Open listing
A non-exclusive agreement where the seller can list with several agents at once. Only the agent who actually brings the buyer gets paid.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
An open listing lets you list with several agents and pay only the one who brings the buyer. Few agents will market a home they might not be paid on, so it rarely gets the MLS exposure a real listing does.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
You give three agents an open listing. One brings a buyer and earns the fee; the other two did little more than tell a few clients.
| What happens | Who is paid |
|---|---|
| Agent A brings the buyer | Agent A only |
| You find the buyer yourself | Nobody |
| Nobody markets it much | The usual result; there is no reason to spend on a listing you may not be paid for |
An open listing costs nothing until it sells, and it is marketed accordingly.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That more agents means more exposure. Without an exclusive, each one has little reason to invest.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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