Thinking of selling your home in Québec?
Before you list, it’s crucial to know the real costs involved. Realtor commissions, notary fees, mortgage penalties, moving costs, it all adds up, and if you’re not prepared, it can take a big bite out of your profits.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
- The average cost of selling a house in Québec in 2025
- Who you’ll need to pay, and why (from real estate brokers to notaries)
- Where you can cut costs without risking your sale
- Tax programs that can help offset expenses
By the end, you’ll know exactly what to expect when selling a home in Québec and how you can save thousands of dollars on closing costs.
What costs are involved in selling a house?
On average, you should expect to pay roughly 5% – 7% of the price of your home in a sale. The table below provides examples of the cost of selling a house.
| Sale Price | 5% Costs | 5.5% Costs | 6% Costs | 7% Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $350,000 | $17,500 | $19,250 | $21,000 | $24,500 |
| $400,000 | $20,000 | $22,000 | $24,000 | $28,000 |
| $500,000 | $25,000 | $27,500 | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| $750,000 | $37,500 | $41,250 | $45,000 | $52,500 |
In Québec (and Canada more broadly), the biggest cost by far is the realtor’s commission at around 4–5% of the selling price. However, there are also other fees such as notary, inspection, certificate of location, etc. that are usually much smaller and fixed rather than percentage-based.
Here’s the breakdown.
- Realtor’s commission → 5% – 7% (the main driver)
- Notary, certificate of location, inspection, moving, mortgage penalties etc. → 1-2% combined (smaller, often fixed costs).
The table below breaks down examples of what this can look like for properties selling at different prices.
| Sale Price | Realtor’s Commission (5–7%) | Other Costs (1–2%) | Total Costs (6–9%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $350,000 | $17,500 – $24,500 | $3,500 – $7,000 | $21,000 – $31,500 |
| $400,000 | $20,000 – $28,000 | $4,000 – $8,000 | $24,000 – $36,000 |
| $500,000 | $25,000 – $35,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 | $30,000 – $45,000 |
| $750,000 | $37,500 – $52,500 | $7,500 – $15,000 | $45,000 – $67,500 |
Who Do You Pay When Selling a House in Quebec?
Most sellers budget for the big, obvious costs.
However, the real surprises come when a fee you assumed the buyer would handle suddenly lands on your bill, or when the timing of the sale triggers extra charges you didn’t see coming.
These surprise expenses can throw off your financial plans and that might be the difference between moving into the dream home you’ve been picturing, or having to compromise on something that never really feels right
In this section, we’ll break down exactly who you pay when selling a house in Quebec, why these costs exist, and the pitfalls that can quietly derail your next financial move if you’re not prepared.
Realtor commissions
Average cost: It depends on the price of your property and the realtors commission rate.
By far the largest cost when selling a home is the realtors commission.
In Quebec real estate, the seller pays the commission to their selling agent. The agent will split this with the buyer’s agent. Normally, the selling agent will charge 4% – 5% and split this 50/50 with the buyer’s agent.
The rules around the selling agents fees are included in the listing agreement that you make with your seller. This includes not only the fees, but also what the agent will do in order to promote and market your property, such as hosting open houses, listing it on Centris or any other MLS, creating professional photos or videos, and handling negotiations with buyers.
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Minor repairs & renovations
Average cost: It depends on what you are going to do.
Minor repairs and renovations can add significant value to your property by making it more appealing to buyers. The investment doesn’t need to be large but it should be well targeted. The highest-value upgrades are usually found in areas buyers focus on most, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and master bedrooms.
That said, it’s always best to check with your real estate agent before spending money. They can advise you on whether improvements are necessary, and if so, where your money will have the biggest impact.
Certificate of location
Average cost: $1,200 – $1,800
The certificate of location is a mandatory document required to close a real estate transaction in Quebec. If you do not include it in the listing, many buyers’ agents will assume the deal could become complicated and may fall through. For this reason, they may steer clients away from your property.
The best selling agents make sure this document is up to date before the listing goes live, so that buyers’ agents can feel confident the transaction will close smoothly.
