RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
  • Agents
  • Brokers
  • Teams
  • Marketing
  • Coaching
  • Technology
  • More
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • Consumer
    • National
    • Our Editors
Join Premier
Sign In
RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
RISMedia
No Result
View All Result

What Is a Seller’s Agent in Real Estate?

Home Agents
By Bill Gassett
February 3, 2023
Reading Time: 4 mins read
1
What Is a Seller’s Agent in Real Estate?

Selling a home isn’t something most people are experts at, so when it’s time for you to move, hiring a real estate agent is a step most sellers find necessary.

A listing or seller’s agent will represent your interests when looking for a buyer. Though you don’t have to work with a listing agent if you don’t want to, they will make selling your home more manageable, and you should sell for more.

A listing agent plays the exact opposite role of a buyer’s agent.

What are listing agents?

Listing or seller’s agents will list your home for sale and represent your interests in the transaction. A seller’s agent does many things to ensure the homeowner gets the best price for their property. Among other things, the listing agent will:

  • Help you decide if selling now is the best option
  • Advise on how to maximize the selling price
  • Help in staging the property
  • Advise on the right selling price
  • List your property on multiple listing services
  • Market the home
  • Deal with negotiations

How a seller’s agent is paid

Seller’s agents are typically paid through commission when the home is sold. Your real estate agent isn’t going to earn until your home closes, so they have the incentive to work hard on your sale.

You will have to pay a REALTOR® commission when you sell your home. This is typically around 5-6% of the sale price, though this doesn’t all go to your agent. Half of the commission goes to the seller’s agency or brokerage, with the other half going to the buyer’s brokerage.

Brokers in those agencies will take part of the commission, paying the rest to the agents involved in the transaction. The agent marketing your home will also have other expenses they need to pay, even if they have a long gap between home sales.

Paying commission motivates your agent to help sell your home for the best price.

Avoid dual agency

While it is the seller’s agent’s job to work in the home’s owner’s best interests, there are some situations where this isn’t the case. A dual agency agreement means the agent works for both the seller and the buyer.

Though the agent might like this arrangement, as it gives them twice the earnings, it isn’t necessarily great for the seller. Often it does mean the agent will charge a lower commission to the seller, and the process could move more quickly, but it does mean a conflict of interest.

As the buyer and the seller have opposing goals, how can one agent fairly represent both interests simultaneously? For these reasons, dual agencies aren’t allowed in some states.

Does the seller’s agent also represent their broker?

While it is the seller’s agent’s job to represent their client’s interests, they also represent their real estate broker. Real estate agents have to work with a broker who oversees the transaction. Brokers have more training and are licensed to allow them to complete real estate transactions.

Though you might only think you are working with your seller’s agent to find a buyer for your home, you are also working with a broker. The agent will deal with the marketing of your home, but the broker will be responsible for ensuring the money changes hands correctly and that your financial interests are protected.

Brokers have to be licensed agents as well. You could work with a broker to sell your home, and they could deal with the entire process themselves. Usually, brokers have years of experience working as agents before they become a broker.

Comparing seller’s and buyer’s agents

As the names suggest, the seller’s agent helps sell the home, and the buyer’s agent helps the buyer make a purchase. They have similar responsibilities on opposite sides of a real estate transaction.

The seller’s agent helps the owner prepare the property for sale. The buyer’s agent will help their client clarify their most important requirements and show them suitable homes where the buyer wants to live.

The buyer’s agent helps when their client is shown a home, they will advise on the offer they should make and assist in negotiations. When the purchase is agreed upon, they will help put together the contract and advise on necessary contingencies.

Somewhat confusingly, buyer’s agents can sometimes be called selling agents. This is because they brought the buyer to the home sale, leading to it selling. Though a selling agent and a seller’s agent are easy to mix up, they are very different.

Tags: Bill Gassettbusiness advice columnHome-SellingRE/MAXSellers Agent
ShareTweetShare

Bill Gassett

Bill Gassett is the owner and founder of Maximum Real Estate Exposure.

Related Posts

Compass to Share Its Private Exclusives With Rivals, on Two Conditions
Agents

Compass to Share Its Private Exclusives With Rivals, on Two Conditions

July 11, 2025
Compass
Agents

Compass Expands in Colorado with Affiliation of PorchLight Real Estate Group

July 11, 2025
NAHB Awards Program Now Accepting Applications
Industry News

NAHB Awards Program Now Accepting Applications

July 11, 2025
PAVE
Industry News

HUD, OMB Eliminate Core Policies From Biden-Era Home Appraisal Task Force

July 11, 2025
media
Agents

Rich Media Isn’t a Luxury. It’s Your New Standard.

July 11, 2025
Affordability
Industry News

Housing Affordability Melts as Market Heats Up for Summer

July 11, 2025
Please login to join discussion
Tip of the Day

More Face Time: 3 Ways to Boost Engagement With Selfie-Style Content

In the age of TikTok, hyper-polished, overly-produced videos are a thing of the past. Today's most effective social media content is simple, scrappy and all you need is your phone. Read more.

Business Tip of the Day provided by

Recent Posts

  • Compass to Share Its Private Exclusives With Rivals, on Two Conditions
  • Compass Expands in Colorado with Affiliation of PorchLight Real Estate Group
  • NAHB Awards Program Now Accepting Applications

Categories

  • Spotlights
  • Best Practices
  • Advice
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Social Media

The Most Important Real Estate News & Events

Click below to receive the latest real estate news and events directly to your inbox.

Sign Up
By signing up, you agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

About Blog Our Products Our Team Contact Advertise/Sponsor Media Kit Email Whitelist Terms & Policies ACE Marketing Technologies LLC

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • News
    • Agents
    • Brokers
    • Teams
    • Consumer
    • Marketing
    • Coaching
    • Technology
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • National
    • Our Editors
  • Publications
    • Real Estate Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Custom Covers
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Podcasts
    • Event Coverage
  • Education
    • Get Licensed
    • REALTOR® Courses
    • Continuing Education
    • Luxury Designation
    • Real Estate Tools
  • Newsmakers
    • 2025 Newsmakers
    • 2024 Newsmakers
    • 2023 Newsmakers
    • 2022 Newsmakers
    • 2021 Newsmakers
    • 2020 Newsmakers
    • 2019 Newsmakers
  • Power Broker
    • 2025 Power Broker
    • 2024 Power Broker
    • 2023 Power Broker
    • 2022 Power Broker
    • 2021 Power Broker
    • 2020 Power Broker
    • 2019 Power Broker
  • Join Premier
  • Sign In

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

X