An open listing lets a property owner enlist multiple real estate agents to help them make a sale. Only the agent who finds a buyer earns the commission, but agents may also work together and divide the commission between them.
An open listing is a non-exclusive contract. This type of listing gives the seller or buyer the right to engage any number of brokers as agents.
Working with more than one real estate agent is fine when you haven't signed an exclusive agreement with anyone, says Adam Aguilar, a real estate agent with Reliantra in West Toluca Lake, CA. “You can use as many as you wish, unless they stop to ask you to make a commitment to them, in writing,” Aguilar adds.
Finally, there are situations in which a seller truly signs two contracts, attempting to hedge his or her bets and ensure that a deal is made. This is not generally appropriate and can wind up in litigation. In many cases, nothing bad will happen. One buyer backs out, and the second buys.
An open listing allows the seller to work with multiple agents, while a net listing gives the agent the exclusive right to sell the property.
In California, agents must be affiliated with only one broker at a time. To work for more than one brokerage, agents can attain a broker's license and present a copy to the firm.
Multiple Listing Service (MLS): What Is It An MLS is a powerful tool to further cooperative agreements between brokers for the sale of their listings and provide information necessary to permit such cooperation.
Multiple Listing Service (MLS): What Is It An MLS is a powerful tool to further cooperative agreements between brokers for the sale of their listings and provide information necessary to permit such cooperation.