covering groundwater and surface water rights. It was created following a Sunset Advisory Commission directive, and it must be included in most residential transactions — the only exception is condo resales. Sellers will need to disclose this information, and it needs to be reflected in the contract under Paragraph 22. This is the one to add to your transaction checklist right now if you haven't already.

Seller's Disclosure Gets an Upgrade TREC 55-1 now asks sellers to disclose more. Specifically, Paragraph 9 has been expanded to include:

Insurance information covering the property
Private roads on or adjoining the property that the buyer would be responsible for maintaining
Existence of aboveground storage tanks
Whether the property is located in a conservation easement

This form is updated but not newly mandatory — it's available now for voluntary use.

Paragraph 12 — Compensation Gets Restructured This one affects every contract on the list. Paragraph 12 has been reorganized to separate expenses from brokerage compensation:

12A = Expenses (does NOT include brokerage fees)
12B = Brokerage Compensation — and here's the new piece: buyers now have the option to contribute to the seller's broker's compensation
12C = Lender expense limitations

This is a meaningful shift in how compensation is documented and explained to clients. Worth having a conversation with your buyers and sellers about what this means for their transaction.

"Legal Holiday" Is Now a Defined Term Paragraph 5A(2) now formally defines Legal Holiday, which directly affects how earnest money and option period deadlines are calculated. The list includes 11 holidays — notably Juneteenth (June 19) and the Friday after Thanksgiving are both included. If you've been manually tracking which days count, now the contract spells it out for you.

Generators Are Now Listed as Improvements With how common whole-home generators have become in Texas, TREC has added them to the improvements list in Paragraph 2B. This applies to resale contracts — not new home or unimproved property contracts.

Notices & Delivery — Paragraph 21 Updated Notices can now be delivered by overnight courier (added alongside mail, hand delivery, and electronic). Notices are effective when delivered to the party OR their agent. A second phone number line has also been added for each party.

Paragraph 22 — Cleaner Addenda Organization The addenda section has been reorganized into clear categories: Financial, Leases, Additional Tests and Reports, Statutory Disclosures and Notices, and Other. Many of the scattered references to addenda throughout the contract have been consolidated here. Cleaner for everyone.

Back-Up Contract — Effective Date Clarified The amended effective date in the Back-Up Contract (TREC 11-9) now triggers on the date the seller DELIVERS the termination notice to the buyer — not the date the buyer receives it. A small but important distinction, especially when timing is tight.

Compliance Corner

Your reminder to keep your transactions audit-ready:

Update your forms library now. New form numbers are in effect — check your broker's system (Transact Lonewolf, SkySlope, Dotloop, or ZipForms) to make sure updated versions are available.
Add TREC 61-0 to your standard transaction checklist. It's mandatory and brand new — it won't be in old checklists automatically.
Review open files. Any contract executed before July 1 is fine on its current forms. New contracts on or after July 1 must use the updated versions.
IABS reminder: Always provide the current IABS form at first substantive contact, with a signed acknowledgment on file. SB 1968 requirements remain in effect.
Never alter pre-printed contract language. Custom terms belong in Special Provisions or the appropriate addendum.
Calendar every deadline the moment a contract is executed. Earnest money, option period, and financing deadlines are strictly enforced — and now the Legal Holiday definition in Paragraph 5A(2) gives you more clarity on what counts.

Questions About Your Transaction Files?

Staying current on TREC forms is part of what we do every day at SymplTC — so you don't have to track it down yourself. If you have questions about how these updates affect a specific transaction, reach out anytime.

Six Habits Every Texas REALTOR® Should Never Skip

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:31:54 GMT

Compliance Corner

Compliance isn't just about passing a brokerage audit—it's about protecting your clients, reducing risk, and keeping every transaction moving toward a successful closing.

As contracts and TREC forms continue to evolve, it's easy to overlook a required signature, use an outdated document, or miss an important deadline. Those small oversights can create unnecessary delays or compliance issues.

At SymplTC , staying ahead of these changes is part of what we do. We monitor form updates, review transaction files, and help agents maintain organized, audit-ready transactions from contract to close.

Quick Compliance Checks

✓ Verify your IABS form

Ensure you're using the current Information About Brokerage Services (IABS) form and providing it at first substantive communication, with a signed acknowledgment retained in your file when required.

✓ Never modify pre-printed contract language

Texas REALTORS® and TREC forms are carefully drafted. Custom terms should be written in the appropriate addendum or Special Provisions—not by editing the printed language.

✓ Calendar every deadline immediately

As soon as a contract is executed, enter all critical dates into your calendar, including earnest money, option period, financing, appraisal, and closing deadlines.

✓ Confirm all required addenda are included

Every transaction is unique. Double-check that all applicable addenda are included based on financing type, HOA requirements, property condition, and any special circumstances.

✓ Keep your forms library current

Using outdated forms can create unnecessary compliance issues. Make it a habit to regularly update your Texas REALTORS® and TREC forms library.

✓ Protect your clients from wire fraud

Wire fraud attempts continue to increase across the real estate industry. Remind buyers and sellers that they should never trust wiring instructions received by email alone, especially if the email requests last-minute changes.

Best practices include:

Always discuss this with your clients during consultation.

Verify wiring instructions by calling the title company using a trusted phone number—not one provided in the email.

Never click links or open attachments from suspicious emails claiming to contain updated wiring instructions.

Inform clients early in the transaction that title companies rarely change wiring instructions and, if they do, those changes should always be verified by phone.

Encourage clients to contact their agent or title company immediately if something doesn't seem right.

A two-minute phone call can prevent the loss of thousands of dollars.

Why It Matters?

Strong compliance habits don't just satisfy your brokerage—they build confidence with your clients, reduce stress throughout the transaction, and help prevent costly mistakes before they happen. A well-organized file is one of the strongest indicators of a well-managed transaction.

Need an Extra Set of Eyes?

Whether you need contract-to-close coordination, compliance support, or transaction management, SymplTC is here to help keep every file organized, accurate, and on track.