The Bitter Truth About Open Listings in Malaysia
(Why 90% of Your Time, Petrol, and Hope Is Wasted on Stock That Will Never Pay You)
In Malaysia, we rarely call them "open listings."
We use softer names: open projects, co-broke welcome, balance units, direct owner, anyone-can-sell.
They all mean the same thing:
No exclusivity. No buyer protection. No guarantee you'll ever be paid.
Open listings are the silent killer of Malaysian agents' income—in subsale, rental, and project marketing alike.
The Real Numbers (Subsale + Rental + Project)
| Market Reality Today | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| 50–500 agents chasing one unit | You are wallpaper in a noisy WhatsApp group. |
| < 1% chance of closing | Someone internal or "closer to the owner" will close it. |
| 30–80 hours wasted per unit | Nearly all unpaid (marketing, driving, filtering). |
| 70–90% "Sailang" risk | You bring the buyer; someone else gets the commission. |
| 5–15% of your total income | Yet it consumes 70% of your working hours. |
You are literally spending half your career doing charity work.
The Five Ugly Truths of Open Listings
- "Open" = Stock Nobody Wants
Good stock is never open. Owners and developers keep the real deals exclusive or semi-exclusive for trusted performers.
If it's open, it's usually:
- Leftover
- Overpriced
- Problem-filled
- Compromised
You are fighting over scraps.
- The Listing Agent or Owner Always Controls You
Without exclusivity, you have no leverage.
- They decide viewing times.
- They control the offer channel.
- They choose who "registered first."
You are a passenger in your own deal.
- "Co-Broke Welcome" Is Often a Lie
The promise is 50/50.
The reality at the closing table: "Owner reduced the price—your comm is now only 10%."
Because buyers are scarce, listing agents will bypass you the moment they sniff a chance to keep the full fee.
- Payment Is Slow, Complicated, and Disrespected
Open listings = messy papers = delayed income.
- Subsale: 3–9 months delay.
- Rental: Constant deposit disputes.
- Projects: Progressive payouts stretching 12–24 months.
Exclusivity gets paid fast. Opens get paid eventually—maybe.
- Your Buyer Will Be Stolen
This is your biggest risk. Once you introduce a buyer to an open owner or listing agent:
- They exchange numbers.
- They negotiate privately.
- You are cut out.
You worked for free. Again.
Why Agents Still Chase Open Listings Like Zombies
Common excuses:
- "Maybe this time is different."
- "My buyer insists on this unit."
- "The owner is my uncle."
- "I need something to show on my status."
None of these excuses pay your bills. Hope is not a business strategy.
The Rule That Separates the Top 10% From the Broke 90%
Every high-performing agency in Malaysia follows one rule:
"We do not chase open listings. We only work with exclusive or protected stock."
This single rule creates more net income than ads, branding, TikTok, and lead generation combined.
The New Standard for the Modern Agent
Save this as your phone wallpaper:
"If there is no exclusivity or written protection, there is no reason for me to waste my time."
Walk away from open listings.
Your income per hour will triple.
Owners will respect you—because you stopped acting like a free servant.
FINAL TRUTH
Open listings are not opportunities. They are unpaid internships disguised as real estate.
Stop feeding the open-listing monster. Stop doing charity for owners and developers who refuse to protect you.
Demand exclusivity—or walk away.
