Canceling a listing contract for your home should be a straightforward process, particularly if your real estate agent hasn't brought in any potential buyers. You can ask for a release or, if it's a large firm, request a different agent. The terms of cancellation should already be spelled out in your contract.
A listing agreement should include a termination clause to outline conditions under which the property owner or real estate agent can end the contract early.
If you're set on canceling, send a formal request in writing, either via email or certified letter. Be sure to include your property address, the date, and a clear statement that you're terminating the agreement. If you want to work with a different agent in the future, be clear about the termination timeframe.
You can indeed cancel a real estate listing agreement in California. Sellers might be asking themselves, “under what circumstances?” And the answer to that is: almost any. Maybe you changed your mind and you decided you don't want to sell your house after all.
First off, without a defined expiration date, you didn't have a ratified listing agreement. Second, in California, as of 2024, you cannot have a listing agreement term for longer than 24 months, and if you essentially had an indefinite listing agreement, this would be unlawful.
Termination clauses can always be customized but standard ones are included in almost every agreement.
Canceling a listing means that the listing agreement you had in place with the seller is null and void. In order to be able to relist that same property as a new listing on the MLS, you need to get a new listing agreement with the seller.
If you wish to end the agreement, you must give written notice. Check your agreement to see how much notice you need to give. If you are not happy with an agent's services, it is important to properly end your agreement with them before signing up with another agent.