How to Fire Your Real Estate Agent (and Find a Better One)

Yes, you can fire your real estate agent. However, you are bound by the listing agreement or buyer agreement you signed, so that contract decides how you leave and whether you owe anything. Read it first, then talk to the agent, then ask the brokerage’s managing broker (some states call this person the broker in charge), and get your release in writing.

This guide covers sellers and buyers in the United States. Rules differ by state and by country, so a local real estate lawyer or your state’s real estate commission can answer questions about your own contract.

Can you fire your real estate agent? The quick answer

You can end the working relationship at any time. Ending the contract is a separate step. Listing and buyer agreements are contracts, so what you can cancel, and what it costs, depends on the contract terms and your state’s law.

In practice, you will land in one of these situations:

• Your agreement lets you cancel. You send written notice and owe nothing more, or a fee the contract names.
• There is no exit clause. You ask the brokerage to release you.
• If the brokerage says no, you may be able to switch agents at the same firm, or wait for the agreement to expire.

Also check for a protection period. It can leave you owing a commission after the agreement ends.

Signs it is time to make a change

Common reasons to change agents include:

• Little or no communication. Calls and emails go unanswered for days, and you learn about showings or offers late.
• No showings or marketing. For a seller, the listing has weak photos, no open houses and no feedback from buyers. For a buyer, the agent sends few homes and rarely books tours.
• Pressure. You feel pushed to cut your price, raise your offer or waive protections faster than you want.
• Conflicts of interest. Your agent steers you toward their own listings or a related business without explaining the tie.
• A poor grasp of your goals. Nobody asked about your budget, timeline or must-haves, so the advice does not fit.

Try to fix the problem first

Before you fire your real estate agent, give them one clear chance, because changing agents takes time.

Start with one direct conversation. Name the problems, say what you expect (for example, a reply within one business day), and set a date to review progress.

Then send a short email that repeats what you agreed. That gives you a record if you later ask the managing broker for a release. If nothing changes by that date, move to the steps below.

Can you fire your real estate agent under contract?

It depends on the contract. Find your signed copy and read these parts before you say anything to the agent.

Listing agreement: what to read

• The parties. Many listing agreements are signed with the brokerage firm. As a result, the firm may offer you a different agent instead of a release.
• The term. Note the end date. If it is close, waiting it out may be simplest.
• Cancellation. Look for a clause that lets you end the agreement early, with or without cause, and any notice it requires.
• Fees. Check whether early cancellation triggers a fee or reimbursement of marketing costs.
• The protection period. Look for a clause that covers sales after the agreement ends.

Buyer representation agreement: what to read

A buyer representation agreement covers the same ground. Read the term, the agent’s fee and the cancellation terms. Also check whether the term extends automatically until closing once you sign a purchase contract, a point NAR’s guidance on buyer agreements lists as negotiable. In addition, check for a retainer fee and whether it is refundable.

The protection period

Many listing agreements include a safety clause, also called a protection or holdover period. If a buyer the agent introduced to your home buys it within a set period after the agreement ends, you may owe the commission. For example, one Colorado Real Estate Commission listing form (mandatory for use from January 1, 2026) limits it to buyers the broker negotiated with and named to the seller in writing. Buyer agreements can have a similar carryover period. So read the length of the period and how the agent must name the buyers it covers.

Steps to fire your real estate agent

The order is the same for sellers and buyers: talk to the agent, go to the managing broker, then put everything in writing.

If you are selling: how to fire your listing agent

1. Reread the listing agreement. Note the end date, the cancellation clause, any fee and the protection period.
2. Talk to the agent. Thank them for their work, say the arrangement is not working, and ask to cancel the listing agreement.
3. Ask the managing broker. If the agent refuses, ask the managing broker for a release or a different agent at the firm.
4. Confirm what you are getting. A full cancellation ends the agreement. Pulling the home off the market may only pause the listing, so the agreement could still be in force until its end date.
5. Request the release in writing. Ask the brokerage to cancel the agreement as of a stated date. Use the notice method the agreement requires.
6. Get written confirmation. Ask for a signed release that states the agreement has ended, the date, and any fee or protection period that still applies.
7. Keep copies. Save the agreement, the release and your emails.

