The Owner Lives Far Away: How an Estate Agent Sells a Home for Someone Abroad or in Another City

The phone rings at 9pm with a Dubai number. The caller explains that she inherited her parents' flat in Leeds, has lived abroad for twenty years and that "it just sits there costing money". She wants to sell but has no idea where to start and only flies back once a year.

This seller is one of the most valuable clients an agent can have. The motivation is real, the price expectations are usually reasonable and, above all, they need someone they can trust on the ground. Solve the distance for them and you win the instruction, often on a sole agency basis, plus the referrals of the entire family.

Who the absent owners are

• Expats with a property back home, bought or inherited, who have no plans to return.
• Heirs spread across several cities or countries, often with more than one decision-maker.
• Relocated professionals who need to sell to buy in their new city.
• Landlords who bought to let and now want to release the capital.

What they share: they cannot open the door, cannot attend viewings and are afraid of losing control of a major asset.

1. Win the instruction without being in the same room

The valuation happens over video call, but it must be as well prepared as one in person. Beforehand, visit the outside of the property and the street, pull recent sold prices and check the competing listings.

• Show the building and street on camera during the call. Many owners have not seen the property in years.
• Share your screen with the comparables and justify the price range with data, not opinion.
• Present the full plan: who holds the keys, how viewings work, what reports they will receive and how everything gets signed remotely.

What the owner is buying in that meeting is not your marketing. It is peace of mind.

2. Paperwork and power of attorney: sort it early

The biggest risk in these sales is not the buyer. It is reaching exchange and missing a document. Get the list going from day one:

• Title documents, EPC, ID checks (anti-money laundering) and any leasehold information pack.
• For inherited homes: grant of probate and agreement from every beneficiary.
• Outstanding service charges, mortgage redemption figures or charges on the title.
• Power of attorney: if the owner cannot sign, their solicitor can advise on a lasting or general power of attorney, which may need to be witnessed at an embassy or by a local notary with an apostille.

Start this in month one, not when a buyer appears. Embassy appointments can take weeks.

3. Keys, upkeep and the condition of the home

A property closed for years smells stale, collects dust, has broken blinds and sometimes damp. Propose a short preparation plan: deep clean, airing, quick repairs, clearing old furniture. Get quotes, send photos and let the owner decide.

Take the keys with a written receipt and find out who else has copies (neighbours, relatives). A cousin turning up with "their own buyer" is a classic in these sales.

4. Video as the owner's eyes

For someone far away, the property video does two jobs at once: it sells the home to buyers and it shows the owner the work being done. With imovpro.ai you can turn your photos into a professional video in minutes and send it to the owner for approval before the listing goes live.

The same video works for buyers who are also remote, including expats looking to buy back home.

5. Reports that replace being there

Silence is enemy number one. An owner thousands of miles away who hears nothing imagines the worst. Agree a fixed report, for example every Friday by email or WhatsApp:

• Portal views and enquiries.
• Viewings carried out and feedback from each.
• Competing homes that came on or went off the market.
• Next steps and decisions you need from them.

Respect the time difference. Book calls at their convenient hour, not yours.

6. Offers and signing at a distance

When an offer arrives, send it in writing with your recommendation and call straight after. Contracts can usually be signed by the attorney or, where the solicitor allows, with an electronic signature. Check with the conveyancer what is accepted for each document.

Before completion, make sure the power of attorney is valid, the bank details for the proceeds are verified by phone (a common fraud target) and the owner gets copies of everything the same day.

Common mistakes

• Taking the instruction without confirming every owner or beneficiary.
• Leaving the power of attorney until the end and losing the buyer while waiting.
• Only getting in touch when there is good news.
• Pricing without ever seeing the property.
• Losing track of the keys.

Quick checklist

• ☐ Video valuation with street footage and comparables
• ☐ Document list and power of attorney started in month one
• ☐ Preparation plan approved
• ☐ Keys receipted and copies identified
• ☐ Property video sent to the owner for approval
• ☐ Weekly report on a fixed day
• ☐ Signing method for contracts and completion confirmed

FAQ

Does the owner need to travel to sell?

Not necessarily. With a proper power of attorney and paperwork handled early, a sale can complete without a single trip.

Should I ask for sole agency?

Yes, and here it makes more sense than anywhere: an owner abroad cannot coordinate several agents. Explain that one point of contact is their protection.

What if there are several heirs in different countries?

Agree one lead contact from the start and a single group chat for everyone. Important decisions always in writing.

Conclusion

Selling for an owner who lives far away is really about selling trust. The agent who sorts paperwork early, looks after the keys, reports regularly and shows the work on video becomes the representative the family needed. Start with the most visible part: create the property video today with imovpro.ai and send it to the owner. It is the best way to show them, thousands of miles away, that their home is in good hands.