If Sarah withdraws her acceptance after agreeing to an offer, what can Selwyn claim?

When Sarah agrees to an offer and later withdraws her acceptance, Selwyn, as a real estate professional, may still be entitled to a commission despite her withdrawal. This is grounded in the fact that once an offer is accepted, it creates a binding contract between the buyer and seller. If the buyer (Sarah) withdraws from this binding contract, it may represent a breach of contract.

In real estate transactions, agents or brokers typically earn their commission when they facilitate an agreement between the buyer and seller. If an agent has fulfilled their role by securing an acceptance from the buyer, they have often earned their commission, even if the transaction does not ultimately complete due to the buyer's subsequent withdrawal.

While this can depend on the specific terms agreed upon in the listing agreement and the nature of the withdrawal, generally, agents are compensated for their efforts in bringing the parties together and for the work completed in the negotiation and acceptance stages. Thus, Selwyn can claim a commission despite Sarah's withdrawal, as he performed the necessary services that would typically warrant a financial reward.