Checklist: selling your home abroad
Selling a holiday home or an inherited house in another country feels complicated. This order of steps keeps it manageable — also from a distance.
1. Get your ownership in order
- Is the property registered in your name in that country? After an inheritance this often has to be done first.
- Do the cadastral records match what is actually there (extension, pool, extra floor)?
- Do you have a local tax number? Many countries require one to sell.
2. Collect the documents
- Title deed and a recent land register extract
- Energy certificate — required before advertising in most EU countries
- Recent property tax bills
- For apartments: documents from the owners' association
3. Set a realistic asking price
Look at comparable homes that recently sold in the same town — not at asking prices that have been online for months.
4. Make sure buyers find your home
Good photos, a clear description in the local language and in English, and listings where buyers from that country and the rest of Europe search.
5. Arrange the signing
In almost every European country the transfer goes through a notary. If you cannot be there yourself, you can often sign through a power of attorney.
6. Think about tax
The sale can affect your taxes both in the country of the property and where you live. Get advice before you sign.
General information, not legal or tax advice.