When listing your home with us, we will start the paperwork for the listing. This will outline all of the agreed upon terms, including the asking price of the property, our commission, length of the agreement, cancellation policy and other details that will govern how the listing is handled. As a homeowner, it's important to choose the right listing agreement to fit your needs.

• Evaluate Your Options

We do return your calls promptly, answer your questions and provide a listing agreement that coincides with any verbal agreements that we may have had regarding the listing. For instance, if you tell us that you only want to list your property for six months, we make sure the paperwork reflects six months and not one year or longer. In addition, we make sure that your asking price is the same in the agreement as you agreed upon in earlier discussions.

• Exclusive Right-To-Sell Real Estate Agreement

This agreement is the most common in the real estate industry. With this agreement, we will earn a commission when the property is sold whether by us or you. Always make sure you understand what you are signing.

• Open Real Estate Listing Agreement

This type of contract allows a homeowner to list with more than one REALTOR® in a non-exclusive manner. The agent responsible for presenting a buyer who purchases the property will receive the commission. If the owner eventually sells the home without the help of a these REALTOR®, they are not required to pay anyone a commission. Real estate professionals would rarely market the property since there is no assurance that they will ever get paid for their time, effort, and marketing expenditures. That's why an Open Listing Agreement is not common with REALTORS®, but it is one option to consider.

• Exclusive Real Estate Agency Listing

This type of agreement requires that the homeowner list their property with only one real estate broker. Unlike an Open Listing Agreement, where the homeowner can list their property with multiple REALTORS®, an Exclusive Agency Listing entails only one broker being granted permission to list the home.

• Read The Fine Print

Before signing any type of contract, you must read over every detail to ensure that it represents the full agreement between you and your real estate professional. Some things to consider include the length of the contract. Some REALTORS® prefer to have a minimum of one year to list a property, but the you will have the option to negotiate. Some owners prefer a shorter term, such as six months.

Every real estate contract should outline a cancellation policy, which will provide details surrounding a release and/or fees and penalties. Some agents will offer a cancellation policy that allows the homeowner to cancel the contract by providing a 30-day written notice at any time.