Selling your home in Coquitlam, Port Moody, or Port Coquitlam involves more than accepting an offer and handing over the keys. Pricing strategy, preparation, marketing, and BC tax rules all affect your final outcome. This guide walks you through the process from start to finish so you’re not caught off guard at any stage.
The first number that matters is not your list price — it’s what comparable homes have actually sold for in your neighbourhood in the last 60–90 days. A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) pulls recent sales data for homes similar to yours in size, condition, age, and location. In the Tri-Cities, market conditions vary significantly between detached homes, townhomes, and condos, and between neighbourhoods — so broad regional averages rarely tell the full story.
Pricing too high in the first two weeks costs you. Listings that sit attract low offers. Getting the number right from day one is the single most important factor in your final sale price.
How your home presents in photos and at showings determines how many buyers walk through the door — and how serious they are when they do. A few targeted improvements before listing consistently deliver a return:
If you’re selling a condo or townhouse, order your strata documents early. Buyers will request the Form B information certificate, current budget, depreciation report, meeting minutes, and rules and bylaws. These take time to compile and missing documents can delay or kill a deal. Budget $35–$200 for strata document preparation.
Getting on MLS is the baseline, not the strategy. A complete marketing plan for a Tri-Cities home includes:
The first two weeks on market are the most critical. A well-priced, well-presented home marketed aggressively in that window generates the most activity and the strongest offers. After two weeks, buyer interest drops sharply regardless of price.
When offers come in, price is only part of what you’re evaluating. A strong offer looks like:
In a multiple offer scenario, the highest price on paper is not always the best net outcome. Conditions, buyer strength, and timing all factor into which offer actually closes.
This is where many sellers get caught off guard. Before you list, understand where you stand on three fronts.
Principal Residence Exemption
If the property is your principal residence for all the years you’ve owned it, you pay no capital gains tax on the sale. Most homeowners selling their primary home in the Tri-Cities will qualify. For secondary properties such as rentals or investment properties, 50% of your capital gain is added to your taxable income for the year. Talk to your accountant before listing if this applies to your situation.
BC Home Flipping Tax
If you sell a residential property on or after January 1, 2025, and you owned it for less than 730 days, the profit from the sale is subject to the BC Home Flipping Tax. The tax rate is 20% on profit from sales within the first 365 days, decreasing gradually until it is eliminated at 730 days.
If you sell within 729 days or fewer, you must file a separate BC Home Flipping Tax return within 90 days of the sale. Exemptions exist for certain life circumstances — including death, serious illness or disability, job relocation, marriage breakdown, and involuntary employment termination — but most require filing a return to claim them.
A primary residence deduction of up to $20,000 may be available if you owned the property for at least 365 consecutive days and lived in it as your primary residence while you owned it.
Closing Costs for Sellers
As the seller, your primary costs at closing are:
Once subjects are removed, your lawyer or notary handles the conveyancing. You’ll need to provide access for a buyer walkthrough before completion and ensure the property is in the agreed condition. Completion is when funds transfer and title changes hands. Possession is typically the following day.
Questions about what your home is worth or what the process looks like in today’s market? Reach out directly.
Sebastian Czarkowski | Coquitlam REALTOR® Royal LePage Elite West | sebastianrealestate.ca
Sebastian Czarkowski is a Tri-Cities REALTOR® ready to guide you through every step of the process. Get in touch for honest, expert advice — no pressure, just results.