Last reviewed: October 29, 2026. Laws, tax rates and programs change — confirm details with the official sources below and your lender, title company, insurance agent or attorney. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Brokerage relationships in Florida
Florida law allows a real estate licensee to work with you as a transaction broker or as a single agent, and presumes a transaction broker relationship unless you agree otherwise in writing. Your agent must give you the required disclosures. You can verify any Florida license on the DBPR license lookup.
Pricing
Your agent studies comparable homes that recently sold, are under contract or are competing now, then walks you through a pricing strategy. See how to price your home in today’s South Florida market.
Preparing the home
Expect a walkthrough with practical advice on repairs, cleaning, staging and what not to spend money on. Your agent can also suggest contractors, inspectors or photographers.
Marketing
Professional photos, a complete MLS listing, online syndication, signage, and outreach to buyer agents. Bilingual marketing helps in a market like South Florida. Your listing agreement should say what marketing is included.
Showings and feedback
Your agent coordinates showings and open houses, keeps your home secure, and reports buyer and agent feedback so you can adjust if needed.
Offers and negotiation
When offers arrive, your agent explains price, deposit, financing, inspection period, appraisal terms and closing date, and negotiates for you. The best offer is not always the highest number.
Contract to close
After you accept an offer, your agent tracks deadlines, coordinates the inspection and any repair requests, the appraisal, the HOA or condo estoppel, and works with the title company and the buyer’s agent through closing.
Compensation
Brokerage compensation is negotiable and isn’t set by law. It’s spelled out in your written listing agreement. Ask any agent you interview to explain their compensation and what is included.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a listing agent to sell my home in Florida?
No, owners can sell on their own. A listing agent handles pricing, marketing, negotiation and the contract-to-close process, which many sellers find worth it.
What is a transaction broker in Florida?
It’s the brokerage relationship Florida law presumes unless you agree otherwise in writing. A transaction broker gives limited representation to a buyer, a seller or both, with duties set out in Florida Statutes s. 475.278.
How much does a listing agent cost?
Compensation is negotiable and is set out in your listing agreement. We’ll explain ours clearly before you sign anything.
How do I choose a listing agent?
Ask about their pricing approach, marketing plan, local experience, communication and how they handle negotiations. Verify their license with the Florida DBPR.