Exclusive-right-to-sell listing
National Real Estate Exam glossary · Contracts
Definition
A listing agreement under which the listing broker earns a commission no matter who procures the buyer — including the owner — during the listing period. It gives the broker the greatest protection and is the most common form.
Exclusive-right-to-sell listing in plain English
This is the agent-friendly opposite of exclusive-agency: you hire one broker, and they get paid if the home sells during the listing period NO MATTER who found the buyer — even if you found the buyer yourself. Think of it like a personal trainer whose contract says they get paid if you get in shape, whether the workout that did it was theirs or a jog you took alone; the deal covers all outcomes during the term. Because the broker can't get cut out of their commission, they'll happily pour money and effort into marketing it, which is exactly why this is the most common type of listing.
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