You can end this agreement at anytime - it's more a gesture of good faith.In reality no agent will try to recover a commission from you as it's terrible publicity but it's something to bear in mind.Now if you use 2 agents and one specializes in multi-family/commercial and the other specializes in SFHs then that's a different story.

That's a nice gesture from them but it's not going to have any significant saving for me.

That being said, if you can afford to lower it by 1% that would be a nice gesture, and yet still a "no" to the 3% request.

If you do not feel like meeting in person because of Covid maybe ask him for his favorite food place and send him a gift card as a nice gesture.

-go to the worst aspect of the house and gesture to it if countering an offer.

Sponge baths only work for so long before you want a real shower.Maybe a big stack of paper plates, plastic silverware and cups would also be a good gesture since they don't have access to hot water for washing.

New if you can - it would be a great gesture to start with.

In both cases, you might forgo any penalties or compounding as a gesture of good faith and pressure relief, if he acts soon.

No giving him money (unless that's the lawyer's strategy to get him out), no giving him food, no friendly gestures, no nothing.If it were me, I would put away all valuables in common areas and put a lock on my door.

I gave them free rent for the one day of Christmas as a good will gesture.