What is a key characteristic of an exclusive right to sell listing?

An exclusive right to sell listing is a specific agreement in real estate that grants a broker the sole right to market and sell a property. One of its defining features is that the broker is guaranteed a commission regardless of who ultimately sells the property, even if the owner finds a buyer on their own. This characteristic incentivizes the broker to invest more effort in marketing the property, as their commission is secured as long as the property is sold during the term of the listing agreement.

In contrast, other types of listings might not provide such assurances. For instance, a seller would retain the ability to sell the property without owing a commission in some situations, which is not the case with an exclusive right to sell listing. Furthermore, while the broker indeed has to be the procuring cause in many agreements, here, the focus is specifically on the commission assurance. Additionally, an exclusive right to sell listing typically cannot be revoked at any time by the seller until the agreed-upon term expires unless all parties agree to terminate the contract. Thus, the unique guarantee of commission protection for the broker is what fundamentally distinguishes this type of listing.