Free download · 14 pages · updated for 2026
A 14-page guide covering both pre-contract listing launch and contract-to-close TLC. 4 coordinator types decoded. 14 non-negotiables. 20 interview questions with sample good/bad answers. 10 red flags. First-30-days playbook. Printable 100-point scorecard.
Agents and brokers hiring or evaluating a coordinator for the first time — or anyone who's been burned and wants to do it right next round. Covers both Transaction Coordination (contract-to-close) and Listing Coordination (signed listing → MLS live → accepted offer) as separate service lines, plus the bundle path. NC-aware. Pricing-honest. Vendor-agnostic.
Fourteen pages of actually useful, no-fluff guidance — covering both listing and transaction coordination.
Listing vs. Transaction Coordination — what's the difference?
The 2026 NC market splits the work into two service lines. Pre-contract listing launch ($150–$329) versus contract-to-close TLC ($395–$595), plus the bundle path. Decide which you actually need.
The 4 types of coordinators decoded
In-house W-2, brokerage-provided, independent 1099, and virtual assistant / overseas admin — what each is best at, where each falls down, and which one fits your volume.
Pricing models, decoded · 9-row table
MLS Lite, Listing Standard, Listing Rush, File Review, Per-File TLC, Listing+TLC Bundle, Monthly Retainer, Hourly, % of commission — with the typical range and what each model signals about the coordinator.
The 14 non-negotiables
E&O insurance covering third-party coordination (both listing AND TLC), state-specific NC expertise, documented SOPs, multi-touch deadline system, admin-only boundaries, proactive communication, wire-fraud protocol, pre-close audit, broker-compliance-ready files, post-close follow-through, MLS-from-broker-supplied-data discipline, written broker-approval evidence, documented seller-communication policy, and transparent listing-tier pricing with a bundle path. Miss one, keep looking.
20 interview questions with sample answers
Process and systems, compliance and liability, communication, capacity and continuity, track record, onboarding and pricing — with the good answer and the bad answer for each, including the listing-launch and handoff questions most agents forget to ask.
10 red flags — walk away
No proof of E&O. Working without a signed agreement. Offering legal/pricing/negotiation advice. Volunteering to write listing copy or set MLS price. No written broker-approval evidence. Vague process. Won't provide references. Aggressively low pricing. Blurred listing-vs-TLC pricing. Eager to start without qualifying you back.
First-30-days playbook
Day 1 onboarding through Day 30 review call. What signed-MSA-day looks like, how the first listing or contract file gets opened (Days 2–3), the first weekly status update (Week 1), the first inevitable problem (Week 2), the “you start forgetting about the file” rhythm (Weeks 3–4), and the 30-day check-in.
Printable 100-point scorecard
20 weighted criteria covering listing AND TLC discipline, scored 1–5 across up to 5 candidates, totaled out of 100. Below 50: do not hire. 50–75: proceed with caution. 76+: strong candidate. Bring it to every call.
NC-specific notes
The closing-attorney workflow, due-diligence period mechanics, and NCREC unlicensed-assistant boundaries on listing-side work — the questions that only matter in North Carolina.
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The 31-Point TLC Audit — 5 minutes, self-scored, seven categories, two scoring tracks (TLC core + Listing add-on).
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