The three types of agency agreements
1: Sole agency (open mandate)
With a sole agency agreement, you can entrust your property to several agencies at the same time, and retain the right to sell it yourself, without an intermediary. On the face of it, this is the most flexible option.
In practice, it is often the least effective. No agency has a guaranteed commission, so none is truly motivated to invest seriously in enhancing your property—professional photography, home staging, targeted marketing to qualified buyers. The result: your property may end up with poor-quality photos on five different portals, sending an unflattering signal of dispersion to the market.
2: Exclusive agency agreement
An exclusive agency agreement entrusts the marketing of your property to a single agency for a set period, usually three months, renewable. In return, the agency commits fully: it invests in presentation, mobilises its network of buyers, and manages the entire process from start to finish.
This is the format that reputable agencies prefer—and for good reason: when the relationship is exclusive, everyone is aligned. The agency knows it will be the only one able to sell, so it pulls out all the stops. You know you have a single point of contact who is fully invested in your case.
The trade-off: you cannot sell the property yourself during the term of the agreement. If a buyer contacts you directly, they must go through the agency.
3: Sole selling rights (semi-exclusive mandate)
Less common, the sole selling rights arrangement is a middle ground: one agency is appointed, but you retain the right to find a buyer yourself, in which case no commission is payable. This can be a good option if you have an active personal network and want to keep that door open while still benefiting from structured professional support.
Key legal timelines to be aware of
🗝️ Cooling-off period: For any mandate signed outside the agency’s premises (for example, at your home), you have a 14-day cooling-off period , in accordance with the Hamon Law.
🗝️ Mandate duration: The initial term is agreed between the parties, but cannot exceed one year without express renewal. Most agencies work with a three-month term for exclusivity.
🗝️ Termination: After the initial irrevocable period (often the first three months), you may terminate the mandate with 15 days’ notice by recorded delivery or another method specified in the mandate.
Duty of best endeavours vs. guarantee of sale:
The agency is subject to a duty of best endeavours—it must take serious marketing actions—but not a guarantee of sale. If the property does not sell, the mandate ends without cost.
Our recommendation
In the Luberon, where properties are scarce and buyers are discerning, an exclusive agency agreement is generally the most effective strategy. It ensures a polished, consistent presentation and avoids the over-exposure effect that can discredit a property in a small market where everyone knows everyone.