Selling your home when moving to another province or country.

So, you have decided to take on a new adventure and move to another country!

To prepare you for this exciting next step, it is best to reach out to a trusted Real Estate agent to evaluate your home so you are able to determine what it is worth in the current market conditions.

This will allow you to know how much money you will have when choosing where you will live next.

Your Realtor will walk you through how to prepare your home for sale.  This could be a great opportunity to sell some items prior to listing the home, making moving easier when the time comes. They will give suggestions on decluttering, staging and any repairs that might be needed to achieve the highest sale price.

Once you have an idea what your home would sell for, it would be a good idea to investigate the countries you have considered moving to. Determine what the cost of living is and ask your agent if they have any contacts that could help you in the places you are considering. Most of us do, which could really help with your relocation.

Another important consideration is your timelines. When would you like to be in your new location? We recommend that you close your home prior to leaving so that you can meet with the lawyer if necessary and to be sure the funds have transferred to your account after the sale of the property. Check with your lawyer and ask these questions so that you are prepared. Some can take until the next business day, and you will want to factor this in if you need to buy another currency prior to leaving.

Speak with your lawyer in terms of what would be required from you before you leave and what documents are needed for your next residence.

Decide to stay at a hotel or with family until you are ready to leave the province or country. If you have pets, make sure these accommodations will allow for them and what the travel requirements are.

Deal with your contents early on so that you are not left scrambling at the end. There are several options out there including auction services, junk removal and of course selling on local online platforms like kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. You can also ask your agent to reach out to the buyer’s agent to see if they would be interested in any of the home’s contents. This will save you from having to move it.

Once you have decided what you are keeping, investigate shipping services. Depending on where you are going this could get pricey so make sure to include this into your budget and this will also allow you to decide what is worth keeping and what is worth donating.

Moving to a new country or Province is an exciting adventure. 

Selling your home is a big decision that should not be taken lightly. Work with a Realtor to make this new chapter go as smoothly as possible and achieve the highest amount possible for your home.