Questions to Ask Before Signing a TC Service Agreement

Questions to ask before signing a TC agreement matter more than most brokerage owners realize until they’re a few months in and finding scope gaps the hard way. A service agreement that looks simple on the surface can hide real differences in what you’re paying for.

Quick answer: Before signing, ask about exact scope (what’s included versus billed as an add-on), pricing structure and what triggers a higher tier, cancellation and notice terms, what happens to fees if a deal falls through, state coverage, and who handles your files day to day. Get every answer in writing inside the agreement, not only verbally during the sales call.

What should I ask about pricing and scope?

Ask exactly what’s included at the quoted price and what counts as an add-on. Short sales, 1031 exchanges, or unusually high addenda counts often carry extra charges that aren’t obvious from a rate sheet. Ask whether the price covers both sides of a transaction or one side only. Compare the answer against a full breakdown like our post on what’s included in a contract-to-close package, so you’re not comparing an inclusive quote from one provider against a stripped-down one from another.

What should I ask about what happens if a deal doesn’t close?

Ask directly: is there a fee if the transaction falls through, and under what circumstances would a fee still apply? A vague “yes, guaranteed” answer without detail is a reason to push further, not a reason to relax. Our own policy is that in most cases there’s no coordination fee if the deal doesn’t close, with an exception when listing-side work was already performed on that file. We explain the full reasoning in our post on what “no fee if it doesn’t close” means. Any provider should be able to give you an equally specific answer.

What should I ask about cancellation and contract length?

Ask how much notice is required to cancel, whether there’s a minimum contract term, and what happens to files already in progress if you terminate. Some agreements auto-renew annually with a narrow cancellation window, so find that clause before you sign, not when you’re trying to leave. This overlaps heavily with the language covered in our post on TC service-level-agreement red flags.

What should I ask about who handles my files?

Ask whether your files go to a dedicated coordinator or get routed to whoever’s available, and what the backup process looks like if your usual coordinator is out. Ask how deadlines are tracked (manually, by software, or both) and how quickly you can expect a response when something needs urgent attention. This is where the difference between a fully automated tool and a hybrid service with real people shows up in practice; see our comparison of AI-plus-human hybrid versus traditional TC models.

What should I ask about coverage area?

If your brokerage operates in more than one state, ask whether the provider has working knowledge of each state’s requirements, or whether “coverage” means availability without local expertise behind it. Simply Closed covers 49 states and Washington D.C., and we’ll tell you plainly where our team has the deepest day-to-day experience: Colorado and Texas, where our founder is licensed.

What should I ask about communication and reporting?

Ask how often you’ll get status updates, whether there’s a dashboard or portal or only email, and who to escalate to if a file stalls. A provider that can’t answer this clearly during the sales process usually can’t deliver it consistently once you’re a customer either. That’s why running through these questions to ask before signing a TC agreement matters more than comparing rate sheets alone. The National Association of Realtors publishes broader guidance on vetting real estate service vendors that’s worth a skim alongside this list.

Frequently asked questions

Should I ask for references from current brokerage clients?

Yes. A provider confident in their service should be willing to connect you with at least one current client of similar size or file volume to yours.

Should I ask about data security and access to my files?

Yes, especially who has access to sensitive buyer and seller information and how it’s stored. This matters more the larger your file volume gets.

Is it reasonable to negotiate contract terms before signing?

Generally yes, particularly cancellation notice periods and minimum term length. A provider unwilling to discuss reasonable terms at all is telling you something.

Once you have answers to these, compare them against our own terms on the pricing page, or get started and ask us the same list directly.