How Long of a Listing Should Sellers Sign?

How long of a listing should sellers sign? Below is a previous post for another website written by Elizabeth. This topic is relevant, timeless and a question sellers are curious about. Enjoy. — JaCi Wallace

Sellers rarely question the length of their listing contracts. They simply accept whatever term the agent puts into the listing agreement. However, it is the seller’s responsibility and legal right to choose the length of the listing. Although, agents can help guide a seller by suggesting a listing term based on the average days on market, it is not the agent’s decision to make. It is the seller’s.

I prefer to take six-month listings, but it also depends on what the seller prefers. For me, it’s less paperwork to take a six-month listing (instead of re-listing at the 90-day mark because we went into escrow on Day 61). But to compensate for longer listing terms, I give my sellers a guarantee that I will cancel the listing at any time if they are unhappy with my performance and service. I have yet to work with a seller who asked me to cancel a listing, but the offer is always there. Because should a situation arise, for some reason, that cannot be resolved, I would rather let my seller go than hold an unhappy consumer to a contract.

Not all real estate agents will give a guarantee, however. Once you sign that listing agreement, you are legally bound to work with that agent, providing the agent continues to work for you. Some real estate brokerages will not release a seller under any circumstances. They might offer to assign a different agent at the company to work that listing, but they won’t let the seller go. I guess those companies don’t mind the bad publicity and ill feelings.

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If you would like to list your property, please call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors with RE/MAX Gold. We can be reached at 916-233-6759.

Elizabeth Weintraub