QUESTION: I signed a contract with a real estate firm to sell my house, but I'm not happy and want to cancel the deal. The broker said I can't cancel for one year.

How can I get out of this contract?

ANSWER: When you hire a real estate agent to help you sell your house, you will sign a written contract known as a listing agreement. The terms of this contract should be negotiated before you sign it.

You and your agent are bound by the terms of the agreement, and the specific terms will control how and if you can end this unhappy relationship.

If you are looking to cancel the contract because your agent is not doing the job or is acting unprofessionally, you should contact the agent's supervisor at the realty company and see if the problem can be resolved.

See if you can work with a different agent from the same company. You may also want to try to negotiate with your agent to get out of the contract.

Remember that your agent has already put effort into trying to sell your property and deserves to be paid.

- Sun Sentinel