In either case, the result is an additional force on Realtors to decrease fees in order to win work. Well, there are some things that are beyond your control in preventing this situation, such as the work of the opposing Realtor and how the buyers and sellers react to negotiations. However, there are a number of things that you can do that will help alleviate this situation and help prevent it from arising. The end result is happier clients overall and more repeat business. Go through the listing contract This may seem obvious but it is amazing how many times clients feel that they did not go through the listing contract OR that they did not understand it in the least.
Clarity is everything when it comes to contracts.
In my jurisdiction, the listing contract states that clients are to seek the advice of counsel before signing the listing contract. So this means that YOU are their source of reference for this contract. This provides an excellent opportunity for you to use your special relationships with other professionals. If you normally refer work to a real estate attorney, why not ask that attorney to provide you with a document that explains the various clauses in your listing contract. Ask them to prepare a sheet with each section of the contract on it with an explanation of what it means below.