Listing agreements and the costs of selling

A listing agreement sets the commission, the term, exclusivity and what the broker does. Read it, and know the other costs of selling.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 2 min read

Key points

Check commission, term, exclusivity, termination and who pays extra costs.
Other costs of selling: haul-out, cleaning, berth, finance payoff, taxes and de-registration.
A gain on the sale can be taxable where you live. Ask your adviser.

What the agreement covers

Commission. The percentage or the fixed fee, what it applies to, and when it is paid. It is normally paid at closing from the sale price.
Exclusivity. An exclusive listing gives one broker the right to sell. An open listing lets several brokers advertise. Ask how each affects the price and the effort.
Term. How long the agreement runs, and whether it renews automatically.
Termination. How you can leave, with what notice, and whether a fee applies.
Protection period. If a buyer the broker introduced buys after the agreement ends, the commission may still be due.
Services. Photos, video, portals, viewings, sea trials, the deposit and the paperwork. See The brokerage marketing plan.
Price and authority. Who may accept an offer, and whether the broker may reduce the price.

Ask before you sign

What does the commission cover, and what costs extra?
What is the marketing plan, in writing?
Who holds the deposit? See The deposit: how escrow protects you.
How often will I get a report on viewings and enquiries?
What happens to my boat's listing if I end the agreement?

Other costs of selling

Haul-out and crane for the buyer's survey, if the agreement puts them on you. See Survey and sea trial: how it works, who pays, what happens next.
Cleaning, detailing and repairs. See Cosmetic staging and detailing.
Berth fees while the boat is on the market.
Loan payoff costs and early repayment charges. See Closing, paying off finance and de-registration.
Registration and de-registration fees. See Transfer of ownership, flag change and de-registration.
Survey and valuation before listing. See Pre-listing survey and mechanical audit.

Tax on the sale

A gain on the sale can be taxable in the country where you live, and the rules depend on your residence, how long you owned the boat and how you used it. Ask a tax adviser before you accept an offer.

Get it reviewed

Have a lawyer read the agreement if the boat is valuable, the term is long, or the clauses are unusual.

Also useful at step 7 Sell privately or with a broker?

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check your own case with a professional or ask us.