Types of Mandates
Open Mandate
- Allows any agent to sell a property.
- Does not need to be in writing.
- However, it’s recommended that a written mandate be signed to fix the commission rate.
Multi Listing Mandate
- If an agent has a multi-listing arrangement with other offices, all agencies/agents in that group can market the property.
- This mandate must be in writing.
Sole Mandate
- A single agent or agency has the exclusive right to market the property.
- The seller may not give a similar mandate to another agent or agency until the mandate expires.
- The seller can still sell or let the property themselves—unless it’s a Sole and Exclusive Mandate, which includes wording such as:
- “Sole and Exclusive right to sell”, or
- “Sole Authority to sell”
- In this case, only the appointed agent or agency may sell the property before the agreed period ends (excluding the owner as well).
- The EAAB Code of Conduct requires agents to warn the public about the risk of double commission claims and to take steps to prevent them.