There are several different types of listing
contracts, but very few of them are used. The "Exclusive
Right to Sell" is the most common, but there is the "open
listing," the "exclusive agency listing," and
the "one-time show."
Open Listing.
The "open listing" is mostly
used by people trying to sell their home by owner who are also
willing to work with real estate agents. Basically, it gives
a real estate agent the right to bring buyers around to view
your home. If their client buys your home, the agent earns a
commission. There is nothing exclusive about an open listing
and a home seller can give out such listings to every agent
who comes around.
For that reason, no agent is going to market
your home or put it in the Multiple Listing Service. If your
home fits the criteria for one of their clients, and it is convenient,
they may be willing to show it to their client. That is all
an "open listing" is good for.
One Time show
A "one-time show" is similar
to an open listing in many respects, as it is most often used
by real estate agents who are showing a FSBO (for sale by owner)
to one of their clients. The home seller signs the agreement,
which identifies the potential buyer and guarantees the agent
a commission should that buyer purchase the home. This prevents
the buyer and seller from negotiating directly later and trying
to avoid paying the agent’s commission.
As with an open listing, agents will not
be spending money on marketing your home and it will not be
placed in the Multiple Listing System.
Exclusive Agency Listing
An "exclusive agency" listing
allows an agent to list and market your home, guaranteeing them
a commission if the house sells through any real estate agent
or company. It also allows sellers to seek out buyers on their
own.
This is not a popular type of listing agreement.
The reason is that there is not much incentive for agents to
spend money marketing your home. If you come up with your own
buyer, they have spent money they cannot earn back through the
real estate commission. Plus, it is too easy for a greedy buyer
to go around the agent and negotiate directly with the seller.
If you find an agent willing to accept
such a listing, do not expect too much from them. They will
probably just place it in the Multiple Listing Service and sit
around to see if something happens. A good agent would never
accept such a listing, and you probably want a good agent.
Exclusive Right to Sell
Giving a real estate agent the "exclusive
right to sell" your property does not mean that there will
not be other agents involved. Your agent is the listing agent
and part of his or her job is to market your home to other agents
who work with buyers. Those agents will show your home to their
clients. Regardless of who sells the home, even if you sell
it yourself to a friend at work, your listing agent will earn
a commission.
An exclusive right to sell is the only
type of listing an effective real estate agent will accept.
This is because they have a reasonable expectation of earning
back any money they spend on promoting and marketing your property.