Let him cancel. I prefer easy release agreements. 

At 70 I now consider old people to be at least 90.

I cancel the agreement and take his listing off the market.... we NEVER challenge anyone who wants to remove their home from the market....that's not how we do business.... especially if they are elderly....  

If there are adult children in the area, I like to have one there during the process of signing the agreement, if the homeowner will allow that....

     Put the status in the MLS as withdrawn.  If they change their mind (again) you can bring it back to life.

I have this discussion with ALL clients

 I only want to work with clients who want to work with me.

No harm in cancelling and granting elder client's wishes. 

Being a former nurse, I can tell you that HIPAA doesn't prevent you from asking anyone on the planet about their medical condition. If the 'patient' (aka client) wants to share that information with you, that is their right. Not that I would ask but, HIPAA doesn't have anything to do with you asking the question.

Cancel and keep the relationship for later when he does sell.

What do you think? What is the option? Cancel the listing contract. It's a no-brainer my friend.

I would never force anyone to sell their home, simply because they'd signed our paperwork.

It would be a different story if they had an "accepted/signed offer"... but at this stage, absolutely allow them to cancel.

I like to make sure that an adult child or other representative is involved in all contract matters.

Consult with them and they agree with him then let it go.

What does HIPAA have to do with it? He has signed a contract & might not be cognitively there - that's the problem.

Always let anyone who wants to cancel do so! 

It never works unless the seller is onboard. Maybe another time will be better then again some elder clients just can't come to terms with selling. It is so final.

Yes, what else are you going to do?

I would always do what the clients want. However, I would at least like to know if there is anything I can do to help them. 

Anytime any of my future clients want to cancel a listing, I let them out.  Why would you ever force someone to list who had a change or heart or found themselves in changing circumstances that didn't permit selling.  

I can't forsee any answer other than letting them out.

I had a family member with a POA step in to go through with the listing

Yes, cancel.

It is easy for an outsider to give advice and recommendations.  There is always more to the story that only the agent and the client know.

I need to know all the facts and details before I could say. I am not asking you for them ... just pointing out that there is always more to the story. 

On another note,  may I suggest you check the Department of Real Estate Rules regarding publishing our DRE license #?  I do not see that on your AR profile.  

If he wants to cancel and not sell, you can't force him to. Cancel the listin

Let them cancel, but it also depends if I have a lot of time and or money invested.

I would let it go. Cancel with a proper paperwork.

I seldom cancel and I make that clear at listing.  I will put it as an in-actve   no shows classification

There may be an underlying problem, however, if they can afford the home I have no problem canceling the listing. It's tough giving up the home where you raised a family. I've been in the throes of this with clients many times. It isn't an easy ride for any of the parties.

I would ask the elderly client if there was a reason why, especially since you mentioned he was not unhappy with his realtor.  No mater what the reason was/is, if they want to cancel I would do so.  If that client changes their mind in the future, you are there Giselle Bleu.  So I would still stay in touch.  Best of Luck. 

Under the circumstances that you mention, it is clear that the seller will not cooperate with the actions needed to sell the property. You could cancel the listing.

Or...if you suspect that the seller is being less than candid with you and has plans to list with someone else (pardon my cynicism), you could state that you will retain the contact without taking any action to sell the house, market the house, seek a buyer, accept a buyer, not enter it on the mls or anything else to sell the house since the seller "has changed his mind". The listing will eventually expire but you will have the opportunity during its "effective" period to talk to the owner from time to time to determine if the sale should go forward.

Cancel, and move on. 

I share the same sentiment as Barbara Todaro 

I've never had this happen... with an elderly client or not elderly client. Maybe because I vet my clients very carefully up front about their motivation to sell. But that being said, if a client wants to be released, I release them... what are you going to do? Hold them hostage? What do you accomplish?

Check with your broker because the broker owns the listings. S/He will direct how they want to handle everything. The Broker has every right to move it to Withdrawn status and ride out the listing contract without allowing any other broker the ability to market the property  

I do not see any HIPAA issue as you do not appear to be their healthcare provider and they can disclose anything they want to about their own self.

In this scenario it is probably easier to just move on to the next one and stay in touch with the seller. 

Good on not asking the medical question.  It's up to the broker.  Personally, I wouldn't have it active but keep the contract in force.  That way if they do list again, you'll be ready to go and if they list with someone else, you have recourse.

Repair a cancellation of agreement with permission of your broker. 

Move ON!

Yes cancel the Listing and stay in touch 1/4ly

I would cancel.

Acquiesce and after that, if concerned... pursue for the right reasons

Let him be.... Might have met someone who promised the owner something else.

Let them out of the listing and move on!

 Do you understand the law of agency?  If he wants to cancel you must cancel.  If you wish to hold him to the terms of the listing agreement then you are going to need to sue him to perform.  Good luck with that.

This happens, do you want to be known to hold them to it and be bad mouth

Giselle Bleu - be a good friend and cancel. No point forcing something on an elderly person with medical concerns.

yes

Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR nailed this one!

the same thing I do when a client of any other agent wants to cancel their listing... I cancel it.