If you are buying: how to terminate your buyer agent

1. Reread the buyer representation agreement. Note the term, the agent’s fee, the cancellation terms and any carryover period.
2. Talk to the agent. Explain what is not working and ask to end the agreement.
3. Ask the managing broker. If the agent says no, ask the brokerage for a release or another agent.
4. Request termination in writing. Name the agreement, the date you want it to end and the reason, if the contract requires cause.
5. Get written confirmation. Ask the brokerage to confirm the end date and whether you owe any fee.
6. Keep copies. Save everything, and list the homes the agent showed you, since a carryover period may cover them.

Slow down if you are already under contract on a home. Your buyer agreement may run until closing, so talk to the managing broker or a real estate lawyer before you act.

If the agent will not release you

Ask the managing broker again, in writing. If the brokerage refuses, you can wait for the agreement to expire, or ask a real estate lawyer to review it.

What the NAR settlement changed for buyers

Since August 17, 2024, under the NAR settlement, an agent who is an MLS participant must have a written agreement with a buyer before touring a home. That covers in-person tours and live virtual tours, according to the National Association of Realtors. The MLS is the shared listing database most agents use.

Under the same NAR guidance, the agreement must:

• State the amount or rate of the agent’s compensation, or how it will be set.
• Say that the agent may not receive more than the amount agreed with you, from any source.
• Disclose that commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable.

NAR also says its policy does not dictate the term, the type of relationship or the services. Those are set in the agreement, within your state’s law. Likewise, the agreement may let either side end it, with or without cause.

The settlement also bars compensation offers on the MLS. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission explains that the listing firm or the seller can still offer to pay the buyer’s agent outside the MLS. The commission also notes that the settlement is a private agreement that does not override state license law, and that some licensees are not NAR members, so state rules can differ. Its 2024 bulletin adds that, in that state, an agreement for these services must have a definite end date. Your state may differ, so ask the agent to point out the term and the exit clause before you sign.

Finding a better real estate agent

After you fire your real estate agent, take time before you sign with the next one. Use this checklist:

• Know what you want. Decide what matters most, such as top price, a fast sale or a specific neighborhood.
• Interview two or three agents. Ask each one for a written plan, and ask sellers’ agents for a pricing analysis based on recent nearby sales.
• Check recent work. Ask for deals closed in your area and price range in the past year.
• Agree on communication. Settle how often you will hear from them, and by what method.
• Read the agreement before you sign. Negotiate the term, the fee and the exit clause now.

For a longer list of interview questions, see how to find a real estate agent.

If you are a buyer starting over, keep your financing on track. Your pre-approval comes from your lender, so changing agents does not cancel it. Still, check the date on your mortgage pre-approval letter and share it with the new agent. Also avoid the pre-approval mistakes that can undo it, such as opening new credit while you shop.

FAQ

Can I fire my real estate agent?

Yes, you can stop using an agent. However, the contract you signed decides whether you can cancel it early and whether you owe anything, so read it before you act.

Can I fire my listing agent?

You can if your listing agreement allows it or the brokerage agrees to release you. Ask the agent first, then the managing broker, and get the cancellation in writing.

Can I fire my buyer’s agent?

It depends on your buyer representation agreement and your state. NAR says an agreement may let either side end it with or without cause, and that the term is negotiable. So read the term and the cancellation terms first.

Do I owe a fee if I fire my agent?

It depends on your agreement. A listing or buyer agreement may include a cancellation fee, a retainer or a protection period. Read those clauses, and ask the brokerage to confirm in writing what you owe.

What if my agent will not release me?

Ask the managing broker, in writing, for a release or a new agent. If that fails, you can wait for the term to end or ask a real estate lawyer to review the agreement.

Your next step

Find your signed agreement today and mark four things: the end date, the cancellation clause, any fee and the protection period. Those details tell you whether you can leave now, what it may cost, and what to ask the managing broker for in writing.