In an exclusive listing, if the owner sells the property himself, what must he do regarding the commission?

• A. Pay the commission to the listing broker.
• B. Pay no commission.
• C. Pay commission only if the buyer is represented.
• D. Pay double commission to the broker.

Answer: (A)

In an exclusive listing, the broker is paid a commission if the property is sold during the listing period, regardless of who finds the buyer. So, if the owner sells the property himself, he still owes the commission to the listing broker because the contract gives the broker exclusive rights to market the property and guarantees compensation for a sale that occurs within the term. This recognizes the broker’s marketing effort and investment even if the seller happens to locate the buyer independently. The other options don’t fit because the contract generally obligates payment regardless of buyer representation, and it doesn’t provide for no payment or for paying double.