Listing contract mistakes in Minnesota are costing agents more than time—they’re costing real money. In the fast-paced Minneapolis and Twin Cities market, even experienced real estate professionals can lose income or risk compliance when key forms are misunderstood or filled out incorrectly.
At ProFile™ Transaction Management, we help Minnesota agents prevent these issues by identifying common errors and providing systems that safeguard their transactions. (Safety and compliance issues like this are covered in our Realtor Safety Tips resource.)
Why Listing Contract Accuracy Matters
A listing contract is the foundation of every real estate transaction. It sets expectations, defines compensation, and ensures compliance with both Minnesota REALTORS® and brokerage policies.
However, as new NAR compensation changes take effect, even minor documentation issues are creating confusion. Therefore, ensuring accuracy is no longer optional — it’s essential to protect your income and reputation.
Common Mistakes Minnesota Agents Are Making
The Twin Cities real estate market is adjusting to significant procedural changes. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen several recurring mistakes across listing and purchase agreements.
1. Commission Errors & Dual Payment Risks
One of the most common and expensive errors we’re seeing involves buyer’s brokers being paid twice — once through the listing broker and again directly by the seller.
This happens when:
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Agents incorrectly complete lines 129–134 of the purchase agreement.
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The Cooperative Broker Compensation Form is used incorrectly, duplicating compensation.
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Both documents include commission terms, leading to overlapping payments.
Result: The seller pays extra, and both brokers face compliance red flags.
2. Misuse of Cooperative Broker Compensation Forms
Because new form updates are still being interpreted differently across brokerages, many agents are filling out cooperative compensation forms incorrectly. Some leave key fields blank; others include information meant for separate agreements.
These mistakes not only confuse title companies but can also delay closings or trigger ethics complaints if payments appear inconsistent.
3. Overlooking Brokerage Policy Requirements
Each brokerage has its own interpretation of NAR updates, yet some agents skip the crucial step of confirming their office policy before submitting new forms.
Before sending any contract, always:
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Review your brokerage’s internal compliance memo.
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Confirm how commission percentages should be displayed.
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Reference exact line numbers and form titles when communicating with your TC or title company.
This extra step ensures alignment between your transaction coordinator, brokerage, and title company — preventing financial surprises later. This topic is part of our Compliance, Safety & Risk resources for real estate agents.
How to Avoid Listing Contract Mistakes
Fortunately, avoiding these pitfalls is straightforward when you combine education, communication, and systemized support.
1. Stay Educated Through Your Brokerage
Your broker is your compliance guide. Attend in-house training sessions, review updated forms, and stay current on Minnesota REALTORS® guidance.
2. Double-Check Every Commission Line
Before submitting, confirm that commission information appears in only one section — not both the purchase agreement and co-op compensation form.
We will continue to send out regular communications for education as we receive it from our local brokerages to aid in your education on how to properly use the forms to protect your income. If you have specific questions about a unique transaction, please reach out to your Broker. Your Broker will ensure you stay compliant within your company’s policies and ensure that you are properly compensated for your efforts.
Eventually, this will be the regular way of doing business, but in the meantime, we expect that you will encounter co-op agents that understand the forms differently and/or have no understanding of the new forms, so please be patient with them and us as we try to help navigate all the nuances these NAR changes have set into motion.
Profile TM is here to help in every way we can; however, like our other form completion services, the agent (you) have the responsibility for the content that’s entered into every form. Unlike most of the content that’s entered into a purchase agreement, these form changes have tiny variations or errors could dynamically and dramatically impact your income. It’s important for you to educate yourself through your office or NAR.
We updated our commission email to the title companies to help add clarity, see example (below, to your right etc where every it fits).
Our goal is to provide a second set of eyes to the best of our ability. We will continue to ask some basic questions for clarity. If we see something that doesn’t look “right,” we will mention it and confirm that what was requested is accurate. You, as the licensed Realtor, need to be extremely specific and clear on how you want the forms filled out, including line numbers for reference, exact text quotes and proper title of the forms you’re referring to AND exactly what line you want certain percentages or numbers entered.
We, along with your title company and brokerage, are here to support you as you learn to navigate these new processes.
3. Communicate Clearly With Your Minnesota Transaction Coordinator
At ProFile™, we act as a second set of eyes. While we cannot alter contract content, we review for missing information, inconsistencies, and formatting errors that could affect compliance.
When sending instructions to your TC, always include:
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Form title and version
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Exact line numbers
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The specific text or percentage you want entered
These details help your coordinator execute precisely and protect your income.
4. Be Patient With Co-op Agents
Change takes time. Many agents are still learning how to navigate the new forms. Approach every interaction with professionalism and patience, and use these opportunities to educate — not escalate.
How ProFile™ Transaction Management Supports You
Our goal is to support real estate professionals through every step of the transaction. From listing to closing, we monitor details, deadlines, and documentation accuracy.
We regularly update our internal processes to reflect NAR and state-level changes. Recently, we even revised our commission email template to title companies for added clarity and compliance support.
What You Can Expect From Us Your Minnesota transaction Coordinators
- Proactive communication and question follow-ups
- Transparent processes that minimize stress
- Regular updates on form and compliance changes
- Resources and visual tools from trusted partners like Keller Williams Premier Realty Lake Minnetonka
By partnering with ProFile™, you’re not just outsourcing admin work — you’re gaining a compliance partner who understands the complexities of Minnesota real estate.
Need a Transaction Coordinator?
ProFile™ is a trusted transaction coordination company helping real estate agents across Minnesota and nationwide close deals smoothly. Our professional transaction coordinators handle deadlines, communication, and file management — so you can focus on clients.
👉 Learn more about our transaction coordination services »
Final Thoughts
Minnesota’s real estate landscape is changing quickly, and proper form handling is more important than ever. By combining education, attention to detail, and professional TC support, you’ll not only stay compliant but also protect your income and reputation.
At ProFile™, we’re here to help agents adapt confidently, stay compliant, and continue growing their business with balance and clarity.