The contract-to-close period in real estate is a critical phase, filled with essential tasks and deadlines that guide the transaction to a successful conclusion. Once an offer is accepted, the real work begins, as agents and transaction coordinators (TCs) manage a range of activities, from inspections to final documentation. For many real estate professionals, keeping up with every task and staying on schedule is one of the most challenging aspects of their role. If you’re reading this, that’s probably you. Don’t worry, in this blog post we’ll show you ways to make your life ten times easier.
An effective contract to close checklist is essential, helping agents and their clients stay organized and on track. With so many stakeholders—buyers, sellers, lenders, inspectors, and title companies—all contributing to the process, a structured approach is key to avoiding miscommunication, missed deadlines, and errors. Managing these responsibilities manually, however, can be overwhelming and inefficient.
This is where automated tools, like Jointly’s automated timelines, provide a practical solution. Jointly’s automated timelines are specifically designed to streamline the contract-to-close process, providing agents and TCs with tools to track deadlines, communicate more effectively, and ensure a smooth closing.
For most agents, the contract-to-close phase involves tracking dozens of tasks across multiple parties. Without a centralized and efficient system, many rely on manual to-do lists or spreadsheets, leading to issues such as:
Often, the same events need to be managed on both sides of the transaction, but the role-specific importance of certain tasks and deadlines can differ. For example:
With Jointly, real estate professionals can manage all tasks from a central timeline, selecting which ones to set reminders for and syncing relevant deadlines to their calendars. This approach allows both agents and TCs to keep track of key tasks efficiently without overwhelming themselves or their clients.
Jointly’s automated timelines simplify the complex contract-to-close process, allowing agents and transaction coordinators (TCs) to manage tasks more efficiently and stay on top of essential dates, tasks, and documents. Here are some of the ways Jointly can help you make managing contract-to-close tasks a breeze:
Jointly’s platform provides customizable, reusable templates that ensure agents and TCs follow a consistent contract-to-close checklist across all transactions. These pre-built templates cover critical stages such as earnest money deposit, inspection periods, financing, and closing day, eliminating the need to build a checklist from scratch each time. By tailoring these templates to specific deal types or client needs, users can maintain a streamlined, consistent process without compromising flexibility.
This standardization also promotes a smoother experience for clients and all stakeholders, as everyone has a clear understanding of what’s happening next and any tasks or requirements needed.
Automatic deadline calculations make it easy for agents to set precise timelines without manually entering each date. Jointly’s system pulls information directly from deals, like offer acceptance or financing approval dates, and calculates important deadlines accordingly. This feature drastically reduces human error, saves time, and ensures accuracy in task management.
By automating these dates, agents can focus on high-priority aspects of the deal, while TCs and other team members know exactly when tasks are due, allowing everyone to work in sync and avoid missed deadlines.
Jointly’s automated timelines enable agents to assign specific contract-to-close tasks to relevant team members. Each task comes with a clear status that can be updated in real-time, allowing everyone involved in the deal to track progress at a glance. Whether it's scheduling inspections, verifying financing, or coordinating with title companies, each task has an accountable assignee, so there’s no question of who’s responsible for what.
Status tracking also provides a sense of urgency and clarity. For instance, team members can see if a task is “Pending,” “In Progress,” or “Completed,” ensuring the entire team stays aligned and on track for closing.
With Jointly, syncing deadlines with Google Calendar or Microsoft Calendar is straightforward, so agents, clients, and other stakeholders receive timely reminders about upcoming tasks. Users can set up email or text reminders to ensure they’re notified of key dates, and clients appreciate the transparent communication, which keeps them informed without needing constant follow-ups.
This feature minimizes missed deadlines and enhances client satisfaction by making them feel more involved and confident in the transaction’s progress.
Jointly’s centralized timeline offers a single source of truth that all parties, from buyer agents to sellers and their agents, can reference throughout the transaction. This shared timeline eliminates miscommunication and discrepancies, as everyone can see task deadlines, completion statuses, and any updates.
With this cohesive view, agents, TCs, and clients stay aligned from contract to close, ensuring smoother collaboration and reducing back-and-forth inquiries that can slow the process.
The benefits of using Jointly are clear: agents save time on repetitive tasks, and stakeholders remain informed throughout the process, resulting in a more organized and predictable path to closing. By automating timelines and centralizing task management, Jointly reduces stress on agents and provides clients with a professional, seamless experience, helping you to close deals with confidence.
An efficient closing process isn’t just about tasks; it’s about proactive planning and communication. Here are a few best practices:
The contract-to-close period can be complex, but with the right tools, agents and TCs can make it a smooth and organized process. A contract to close checklist not only keeps tasks organized but also helps avoid delays, ensuring a seamless experience for clients. Jointly’s automated timelines offer an ideal solution, allowing agents to stay efficient, reduce stress, and focus on what matters—closing the deal.
Ready to simplify your contract to close process? Get started with Jointly today and see how our automated timelines can help you close deals faster and with more confidence!