In Quebec, the certificate of location is prepared by a Quebec-Land-Surveyor who must be a member in “good standing order” of the Ordre des Arpenteurs-Geometres du Quebec” (OAGQ). Typically the cost of a new certificate of location is around $1,500, though the price can vary depending on the size of the property and the surveyor’s workload.
Keep in mind that a certificate is only valid for about 10 years if yours is older, you’ll likely need to order a new one.
Inspection fee
Average cost: $750 – $1000
Even though home inspections are typically organized by buyers, more and more, we are seeing sellers choose to do a pre-listing inspection. Doing so has several advantages.
A pre-listing inspection gives the seller a clear picture of the property’s condition and uncovers any major issues before the home goes on the market. Fixing problems in advance reduces the risk of a deal falling through at the last minute, which can otherwise force the property back onto the market at a lower price. This can have a massively adverse effect on the properties listing value since, each relisting and price reduction gets recorded on the MLS. Experienced buyers agents see this kind of activity as a red flag and will advise their clients as such.
In addition, a property inspection helps sellers plan renovations and repairs strategically, ensuring the property is presented in the best possible light. It can even save wasted costs, for example, spending money on staging or photography, only to have a deal collapse because of hidden defects.
Finally, if a buyer later chooses to waive their right to an inspection, a trend that has become increasingly common, a pre-listing inspection further reduces the likelihood of future disputes or legal claims after the house has been sold.
Notary fees
Average cost: $1,500 – $3,000
In Quebec real estate transactions, it has become standard practice for the buyer to pay the notary fees. This is because the notary’s work is mainly focused on protecting the buyer’s ownership and ensuring the property is transferred cleanly. Specifically, the notary will:
- Verify titles: confirm that the seller truly owns the property and has the legal right to sell.
- Search the land register: check for mortgages, liens, or legal claims that could affect the property.
- Prepare legal documents: draft the deed of sale and, if financing is involved, the deed of hypothec (mortgage).
- Register the transaction: make the sale official in the land registry so the buyer is legally recognized as the new owner.
Since these safeguards mainly benefit the buyer, it is the buyer that will traditionally cover the cost.
That being said, sellers sometimes incur notary fees as well, for example when the seller requires the notary to:
- Correct titles: fix errors in previous deeds before the sale can proceed.
- Discharge a mortgage: pay for the notary’s work to prepare a release document.
- Address issues for the sellers own benefit: such as clearing up encumbrances unrelated to the buyer.
Prepayment penalty and other mortgage fees
Average cost: It depends on the conditions in your mortgage agreement.
A prepayment penalty is the amount that your bank (the lender) will charge you if you choose to sell before the end of your mortgage term.
The penalty and the cost are specific to your situation. The best way to find out what the exact amount is, is to contact your mortgage advisor, who will be able to inform and advise you.
However, it may also be possible to avoid paying these penalties by transferring your mortgage, including the agreed interest rate and other terms and conditions, to a new property. This option has many advantages, but it is of course only possible if you plan to buy and sell a property at the same time. When you contact your mortgage advisor about the pre-payment penalty, you should ask your mortgage advisor about this at the same time.
Moving costs
Average cost: $750 – $1,500
Selling your house inevitably involves moving and the expenses that go along with that. This means boxes or containers, a van for large items like sofas and people to help. Hiring professional movers can be great (especially for families with small children) since they can lower the stress of the move and provide basic insurance against your belongings.
You can find professional movers on platforms like MovingWaldo, Yelp, or even Kijiji. These platforms make it quick and easy to compare quotes from several different movers.
Taxes on the sale of your home
Average cost: Depends on your exact situation.
Under Canadian federal tax law, when you sell a property, there may be a capital gain.
This means the difference between what you sell your house for and your adjusted cost base (what you paid for the property plus qualifying improvements, minus any costs.
CapitalGain=SalePrice–AdjustedCostBase–SellingExpenses
For example, let’s say you sell a house at $500,000, and your adjusted cost base (purchase price + qualifying improvements) was $350,000, and you had $10,000 in selling expenses (e.g. realtor and legal fees).
Your capital gain would be:
$500,000 – $350,000 – $10,000 = $140,000.
Only 50% of your capital gain is “taxable”, unless exceptions apply. This means that if the property qualifies as your principal (primary) residence, for every year you owned it, you often don’t have to pay tax on the gain at all. This is thanks to the principal residence exemption under federal law.
