According to the CREA Members Survey, 27% of members have worked with international clients during the past 12 months, and in total 58 different countries were named as their primary sources of international clients.

Like Realtors, REALTOR.ca is also becoming global, as visits from outside of Canada represent nearly 5% of all traffic.

*Source: Google Analytics, based on 2015 traffic to REALTOR.ca

If you are considering doing business with international buyers or sellers, it's a lot of work, but it can become quite rewarding. Here are a few tips if you want to make your listings on REALTOR.ca more global.

Tip No.1

Video is a must. International buyers expect to see video of your property and the surrounding community as part of your listing. No video will drastically reduce your chances of reaching serious buyers.

Tip No. 2

International buyers are also looking outside of big cities. The right buyer for your cottage or small town home might be in another country. There is plenty of interest for properties outside of large urban areas. Even if you are not selling real estate in Toronto or Vancouver, you can still consider an international selling strategy.

Tip No. 3

Digital is global…but stay within your "cultural sphere." If you are using social media to attract international buyers from a specific country or region, make sure that you are aware of cultural differences and that you understand the language.

Tip No. 4

Don't forget about international SEO (Search Engine Optimization ). Like in Canada, most searches for information start with search engines such as Google, and Baidu in China. When listing a property, make sure to tag your listings (including images and videos) with the appropriate descriptions and keywords.

Tip No. 5

Understand the transaction process in the other jurisdiction.The rules of the game can be quite different from place to place. It is a lot of work, but critical that you get familiar with the rules of the market in question, as you will need to educate your client throughout the process. Realtorlink.ca/international is a are great places to start, to get info on courses, designations, and tips on how to take advantage of global opportunities.