Final answer:
In addition to meeting legal requirements for establishing an agency relationship, to collect a fee for selling someone's house, you must be licensed as a real estate agent or broker, conform to ethical standards, and possess a transparent agreement concerning your commission.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to collect a fee from someone for selling their house, in addition to meeting all the legal requirements to establish an agency relationship, you must be appropriately licensed as a real estate agent or broker. Licensing requirements vary by state, but generally include completing a certain number of hours of real estate education, passing a written examination, and sometimes undergoing a background check. As a licensed real estate professional, you will also be expected to adhere to a strict code of ethics and fiduciary duties, which include loyalty, confidentiality, disclosure, obedience, accounting, and reasonable care. Without this professional status, you may not legally be entitled to a commission or fee for facilitating the sale of real estate. Furthermore, the real estate commission is typically shared between the buyer's agent and the seller's agent, and the specific percentages or amounts are often dictated by the agreement made between the seller and their listing agent. To maintain a good reputation and abide by professional standards, all financial transactions and agreements should be transparent and in writing.