Listing agreement
The contract between a seller and a listing agent. It says who represents the seller, for how long, what commission gets paid, and under what conditions. Read it before you sign it.
Get the steps of a home sale by email, in order, one short email at a time.
Eight short emails, free. Unsubscribe any time. What's in them
Where this comes up in a sale, and what follows
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
It is the contract with your agent: the term, the fee, and what happens if you cancel or sell to somebody you found yourself. It is signed before any of the selling starts, so it is the moment to ask about all three.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
A six-month agreement at a stated fee. If you end it at month two, the agreement says whether you owe anything and whether a buyer the agent introduced still counts after it ends.
| The clause | What it decides |
|---|---|
| Term | How long you are committed, and what ending early costs |
| Commission | The fee, and whether it covers the buyer's agent |
| Protection period | Whether a buyer the agent showed still pays a commission after the term |
| Exclusions | Anyone you can sell to without owing the fee |
Four clauses decide most of what the agreement will cost you. All four are negotiable before signing.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That it is a formality. It is the most expensive contract in the sale after the purchase agreement, and it is the only one you sign alone.
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 listing agreement 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.
Organize my saleFree to set up. Pay once when you list: $89 or $189. 7-day refund.