Short answerA listing agreement hires a brokerage to sell your home. It sets the list price, the term, the fee, how buyer's agent compensation is handled, a protection period after it ends, and how either side can cancel. Terms of three to six months are common. Read the cancellation and protection period clauses before you sign.
The clauses that matter most
| Clause | What to check |
|---|---|
| Term | Start and end dates. A shorter term keeps the agent accountable; a longer one fits slow seasons. |
| Fee | The percentage or flat amount, when it is earned, and any minimum or transaction fee. |
| Buyer's agent compensation | Whether you agree to pay any, and how much, in writing. |
| Protection period | If a buyer who saw the home during the listing buys after it ends, a fee may still be owed. |
| Cancellation | How either side can end it early and what, if anything, is owed. |
| Agency | Whether you consent to limited agency, and the office policy. |
Exclusive right to sell
Most Indiana listings use an exclusive right to sell agreement, which means the listing brokerage earns its fee no matter who finds the buyer during the term. Ask if you have a buyer already in mind; they can sometimes be excluded in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal listing agreement length?
Three to six months is common. Ask for the term that fits your timeline and the season.
Can I exclude a buyer I already know?
Often yes, if it is written into the agreement before you sign.
Keep reading
Want to know what a buyer's inspector may find before they do?
Book a free pre listing condition walk. I walk the house with you, point out what inspectors and FHA, VA, and USDA appraisers tend to flag, and give you planning ranges so you can decide what to fix, credit, price in, or disclose.
Book a condition walkOr call or text (812) 525-5489, or email john@yourpropertynegotiator.com.
The condition walk is a REALTOR® and contractor evaluation, not a home inspection, and it does not replace one. If you have already signed a listing agreement with another agent, please take these questions to your agent.
Sources
Written by John Long, REALTOR®, 1 Percent Lists Indiana Real Estate. Working contractor who has priced hundreds of home inspection repair requests. Former labor relations negotiator for a major manufacturer and U.S. Coast Guard veteran.
John Long, REALTOR® · 1 Percent Lists Indiana Real Estate · (812) 525-5489 · yourpropertynegotiator.com
This page is general information, not a substitute for a professional home inspection, and not legal, tax, insurance, or lending advice. Ask a real estate attorney about contracts and disclosure, a CPA about taxes, your lender about loan rules, and a licensed inspector or tradesperson about your house. Nothing here guarantees a sale price, net proceeds, repair cost, payment, timeline, appraisal, inspection result, or loan approval. Cost figures are planning estimates, not bids. I own Wardmark Property Operations LLC, a contracting company. You are always free to use any contractor you choose.