I want to sell as an expat. How do I go about it?

18 September 2026 · 8 min

A move that often comes sooner than expected

Thanks to Brainport, the High Tech Campus and the university, the Eindhoven region constantly attracts international knowledge workers. Many of them buy a home in Eindhoven, Helmond, Nuenen, Geldrop or Mierlo after a few years. And many of them at some point get a new assignment in another country, sometimes with only a few months' notice.

At that moment the question arises: what do I do with my house? Selling brings clarity and frees up your capital. But you are selling in a country whose system you do not fully know, possibly in a language that is not your own, and sometimes from a different time zone. It can be done, and it goes well, provided it is properly organised in advance.

What is different compared with a Dutch seller

At its core, the process is the same: valuation, presentation, viewings, offers, purchase agreement (koopovereenkomst), notary. Four points need extra attention for an international seller.

• Language. All official documents, including the purchase agreement and the notarial deed, are in Dutch. These documents have legal consequences, so you need to know exactly what you are signing.
• Distance. If you have already left, you cannot simply pop by for a viewing or a signature.
• Time pressure. Your moving date is often fixed, while a sale has its own pace.
• Wrapping up your tax affairs. Your mortgage, your home ownership reserve (eigenwoningreserve) and your tax return must be properly settled, even if you are already living elsewhere by then.

Step by step

1. The valuation. We visit, look at the home and give you a realistic value plus a sales strategy. Free of charge and without obligation. If you are already abroad, this can also be done by video call, provided someone can let us into the property.

2. The documents. Among other things, you will need the proof of ownership, the WOZ assessment (the municipal property valuation), the energy label and, for a flat, the documents of the owners' association (VvE). We tell you exactly what is needed and request whatever we can obtain ourselves.

3. Presentation and listing. Professional photography, floor plans and a strong description. Your home is listed on Funda and on our own channels. We make sure international buyers understand your home too.

4. Viewings. We handle them. You do not need to be there, and you do not even need to be in the country. We take care of the keys and keep you informed after every viewing.

5. Offers and negotiations. We keep a bidding log so that the process is traceable for all parties. We discuss every offer with you and advise you on price and conditions, including the handover date, which is often just as important to you as the amount.

6. The purchase agreement. This is in Dutch. We go through it with you and explain every clause in English, German or French, so you know exactly what you are signing. Note the statutory three-day cooling-off period for the buyer and the dissolving conditions (ontbindende voorwaarden).

7. The notary and the transfer. If you cannot be present at the transfer, the notary will arrange a power of attorney. If you are already abroad, this can often be done through a local notary or consulate, sometimes with an apostille. Start on this in good time: it is the part that most often causes delays.

Selling from a distance: what you need to arrange

Selling after you have already left happens more often than you might think. A few things make the difference between a smooth and a bumpy process:

• Keys and access. We manage the keys and conduct the viewings independently.
• A power of attorney. Arrange this well before the transfer date. Legalisation abroad takes time.
• A postal address or authorised representative in the Netherlands. Handy for documents that cannot be handled digitally.
• A Dutch bank account. Keep it open until after the transfer and the final settlement of utilities and municipal charges.
• Keeping the home presentable. An empty home looks smaller and colder. We advise you on what can stay.

Sell or let?

Some expats consider keeping the home and letting it out. That may seem attractive, but bear a few consequences in mind. For tax purposes, your home moves from box 1 to box 3, which means you lose mortgage interest relief. Your mortgage lender must give permission for letting. And tenant protection in the Netherlands is strong, so a let property usually fetches less when sold later than a vacant one.

We are happy to work out both scenarios with you, so that you make a choice based on figures rather than feelings.

The tax side

When you sell, you pay off your mortgage. If there is money left over, a home ownership reserve (eigenwoningreserve) is created, which matters if you buy another home in the Netherlands within three years. If there is a residual debt (restschuld), arrangements can be made for it. And in the year you leave, you file a tax return for a split tax year.

We are not tax advisers and will not pretend to be. What we do is point out in good time the issues you need to have looked into and, if necessary, refer you to an adviser with experience of international situations. That way you will not face any surprises afterwards.

Which languages we help you in

We speak fluent English, German and French, and reasonable Spanish. Polish-speaking clients can write to us in Polish via WhatsApp and will also receive a reply in Polish; we hold conversations in German, English or French. Many Polish residents of the region speak German, so in practice we always manage.

We are available from 08:30 to 21:00, which makes things easier if you are in a different time zone.

How long does it take?

Roughly allow two to four weeks for preparation, then a time on the market that averages around four weeks nationally, followed by six to eight weeks until the transfer at the notary. So in total, often three to four months. If you have a fixed departure date, let us know from the very first conversation. We will then build the schedule around it.

Conclusion

Selling as an expat is very manageable, even from a distance, provided you start in good time and have someone who keeps an eye on the whole process and communicates with you in your language. We do that work ourselves from start to finish, with a single point of contact.

Would you like to know what your home is worth and what your sale would look like within your timeline? Contact us. The first conversation is free of charge and places you under no obligation.