---
sidebar_label: Your First Transaction
sidebar_position: 3
description: Step-by-step walkthrough of creating your first DocJacket transaction — contacts, key dates, tasks, and documents.
---

<!-- Canonical: https://help.docjacket.com/docs/getting-started/your-first-transaction -->
<!-- Source: docs/getting-started/your-first-transaction.mdx -->

# Your First Transaction

Let's walk through creating a transaction from scratch. By the end, you'll have a deal set up with contacts, key dates, and tasks — ready to manage.

## Two ways to create a transaction

From the **Transactions** page, click **New Transaction** to start with document upload and extraction. If you prefer to enter everything yourself, use the manual transaction form.

- **Upload Documents** — Upload a contract PDF and let AI do the heavy lifting
- **Create manually** — Fill in the deal details yourself

![Transactions page with the New Transaction button in the upper-right corner](/img/transactions/transactions-list.png)

### Option A: Upload Documents (recommended)

This is the fastest way. Upload contract documents and DocJacket will read through them and pull out:

- Buyer and seller names
- Property address
- Purchase price and earnest money
- Contract date, closing date, and key deadlines
- Contingency periods

1. Click **New Transaction**
2. Choose **Create New Transaction**
3. Choose the transaction side
4. Drop in PDFs, JPGs, or PNGs
5. Click **Upload & Continue**
6. Review **Smart Split** if it appears
7. Review the extracted data and save the transaction

![Upload Documents screen with Create New Transaction selected and a document drop zone](/img/getting-started/new-transaction-upload.png)

### Option B: Create manually

If you don't have a contract handy or prefer to enter details yourself:

1. Open the manual transaction form
2. Fill in the basics: property address, status, type, and side
3. Add any known key dates, financials, agents, and parties
4. Click **Create Transaction**

You can always add more details later from the transaction overview.

![Manual New Transaction form with basic information, workflow, property address, and key date fields](/img/getting-started/manual-transaction-form.png)

## Add your contacts

Every deal has people involved. Use the transaction **Contacts** tab or contacts section to add the key players:

- **Buyers and Sellers** — The principals in the deal
- **Agents** — The listing agent, buying agent, or both
- **Title Company** — Who's handling closing
- **Lender** — If there's financing involved
- **Other vendors** — Inspectors, surveyors, appraisers, etc.

You can pick from your existing contacts or create new ones on the fly.

![Transaction Contacts tab with buyers, sellers, agents, and professional services organized by role](/img/contacts/transaction-contacts-tab.png)

## Add your workflow

Use the **Tasks** tab to get the work moving:

1. Add one-off tasks with the quick-add bar
2. Use **Add checklist** when you have a reusable checklist ready
3. Use **Generate** to get suggested tasks for this transaction
4. Review due dates, assignees, priorities, and task status

Use the closing timeline on the **Overview** to track closing, contract, inspection, financing, appraisal, possession, and other important dates.

![Transaction Overview timeline showing key dates and checklist controls](/img/transactions/transaction-overview.png)

## Check your tasks

Head to the **Tasks** tab. Tasks can be grouped by checklist and filtered by status or assignee.

Priorities are:

- **Urgent**
- **High**
- **Medium**
- **Low**

You can add tasks manually, add a checklist, or let AI suggest tasks based on the transaction details.

![Transaction Tasks tab with checklist tasks, due dates, completion status, and task controls](/img/tasks/transaction-tasks-tab.png)

## You're all set!

Your first transaction is up and running. Here's what to explore next:

- [**Documents**](/docs/documents) — Upload contracts, disclosures, and other files
- [**Client Portal**](/docs/client-portal) — Share a branded portal with your clients and agents
- [**AI Features**](/docs/ai-features) — Let AI handle the busy work