Exclusive agency listing
A listing where the agent gets paid only if they or another agent finds the buyer. If the seller finds the buyer alone, no commission is owed.
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Where this comes up: getting ready
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Under exclusive agency, you owe the agent nothing if you find the buyer yourself. Agents rarely offer it, and the listing agreement is where the difference is written.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
You sign an exclusive agency agreement. A neighbor's brother buys the house directly from you, with no agent involved.
| Who finds the buyer | What you owe under exclusive agency |
|---|---|
| Your agent, or another agent | The commission in the agreement |
| You, with no agent involved | Nothing |
| The same under exclusive right to sell | The commission, whoever found the buyer |
The word agency means the agent is paid for an agent's buyer, not for yours.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That all listing agreements are the same. The one line about who found the buyer is worth thousands.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Your Room defines exclusive agency listing in the step you meet it in, beside the document or the date it belongs to. Free to set up, with an agent or on your own.
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