Which listing type grants a broker an exclusive right to act as agent while the owner retains the right to sell without paying a commission?

Which listing type grants a broker an exclusive right to act as agent while the owner retains the right to sell without paying a commission?

• A. Exclusive Right to Sell Listing
• B. Open Listing
• C. An exclusive agency listing
• D. Net Listing

Answer: (C)

Think about how commissions are triggered under different listing agreements. An exclusive agency listing gives the broker the exclusive right to market and act as the seller’s agent, but the seller keeps the freedom to sell the property themselves without owing a commission. The broker earns a commission only if the sale is procured by the broker (or another licensed agent acting on their behalf); if the seller personally finds a buyer, no commission is due. This matches the scenario described: the broker has exclusive rights to represent and market the property, yet the owner retains the right to sell without paying a commission if they find a buyer on their own. Why the other types don’t fit as precisely: an exclusive right to sell would require the broker to be paid a commission regardless of who procures the buyer, even if the seller finds the buyer themselves. An open listing involves no single exclusive broker and often leads to multiple brokers competing to sell, with the principal paying a commission only to the broker who actually brings a buyer. A net listing focuses on a net seller price and is not about exclusive rights or who pays commissions.

Think about how commissions are triggered under different listing agreements. An exclusive agency listing gives the broker the exclusive right to market and act as the seller’s agent, but the seller keeps the freedom to sell the property themselves without owing a commission. The broker earns a commission only if the sale is procured by the broker (or another licensed agent acting on their behalf); if the seller personally finds a buyer, no commission is due.

This matches the scenario described: the broker has exclusive rights to represent and market the property, yet the owner retains the right to sell without paying a commission if they find a buyer on their own.

Why the other types don’t fit as precisely: an exclusive right to sell would require the broker to be paid a commission regardless of who procures the buyer, even if the seller finds the buyer themselves. An open listing involves no single exclusive broker and often leads to multiple brokers competing to sell, with the principal paying a commission only to the broker who actually brings a buyer. A net listing focuses on a net seller price and is not about exclusive rights or who pays commissions.