The agent who represents the seller
A listing agent works for the seller. The job is to price the home, prepare it for market, market it to buyers, evaluate offers, and guide the seller through inspection responses, appraisal issues, and closing. In Michigan, that relationship is created by a written listing agreement, usually with a set term and a clear description of the services and compensation.
The agent's loyalty runs to the seller, but the agent also has duties of honesty and fair dealing toward buyers. That line matters when a buyer asks questions the agent cannot answer because the answers belong to the seller.
How listing compensation is handled
National Association of Realtors MLS policy prohibits offers of compensation on an MLS. Compensation can still be negotiated off-MLS, and a buyer may ask a seller to pay an agreed buyer-broker amount as a term of the purchase offer. The listing agreement and any later purchase agreement should show what the parties authorize.
What has not changed is that all commissions and fees are negotiable. There is no standard rate set by law or by the MLS. Every listing agreement should spell out what the seller will pay, what services are included, and how buyer-agent compensation will be handled. Ask for that in writing.
A seller should evaluate any compensation request alongside price, concessions, financing, and the rest of the offer rather than use a claimed standard practice. The financial terms are negotiable; legal questions about the agreements belong with a Michigan real estate attorney.
What to look for in a listing agent
- A clear written explanation of services, term, and compensation.
- A pricing process based on comparable sales, not enthusiasm or a number you want to hear.
- A marketing plan that includes MLS exposure, professional photography, and online distribution.
- A team or support system so deadlines are covered when one person is unavailable.
- Local knowledge of Washtenaw County disclosures, tax proration, and common inspection issues.
Comparable sales inform the pricing range
Before marketing begins, a listing agent pulls comparable sales to arrive at a pricing range. Learn how to think about those comps in our guide tocomparable sales.