Yeah but how hard is it really to give up something you never have anyway ? <| sep |> Could not tell you . They use the terms interchangeably also broker , agent , seller ' s agent , listing agent . it ' s a mess . This is why I can ' t figure out how this is set up . We actually had an offer accepted and signed the contract from our side . Then the seller started stalling , stating there are higher bidders and asked for more money and time . It already has been a week since the contract was signed from our side so we declined yesterday and demanded signature or we are pulling the paperwork . I just felt that we lost a lot on the communication , having so many layers in between the seller and us . Basically every time I wanted to raise the offer I had to call the agent who showed us the apartment Century 21 then she contacted the listing agent the other real estate agency and then the listing agent contacted the seller . Unnecessarily cumbersome IMO . I think we should have worked directly with the listing agent . Isn ' t it the case right now that they would be splitting their commission ?