The Commission Split Trap — Why Co‑Op Policies Matter

In commercial real estate, the listing broker decides how much of the commission to share with the buyer’s broker. If they offer too little — or nothing at all — many buyer’s agents won’t bother showing your property.

Why It Matters

More broker participation means more potential buyers, more competition, and a higher selling price. Limiting the co‑op commission can dramatically shrink your buyer pool.

Real‑World Example

A client’s property languished on the market for nearly a year with very little activity. The reason? The listing broker was offering buyer brokers a commission far below market norms. When the seller changed brokers and offered a standard 50/50 split, showings tripled — and the property sold within 90 days.

Pro Tip

A fair 50/50 split is standard for attracting the widest pool of buyer reps.