The word gerbil is a diminutive form of  jerboa , though the jerboas are an unrelated group of rodents occupying a similar ecological niche.
A variance is a form of equitable relief that allows a property owner to bypass local zoning laws so they can use their land in the most efficient manner possible. When unusual circumstances make it difficult for a property owner to comply with local zoning laws, cities and counties may grant what are known as variances to allow property owners to circumvent the traditional zoning laws in an area.
A real estate brokerage contract or a listing agreement creates an agency relationship between a real estate broker and another person, called the principal, which covers the broker's efforts to sell, buy, lease or exchange real estate for the principal. The principal can be a seller, buyer, lessor or lessee. If you're selling your real estate, you can hire a real estate broker by signing a brokerage contract or listing agreement with the broker. The listing agreement will contain such things as price, terms of sale and length of the listing time.