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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Hi William Collins 

  

     Most will say this is nothing more than a pocket listing, an effort to keep the entire commission for the listing office.  And I agree.

 

   Some may argue "What if?" an office exclusive listing can offer the Seller a lower commission, since there will be no "Other Side" broker involved.  But that is rarely the case. 

 

    If I have a Fiduciary with a Seller, it is in his/her best interest to expose the property to as many Buyers as possible. 

    Yes, there may be some exceptions including high-end properties and luxury homes. 

     But for the average residential property, the Seller needs to get as many eyeballs on the page as possible, and as many qualified feet in the door as are necessary to get a highest and best offer.

 

Oct 01, 2026 09:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,786,582
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP
Big Block Team @ LPT Realty 858.232.8722 - San Diego, CA
Coastal San Diego, Veterans & Retirees Services

Unless your office has every Top Producer in your county
under one roof and...
If you want to limit your listing's exposure and possibly violate your fiduciary duty, go for it! Otherwise...I'm thinking like
P.T. Barnum who said...

"Without promotion, something terrible happens... nothing!"




Oct 01, 2026 10:08 AM
Rainmaker
1,192,162
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

We just keep getting further and further from the true spirit of the MLS. We can't show splits. We don't share listings. What's next?

Oct 01, 2026 11:31 AM
Rainmaker
974,178
Jeff Pearl
Realty One Group Capital / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Not a fan. Just another way around Clear Cooperation.

Oct 01, 2026 10:52 AM
Rainmaker
2,908,414
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I think it's NOT the best thing for the Seller William Collins 

Oct 01, 2026 09:21 AM
Ambassador
3,661,645
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Real Estate Svcs.
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

IF, and that is a BIG IF, the seller understands what it means and is 100% okay with it, then it is between the seller(s) and the brokerage/listing agent.

I am not a fan of them. 

Oct 01, 2026 09:11 AM
Rainmaker
509,901
Adam Feinberg
Howard Hanna Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

I believe in full transparency. We do have a lot of super wealthy and famous individuals- and I can understand in these situations where the seller is ok with less exposure and potentially a lower sales price in exchange for privacy- but these are the rare situations where I can justify a private listing. In conversations with other brokers- someone mentioned where the seller is a domestic violence situation and want to maintain privacy- and again I could understand the need for privacy (or similar types of safety reasons) that would fit into a private listing situation. 

Oct 01, 2026 06:23 PM
Rainmaker
20,306
Corinne Guest
Corinne Guest - Lake Barrington, IL
Retired Broker. FX Trader, Golden Retrievers.

One word. Why?

Oct 01, 2026 12:46 PM
Rainmaker
590,696
Matthew Sturkie, CRS, GRI 909-969-3805
Action Realty - Apple Valley, CA
CRS, GRI 909-969-3805

Exactly what Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Real Estate Svcs. said.

Oct 01, 2026 09:15 AM
Rainmaker
3,076,991
Richie & You
pearlsforthesoul.com - Cedar City, UT
Author & Consultant

A brand name or a large outfit has to produce and if not using a known branding, for office space, an exclusive, might work against you William Collins 

Oct 01, 2026 11:26 AM
Ambassador
7,483,137
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Foolish, and an ethical violation.

Oct 01, 2026 05:53 PM
Rainmaker
858,075
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I am absolutely against them.  We created the Multiple Listing Service decades ago to discourage this self serving action.  Our strength and reason to survive depends on the MLS.

Oct 01, 2026 10:06 AM
Rainmaker
5,067,952
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

There are many different business models.  Some not as good as others and some that have the ability to be head-scratching at best.  It's a big world.  

Oct 02, 2026 04:52 AM
Rainmaker
6,223,207
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP has the overall explanation and Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Real Estate Svcs. provided for the exception. If one office has too many, things get fishy. Never was a fan.  

Oct 02, 2026 04:30 AM
Rainmaker
6,661,552
Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner
Denver, CO
Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

I too think they are nothing but a pocket listing and an attempt to keep the listing (and sale) in the same office.   It is not in the best interest of the seller.  I have never done one.  The sellers need and deserve as much exposure they can get.

Oct 01, 2026 10:56 PM
Rainmaker
6,069,028
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

I think it depends on the situation. I've used office exclusives to sell listings before a seller was ready to fully list/show and had success in doing a quick sale at top dollar.

Oct 02, 2026 05:33 AM
Ambassador
5,753,973
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I would not do it myself.  When I am listing a home for sale, I want the whole world to see it.

Oct 02, 2026 05:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,541,448
Peter Mohylsky, Broker
Property Management Inc.-Destin - Sandestin, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Not a fan even though it is. Big point with some major brokerages, 

Oct 02, 2026 04:14 AM
Ambassador
2,612,062
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

William Collins In my opinion, it isn't in the spirit of cooperation or in the seller's best interest, because when we work with other agents and give the seller more exposure, they will most likely get a better price for their property. 

Oct 02, 2026 12:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,616,314
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

There are valid use cases for this.  There should be fully informed seller consent, similar to what NY State has enacted with their mandatory form, and if a seller wishes to do so that is their choice and who is NAR or any Realtor/Realtor Association to tell them what they can and cannot do with their home?

 

I am not in favor of the complete bans that are being discussed in some states.  The government needs to GTFO of our lives and businesses.  I say this as a Citizen, a Realtor, and a gun owner in California.

Oct 02, 2026 10:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,726,878
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate has this issues pretty well covered IMO.

Oct 02, 2026 01:54 PM
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