If a seller's listing agreement has expired, what can the original listing agent not do?

The correct answer highlights an important aspect of real estate ethics and the confidentiality obligations that agents have toward their clients. Once a seller's listing agreement has expired, the original listing agent no longer has the authority to act on behalf of the seller or to disclose any sensitive information related to the property, including offers that were received while the property was actively listed.

This obligation to protect the seller's privacy continues even after the termination of the agreement. Thus, while the agent can disclose the property's last known value or reach out to the seller about potential new listings, sharing details about offers received when the property was listed compromises the seller's interests and breaches the confidentiality inherent in the agency relationship that existed during the term of the listing agreement.

In other contexts, disclosing this kind of information might be permissible if the seller was still under contract; however, with an expired agreement, the agent must protect the seller's prior negotiations and offers. This principle not only maintains professional integrity but also upholds trust in the agent-client relationship.