Sell Your Vancouver Property From Overseas — We Handle Everything
A full-service, fully remote sale for owners who live abroad. You never have to fly in — we prepare the home, market it, negotiate, coordinate the non-resident paperwork, and even ship your important belongings to you.
By Hani Faraj | Senior Partner, REALTOR® | RE/MAX Crest Realty, Vancouver
In This Guide
1. Full-service, not just a listing
Most agents list a property and wait. When the owner is on the other side of the world, that isn't nearly enough — because before a home sells for top dollar, someone has to actually do the work: empty it, clean it, fix what's tired, and present it properly. For an owner who can't fly in, that "someone" has to be your agent's team. That end-to-end, on-the-ground work is exactly what we provide.
What we've handled on a single sale
On one recent sale for an owner who could not be here in person, we managed every part of it ourselves:
- Deep cleaning and a complete clear-out of a home that had been sitting empty.
- Safeguarding the owner's valuables — located, photographed, documented and secured, with the owner kept informed at each step.
- Renovations to maximize the price — from paint and flooring through to gutting and rebuilding the kitchen, because the right improvements return more than they cost.
- Staging, professional photography and full marketing to reach the most buyers and achieve the best price.
- Shipping the important and sentimental items to the owner overseas, so nothing that mattered was lost in the clear-out.
You approve the plan and the budget up front. We execute and send you photos and updates as we go, so you always know what's happening to your property — without getting on a plane.
2. How a remote sale works, step by step
- Valuation & plan. We assess the property against current comparables and send you an honest price range, plus a recommendation on any preparation worth doing.
- Prepare the home. Cleaning, clear-out, repairs or renovations, and staging — all handled by our team and trades, to your approved budget.
- List & market. Professional photography, MLS® listing, and marketing to local and international buyers.
- Showings & offers. We host showings, gather feedback, and negotiate offers on your behalf, reporting to you in your time zone.
- Sign remotely. Listing and closing documents are signed through your lawyer or notary with electronic signing and video identity verification — no courier of paper across borders required.
- Non-resident clearance & closing. If you're a non-resident, the Section 116 clearance runs in parallel (below), and net proceeds are sent to you once closing and clearance are complete.
3. The non-resident process (Section 116)
If you are a non-resident of Canada for tax purposes, selling has one extra layer — worth understanding early, because it affects the timeline, not whether you can sell. Thousands of non-residents sell BC property every year.
The clearance certificate and holdback
When a non-resident sells Canadian real estate, the Canada Revenue Agency requires a Section 116 clearance certificate. Until it is issued, the buyer's lawyer must hold back a portion of the sale proceeds — commonly 25% of the sale price (and more for certain property types) — as security against the seller's potential tax. Once your accountant files the required forms and the certificate is issued, the holdback is released to you.
The clearance process takes time, so it should begin when the property is listed, not be scrambled at closing. We flag it at the outset and coordinate the timeline with your lawyer and accountant. We are not tax or legal advisors — our role is to make sure the steps happen in the right order alongside your professionals.
4. Older condo? Cash out cleanly
Older condos deserve special mention, because holding one from abroad can get expensive in ways that aren't visible from overseas. Strata fees rise year over year. A special assessment — a one-time levy for a new roof, building-envelope repairs, plumbing or elevators — can arrive without warning and run into tens of thousands of dollars. The building's depreciation report may flag major systems nearing end of life. And all of that runs in the background while the vacancy taxes tick along.
For many owners, the sensible move is to cash out before those costs land. We'll give you an honest valuation, tell you frankly whether a modest refresh will lift the sale price (and handle it if it will), and sell the unit remotely — turning a cash-draining condo into money in your account. See how the vacancy taxes factor in →
5. Pricing it right from a distance
Pricing is where sales are won or lost, and it's hardest to judge from another country. Before we list, we prepare a valuation backed by the recent sold comparables, current competition, and days-on-market for your exact building and neighbourhood — the same data we use for our own listings. You'll see what similar units actually sold for, what's on the market now, and where your property should sit to attract strong offers without leaving money on the table.
6. Why owners overseas trust us
Hani Faraj is a Senior Partner and REALTOR® with RE/MAX Crest Realty in Vancouver, a member of the RE/MAX Diamond Club and Medallion Club, and leads a top-100 team in Western Canada. The team regularly sells for owners who cannot be here in person, and treats a client's property — and their belongings — the way we'd want our own handled. One point of contact, straight answers, and updates in your time zone.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You don't need to be in Canada — documents are signed remotely through your lawyer or notary with e-signing and video ID, and we handle showings, marketing and negotiations for you.
Non-resident sellers need a CRA Section 116 clearance certificate, with a holdback (commonly 25% of the sale price) from the proceeds until it's issued. Your lawyer and accountant file it; we coordinate the timeline. We're not tax/legal advisors — we work alongside yours.
Yes — deep cleaning, clear-outs, safeguarding valuables, repairs and renovations (up to gutting and rebuilding a kitchen), staging, and shipping important items to you overseas. You approve the plan and budget.
Typically a few weeks to a couple of months from first contact to closing, depending on preparation. Prep happens up front, then marketing and offers, then closing; for non-residents the Section 116 clearance is started early so it doesn't delay closing.
Often, yes — before more special assessments or rising fees erode your equity. We value it honestly, advise on a light refresh if it lifts the price, and sell remotely.
Get a remote-sale plan for your property
Send Hani your address and a bit about the property — you'll get an honest valuation and a simple, no-obligation plan to sell it without flying in.
Prefer to call now? 604-265-7975 · Hani Faraj · Senior Partner & REALTOR® · RE/MAX Crest Realty