Residential real estate
Selling or Buying a Home in Québec: The Steps, the Documents and Who to Consult
· 7 min read
Bernard receives an offer on his house. The price half satisfies him, two conditions worry him and a third one escapes him. He can accept, refuse or answer with changes, but he does not know where to start. Bernard is a fictional character from the book, and his hesitation shows what selling a house in Québec really is: a series of steps that follow one another in a precise order, with people, papers and decisions at every turn.
This journey can be prepared for. That is the purpose of La vente d'un immeuble (The Sale of a Property), a book in L'Encyclopédie Immobilière du Québec, free to read on pierrevinet.com, in French. Here is what it contains, in the order you will need it.
What are the steps of a real estate sale?
The book draws the full map, from the first doubt to the handing over of the keys:
- Prepare. The seller decides to sell and gathers documents. The buyer takes stock with a lender and prepares the search.
- Go to market and search. The property is presented to the public, and the buyer visits it.
- Make an offer and reach an accepted promise. The buyer proposes, the seller answers, then an agreement is reached or it is not.
- Verify. Between the promise and the deed, the buyer has the building inspected, learns about the property and its surroundings, and confirms the financing.
- Go to the notary. The notary prepares the deed of sale and carries out the legal checks tied to the property.
- Sign and take possession. The adjustments between the parties are settled with the notary, and the keys change hands.
The book gives no timeframes and no dates, on purpose: the time each step takes depends on the property and on your file. Remember the order, not the calendar. Your broker, your notary and your lender will give you yours.
What does the seller prepare, and what does the buyer prepare?
A sale always has two sides, and each side prepares three things.
The seller prepares a decision (when and how to sell), documents (title, certificate of location, plans, invoices, tax accounts, insurance documents) and the property for showings. The seller also prepares answers: a serious buyer asks about the basement, the roof or the renovations, and it is better to have written down what you know.
The buyer prepares a decision (what to look for and what is affordable, which means talking to a lender), personal and financial papers, and a methodical search, with a visit journal.
The book repeats two early moves: talk to the lender before you start looking, and choose your notary early, not the day before signing.
Who should you consult at each step?
Each professional has a field of their own. The right question, asked of the right person, avoids approximate answers.
- The real estate broker guides you through marketing or searching, showings, the offer and the negotiation, and helps you keep a written record.
- The notary prepares the deed of sale and answers your legal questions.
- The lawyer steps in when a situation becomes complicated or a dispute arises.
- The building inspector examines the condition of the property for the buyer.
- The lender studies the financing and confirms it.
- The accountant or financial adviser answers financial and tax questions.
Do not ask your broker to settle a legal question, or your notary to assess the state of the roof. If you are unsure who to call, start with your broker, who will point you to the right person.
How do you make an offer, or answer one?
On the buyer's side, the offer is written on a document made for the purpose, the promise to purchase, which your broker helps you prepare. You go through it topic by topic: what you propose, the conditions, what is included with the property, the dates that matter, the documents you want to receive. The book suggests having your notary read the document if possible, and taking a pause before signing. A real emergency can be explained. If nobody can explain it to you, take time to think.
On the seller's side, the book offers Bernard's method:
- Read the offer in full, twice, without answering right away.
- List what suits you, what worries you and what you do not understand.
- Put your questions to your broker, then to your notary for anything legal.
- Compare the offer with your reasons for selling.
- Choose among three paths: accept, refuse or answer with changes.
If several offers arrive, do not compare them on price alone: the conditions, the dates and the included items count just as much. And remember that what a document commits you to is a question for the notary or the lawyer, never for a general book.
What should you check between the promise to purchase and signing?
This is the period when the buyer looks beneath the surface. The book separates three parts, which complement one another without replacing one another.
- The building inspection. Choose the inspector after contacting at least two, ask what the inspection covers and does not cover, and whether the inspector has any link to the seller or to a broker. Attend the visit, then read the report twice before discussing it with your broker. The report describes a condition; it does not decide for you.
- The property and the neighbourhood. Write to the municipality to ask what information it can give you about the address. Read the certificate of location, prepared by a land surveyor, and note any gap with what you saw. Go back to the neighbourhood at different times of day.
- The financing. Answer your lender quickly, keep your documents up to date and do not change your financial situation (a new debt, a major purchase) without telling the lender first.
When an answer and a check do not match, do not draw conclusions yourself: note the gap and ask your broker, then your notary.
How do you keep track from start to finish?
The book keeps returning to four habits: prepare early, verify, put things in writing, consult the right person. On the third, a conversation is forgotten; a written record can be found. Keep every version of the offer, every reply and your call notes, and ask for a complete copy after any signature.
The last chapter gathers everything into a toolkit to keep at hand:
- a checklist for the seller and one for the buyer;
- standard questions for the broker, the notary, the inspector, the lender and the municipality;
- a tracking table with four columns: the step, what I am doing, who is helping me, done on.
An unticked box is not a mistake: it is a question to ask or an action to schedule.
Does this book on selling a building replace your notary?
The book never says what the law allows, forbids or requires in your case, and it calculates nothing for you. Its characters, Lucille and Armand who sell, Mathieu and Inès who buy, and Bernard, are fictional. It helps you know what to do, in what order, with which documents and who to consult. It replaces neither the notary, the lawyer, the inspector, the lender nor the broker.
📘 Read the book free: La vente d'un immeuble (in French).
🏡 Thinking of selling or buying? I guide you through every step, from assessing your needs to coordinating the transaction. Book a 30-minute meeting, with no commitment.
Pierre Vinet, residential and commercial real estate broker · Immobilier Pierre Vinet Inc. · eXp Agence Immobilière · holder of a real estate broker's licence issued by the OACIQ
Frequently asked questions
When should you meet a notary? As early as possible. The book recommends choosing one early, not the day before signing, so you have time to ask your questions and gather the documents.
Should you talk to a lender before looking for a house? Yes, it is one of the book's early moves. Knowing what you can borrow before you search keeps you from visiting properties out of reach.
Is a conversation with the seller enough? No. What is said aloud is forgotten. Ask your broker to put the essentials in writing, and keep every version of the documents.
Is the book free? Yes. La vente d'un immeuble is free to read on pierrevinet.com, in French.
General information only. This article is not legal, tax or financial advice and creates no professional relationship. Consult a notary, a lawyer, a land surveyor or another qualified professional about your situation.