For residential resale properties (i.e. used homes), the sale is generally exempt from GST and QST in Quebec, so buyers or sellers don’t pay these federal/provincial sales taxes again. However, new residential properties (new builds) may attract GST (5%) and QST (≈ 9.975%) unless certain rebates or exemptions apply.
If you are a non-resident for tax purposes and you sell Canadian real estate, tax authorities may require withholding from the sale proceeds (e.g. up to 35 % of the sales price) unless you apply for a certificate of compliance under section 116 of the Income Tax Act.
Quebec may also impose a provincial withholding or instalment on the capital gain for example, 12.875 % of the gain for the Quebec portion in many cases.
Other possible costs
As you know, there are many other costs associated with selling a property. These include:
- Home staging & photography
Some selling realtors will pay for homes to be staged. They will also pay to have the property professionally photographed. This is more common in competitive markets or for high value homes. Others may cover only consultation while the actual furniture rental and setup costs are billed to the seller. Full professional staging can run anywhere from $2,000–$5,000+ depending on the property size and length of time staged, so not all agents absorb this cost.
It is much more common for agents to pay for high-quality listing photos, and often 3D tours or drone shots, are considered standard marketing expenses and usually come out of the agent’s commission.
Learn how to negotiate your listing agreement with your broker.
- Concessions during negotiations
During the negotiation with your buyers, it is almost inevitable that some concessions will need to be made. This could be on the listing price, but it might also be on household appliances, for example, the buyer may ask to keep your fridge, stove and washer / dryer unit. They may also ask you to pay part of the notary fees, upcoming special assessments (on condominiums), for completing specific repairs or changing the date when the buyer will take possession.
The cost of making concessions during negotiations when selling your house is very situational dependent.
- Appraisal fees
An appraisal is an independent evaluation of your home’s fair market value, usually carried out by a licensed appraiser. While buyers often request appraisals as part of their mortgage approval process, sellers may also choose to commission one before listing.
For sellers, an appraisal can provide a benchmark for pricing your property, strengthen the negotiation position if buyers challenge the asking price and help resolve disputes if financing issues arise during the closing.
The typical cost for a professional appraisal in Quebec ranges from $400 to $700, depending on the size and type of property.
- Specialised tests
In Quebec real estate, specialised tests are extra inspections that go beyond a standard home inspection. They’re usually recommended when there are signs of a specific issue or when the buyer (or sometimes the lender) wants additional assurance about part of the property.
Examples of specialised tests can include things like pyrite, radon, water quality, or asbestos. Costs vary from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000 depending on the test. While not always required, the results can significantly impact negotiations.
These tests matter, because they can make or break a sale. For instance, if a test reveals a problem, the buyer may walk away or negotiate a lower price. Sellers sometimes choose to do these tests proactively to avoid surprises during the transaction.
- Clean and depersonalization
One of the most overlooked selling costs is simply making your home look its best before buyers walk through the door. A thorough deep clean can transform the feel of a property, making it brighter, fresher, and far more inviting. Many sellers choose to hire professional cleaners to tackle the heavy lifting, from carpets and windows to kitchens and bathrooms. While the cost can range from a few hundred dollars upwards depending on the size of the home, it often pays for itself by creating a strong first impression.
Depersonalization is just as important. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the space, and that can be hard to do if the walls are filled with family photos or if bold décor choices dominate the rooms. Neutral paint, tidy storage, and the removal of overly personal items can make the home feel more universal and move-in ready. Though these steps might seem small, they often have a powerful effect on how quickly a property sells and the offers it attracts.
Conclusion: Prepare for unanticipated costs when selling a house
Selling a home in Quebec comes with more than just realtor commissions and the hidden or unexpected costs can quickly add up. Preparing in advance is the best way to protect yourself from surprises that could disrupt your financial plans.
On average, you should expect to spend 5% to 7% of your home’s selling price on total closing costs. Factoring this into your planning can mean the difference between moving smoothly into your next financial opportunity or falling short of your goals.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. For guidance tailored to your situation, consider speaking with a licensed financial advisor or real estate professional.
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