For a listing contract

Its in teh range of the norm where I am. Still if you don't want it for that long tell them you will only do 2 months or whatever. To a realtor a 2 month contract is alot better than no contract so they will probably accept it.

If you are talking about a listing agreement, it really depends on your market and how property is selling. Three months for a listing agreement actually kind of short- I usually liked more time to market a property, get the advertising going (print advertising may not appear for up to two months once the order is placed for the ad, depending on the publication). If property is selling well in your area, or the property is hot for another reason- killer location, amenities, below-market price, etc- than three months may be acceptable to the Realtor. However, in many places in the US, the market is slow, and the buyers, not the sellers, are calling the shots. As a Realtor in this market right now, unless a property were priced well below market, I would not take a three- month listing- I would refer it out to a rookie agent, and if the property sold, at least get a referral fee.

Three months is short considering the average days on market right now is much longer. As an agent myself, I won't do less than 6 months because I don't want to waste all that money marketing the home to have them switch to someone else. I do, however, explain to my clients the way the market is at the time I take the listing and what to expect. If at any time they are unsatisfied with me I tell them I will let them out of the contract and they can "fire" me. I have never been fired.

do you mean a 3 month listing or agency agreement or are you talking about a lease?

6 months is the norm

Where I am located, yes, a 3 month contract is normal.