What Does It Really Cost to Sell Your Home in Quebec?

A lot of sellers plan around their expected sale price and forget that several costs come off the top before that number becomes real money in hand. None of them should be a surprise — they're all predictable if you know to look for them ahead of time.

Brokerage Fees

This is usually the largest single cost, and it's negotiated individually for each listing — there's no fixed rate set by law in Quebec. It's typically deducted directly from the sale proceeds at closing, so it's not something you pay out of pocket along the way. I walk every client through exactly what's included before anything is signed, as part of the free home evaluation.

Notary Fees

As the seller, you'll typically cover your own notary costs related to discharging your existing mortgage and preparing the deed of sale. This is separate from the buyer's notary costs (they usually choose their own notary, though it's common for both parties to use the same one by mutual agreement).

Certificate of Location

If your existing certificate of location is outdated (generally 10+ years old) or no longer reflects the property accurately — a fence moved, a deck added, a renovation completed — the buyer's notary may require a new one before closing. It's worth checking the age and accuracy of yours early, rather than discovering the need for an update under time pressure mid-transaction.

Tax Adjustments

Municipal and school taxes are prorated between buyer and seller based on the closing date. If you've already paid your full-year tax bill, you'll typically be reimbursed by the buyer for the portion of the year they'll own the property, and vice versa if you haven't paid yet. Your notary handles this calculation as part of closing.

Prep and Presentation Costs

Optional, but worth budgeting for if you want to maximize your sale price: minor repairs, a deep clean, decluttering, and sometimes light staging. These are typically far smaller than the costs above, but they're the ones most within your control to increase what the property ultimately sells for.

Moving Costs

Easy to forget when you're focused on the sale itself, but worth building into your overall budget from day one, especially if you're buying your next property around the same time and juggling two moves at once.

The Simplest Way to Get a Real Number

Every one of these costs varies by property, price point, and situation — which is exactly why a generic percentage estimate online is rarely accurate for your specific case. Rather than guess, I put together a clear breakdown of expected costs alongside your free home evaluation, so you're looking at your actual net proceeds, not a rough approximation.