What It’s Really Going to Cost to Sell Your Home in BC
Thinking of selling your home in Canada?
Going at it alone or using a listing service can turn into an expensive option.
While you'll avoid paying real estate agent fees on the selling price, that process requires serious time, additional expenses, and a huge amount of personal energy.
The entire process from listing to closing takes 90 days on average, but in some market conditions properties can sit on the market for much longer.
The truth is, most first-time home sellers have no idea how much this entire effort will cost them.
To show you the real cost of selling your home by listing in Canada, we explain all the expenses and then add up the numbers for a home in BC that’s worth $900K.
What Are the Costs Associated With Selling a House in Canada?
Paying for Real Estate Commissions
When you sell a house through a real estate agency, REALTORs expect a commission fee that's between 3 to 5 percent of the sale price – split evenly between the buyer's and seller's agent. Although there are many discount options available as well.
REALTOR fees cover for the time it takes your agent to market & arrange the deal; but what you're really paying for is their expertise in understanding value and, more importantly, their skill in negotiating the best possible selling price for you.
Having an experienced negotiator on your side can help you sell your house for thousands of dollars more.
What does it cost for a REALTOR to sell a house on average? On a home that's worth $900K, real estate agent commissions (3 to 5%) will usually cost between $27,000 and $45,000.
A normal commission fee for Kelowna real estate is 7% on the first $100,000 and 3% on the remaining balance. For the $900K house example, the property would command a $31,000 commission fee that gets split 2 ways for the buying and selling agents.
Real Estate Lawyer Fees
When you get a suitable Offer to Purchase your most valuable asset, hiring a real estate lawyer can help you avoid making costly or even deal breaking mistakes.
Real estate lawyers oversee the transaction, ensure your contract is flawless, your home title is in good standing, and that all of your filings are completed according to BC's provincial laws.
Some of the key responsibilities and filings that a real estate lawyer in BC, Canada oversees include:
Reviewing your Contract of Purchase and Sale
Performing a title search
If required, a completed Property Disclosure Statement
Conveyancing, which includes preparing documents like the Transfer of Land and Statement of Adjustments
Confirming Tax and Utility arrears are paid
A Payoff Statement which shows the exact amount needed to discharge your mortgage upon closing
Registration of Documents with the Land Title Office
Discharge of Mortgage to ensure the lender's interest is removed from the title
Notarization and witnessing of documents, such as the Transfer of Land
Final reporting which provides you with a breakdown of all financial transactions and confirmation of successful transfer of ownership
Hiring a real estate lawyer to oversee your transaction will cost you around $1,500.
If you’re selling and then moving into a brand new home, you should budget an additional $1,500 to $2,000 to oversee the purchase and title transfer of your new home.
How Much Does It Cost To List in 2025-26?
Getting a home ready to market takes serious preparation. Here’s what you can expect to pay if you decide to list your home on the MLS® by yourself.
Cleaning Services
The first crucial step involves performing a thorough cleaning of your home. Enlisting the services of a professional cleaner will assist you in achieving picture-perfect images for your property listing and prevent potential buyers from being deterred by unattractive dust, dirt, and untidiness.
Typically, for a 2,000 square foot residence, the cost of cleaning services will range from $250 to $500.
Repairs
When your house requires substantial repairs, the process can extend over several months and potentially incur expenses ranging from thousands to even tens of thousands of dollars.
Then there's the cost of waiting for those repairs to be completed. In bustling real estate markets like Kelowna, BC, you might find it challenging to secure the services of professional contractors, which brings you further delays.
It’s not uncommon for sellers to invest $5,000 to $30,000 in pre selling improvements in an effort to get the most from their sale. But is it worth it? Experiences shows that you can expect to receive two dollars back for every dollar strategically invested in the right improvements.
A good agent should be able to guide you here and will likely have a contractor on speed dial to execute the work in a timely manner.
In Kelowna, our firm Vantage West Realty offers a Fix and List program which lets you fix up and sell your home while deferring payment on renovations until after the closing date.
Home Inspection Fee
Prior to placing your home on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), it's essential to arrange and pay for a pre-listing home inspection to assess the overall condition of your property. In British Columbia, Canada, a qualified home inspector utilizes specialized equipment to thoroughly examine key components such as the roof, gutters, plumbing, electrical systems, doors, windows, walls, and foundation.
The cost of this inspection can vary based on the size of your home, often ranging from $400 to $800.
Condo Status Certificates
When selling a condominium unit, it's necessary to acquire a Status Certificate, which is also referred to as an Estoppel Certificate in Alberta (AB) or an Information Certificate in British Columbia (BC). This comprehensive document contains essential details about the building's legal and financial standing, including bylaws, building regulations, and the financial responsibilities of condo owners.
Typically, the cost of obtaining a condo certificate is around $100, and the processing time typically takes between 1 to 2 weeks.
Outstanding Property Taxes
When you sell your home, any outstanding property taxes must be paid off before the sale can be completed. This is a legal requirement, and the buyer's lawyer or notary public will typically ensure that all property taxes are up to date as part of the sale process. If you have unpaid property taxes, you'll need to settle them, which can be a significant financial burden.
Staging Your Home
Home staging is all about making your living spaces look fantastic for prospective buyers. It involves depersonalizing your home and adding elements like plants, area rugs, mirrors, stylish lighting, art pieces, and carefully-chosen furniture to make your home appear more valuable.
Good home staging can significantly speed up the sale of your home and increase its selling price by up to 20 percent.
Some real estate agents may cover the staging cost in their fees, but if not, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000 for professional staging services. The process typically takes about 2 weeks to complete.
Mortgage Discharge Fee
If you sell a home that's under an existing mortgage agreement, you’ll have to pay a mortgage discharge fee, which is also referred to as a mortgage prepayment penalty. This fee pays for the administrative expenses incurred by your bank when they remove the outstanding mortgage balance from your property title.
Depending on your financial institution, mortgage discharge fees cost around $300.
Capital Gains Tax
If you’ve earned a profit on the sale of your home, the amount you've earned is referred to as a capital gain. Guess what? The government wants a piece of that in the form of a capital gains tax.
As an investor, 50% of your capital gain is subject to capital gains tax, which is included as income on your tax return.
But if you’re selling your primary residence, you won’t have to pay the capital gains tax. In Canada, this is known as a principal residence exemption.
Your home is considered a primary residence if you’ve lived there for each month of ownership, and were not renting your property or simply using it as an investment.
Land Transfer Tax
Who Pays the Land Transfer Tax in British Columbia?
The British Columbia government mandates that land transfer taxes, also known as property transfer taxes, are always paid for by the home buyer.
If you’re selling, then moving into a new home, you’ll want to make room in your budget to pay your own land transfer tax.
For a home worth $900K, the buyer would pay a land transfer tax of $16,000 ($2,000 + $14,000).
In BC, Land Transfer taxes are calculated as follows: