when the listing is open the agent who makes the sale is paid the commission not the listing agent if the homeowner finds a buyer without the assistance of an agent no one is paid a commission if the agent has an exclusive right to sell the agent earns a commission regardless of who sells the property 
understanding an open listingan open listing is also referred to as a listing agreement on a nonexclusive basis agents who directly participate in selling this property including the listing agent and the selling agent are entitled to a share of the commission if it ultimately leads to a sale sellers who are hoping for a quick sale may opt for an open listing if they don t attract a buyer during the term of the agreement they may then change to an open listing to get more prospective buyers through the door the seller may also hope to avoid paying a commission altogether that is if a buyer and a seller make a private deal independently there may be no sales commission if it is an exclusive right to sell agreement the agent is still owed the commission if it is an exclusive agency listing agents are paid only if they sell the property 1special considerationsreal estate agents can be reluctant to take on an open listing or reluctant to put much work into it because the commission is likely to be split the open listing arrangement stands to benefit the seller by offering them access to more agents to sell their property real estate firms may have rules that govern whether their agents may participate in open listing arrangements some firms allow open listings to be accepted but not advertised although the agents are allowed to engage clients they already have as potential buyers the limited potential for commissions incentives agents to focus on exclusive contracts 