So, you’ve hired a Realtor to help you buy a home. You’ve got your pre-approval in hand, you're excited, and you’ve booked a weekend full of showings. Halfway through the day, you walk into a home that feels “pretty good.” Your agent says, “Let’s write an offer!”

Suddenly you’re drafting paperwork, talking deposit timelines, and texting family to get their thoughts. You’re nervous, but you figure this is what buying a home feels like. Then the call comes in: Your offer has been accepted!

This should be the moment you celebrate — but instead, your chest is tight. Your thoughts are racing. “Did I jump too fast? Is this even the right area? Could I have gotten something better?”

Your agent tells you the “good news” — but it doesn’t feel good at all.

What just happened? You skipped the most important step in the buying process: market education.

What Most Agents Do Wrong

Most agents start their clients with showings. They send you listings, book a few viewings, and wait for you to say, “I like this one.”

But showings are not how you start a successful home search. Showings are what you do when you're ready to write an offer — when you already know what you're looking for, what price makes sense, and what trade-offs you’re willing to make. At that point, it’s go-time.

Jumping into showings too soon is like walking onto a car lot and buying the first vehicle you test drive because it has Bluetooth. You wouldn’t make a decision that big without test driving a few options and doing some research — so why do that with real estate?

What Is Market Education?

Market Education is the phase before you start seriously considering writing offers.

It’s a series of guided outings with your Realtor — not to find “the one,” but to learn.

You’ll explore:

• Which areas actually suit your lifestyle

• What different layouts and styles feel best for your family

• What your pre-approval actually buys you in different neighborhoods

• How homes compare in value, condition, and resale potential

It’s also when your Realtor learns about you — your non-negotiables, your blind spots, your true priorities. The better we understand your preferences, the better job we can do when it’s time to get serious.

The Power of Buying With Confidence

By the time you’re ready to move into the “showing” phase, you should feel like a well-educated buyer. You’ll know what a good deal looks like. You won’t hesitate when the right home hits the market. You’ll feel calm when you write an offer, and confident when it’s accepted.

You won’t be second-guessing yourself — because this time, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about buying a home, remember this: The best offers come from the best-informed buyers.
Skipping the market education phase doesn’t save time — it just shifts the stress to the wrong moment.

So don’t rush the process. The goal isn’t just to buy a home — it’s to buy the right one, with confidence and clarity.

If you’ve ever been referred to a real estate agent—or maybe you reached out to someone after seeing an ad—chances are the experience went something like this:

You connect, they ask for your budget and basic criteria, then set you up on an automatic listing email. From there, they say:
“Let me know if anything stands out and we’ll go take a look.”

This is the standard industry approach.
But let’s be honest—it’s the wrong approach.

Before anything gets sent to your inbox or booked on your calendar, the very first step in your real estate journey should be a Buyer Game Plan Meeting. Here's why:

1. It Starts With You—Not Just Your Price Range

A great agent should begin by asking meaningful questions like:

• Why have you decided to make a move?

• What are your fears or hesitations about this process?

• What qualities are important to you when choosing a Realtor?

Buying a home isn’t just a financial transaction—it’s a personal, emotional, and strategic decision. Taking the time to understand your story helps build a tailored game plan that puts your needs first.

2. Education Is Power

The market changes constantly. Whether it’s rising inventory, shifting interest rates, or competitive offer scenarios, a strong buyer should enter the market with current insights.

Your Game Plan Meeting should include a breakdown of:

• Market trends and pricing expectations

• What’s selling (and what’s sitting)

• How to position yourself for success based on your timing and goals

This eliminates guesswork and ensures you're making informed, confident decisions.

3. Customized Property Searches = Less Noise, More Value

You deserve better than a flood of listings that don’t fit your life.

During a Game Plan Meeting, your agent should dig into your must-haves, deal-breakers, and the small details like:

• Do you need an ensuite in the primary bedroom?

• Are pets a factor?

• Is walkability or proximity to schools important?

• Would you consider a home with a rental suite for extra income?

The more detailed the search, the more on-point the results. Getting 50 listings a day when only 3 are relevant is overwhelming and inefficient. We believe in sending you the right homes, not all the homes.

And it doesn’t stop there.
After each round of showings, your custom portal should be revisited and refined based on your feedback. Your agent should be asking questions like:

• What did you love or dislike about that home?

• Did the layout feel right?

• Was anything missing that you wish you had?

If your Realtor isn’t adjusting the search criteria and asking deeper questions to show they’re learning about you while you’re learning about the market—something’s wrong.

4. Clarity Reduces Anxiety

A proper Game Plan Meeting should end with a step-by-step overview of your entire journey—from first showing to move-in day. At Collab Realty Group, we walk you through our proven 10-Step Buying Program so you know exactly what to expect.

This roadmap includes:

• When to introduce a mortgage broker

• How we structure showings

• What to expect when writing offers

• How due diligence works

• And what happens after the deal is done

When you know what’s coming, you can stay focused and confident.

5. The Next Step Is Always Clear

No one should leave a meeting wondering, “What happens now?”

A strong Game Plan Meeting ends with a clear next step. Maybe that’s scheduling your first round of showings. Maybe it’s connecting you with a trusted mortgage advisor. Either way, you're no longer in the dark—you're moving forward with purpose.

Final Thought

Buying a home isn’t something you wing. It’s something you plan for—together.

At Collab Realty Group, we believe in starting smart. If you’re ready to have a conversation that puts your goals first, let’s book your personalized Game Plan Meeting today.

Hiring a realtor is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make. In a competitive, fast-moving market like BC — especially in places like Langley, Surrey, and South Surrey — you need more than just someone with a license. You need a trusted partner who will guide, protect, and advocate for you at every step.

Whether you’re preparing to sell or buy, here are the top 11 essential questions to ask when interviewing agents, plus exactly how Collab Realty Group sets ourselves apart.

1. How long have you been working in real estate here?

Experience matters — but local experience matters even more. Ask how many homes they’ve helped clients buy or sell specifically in your area. A Surrey expert may not be as dialed in to Willoughby or White Rock nuances.

2. What’s your strategy in this current market?

Markets shift quickly. A great agent will have a clear, tailored strategy for your goals — whether that’s creating multiple offers on your listing, or finding off-market opportunities for buyers. Be wary of generic answers.

3. Can you show me recent client success stories or reviews?

Top agents are proud to share Google reviews, video testimonials, or case studies that show how they’ve helped people like you overcome challenges and succeed.

4. What do your services include?

For sellers, do they cover:
✅ Professional photography, floorplans, drone & 3D tours
✅ Targeted digital ads, social media, print marketing
✅ Open houses & private tours

For buyers, will they proactively send you listings, connect you with trusted lenders, and negotiate strongly on your behalf?

5. How do your fees work?

Most commissions in BC are 7% on the first $100,000 + 3% on the balance, split with the buyer’s agent. Ask them exactly how it breaks down, what it pays for, and what happens if the deal falls through.

6. How will you keep me updated throughout the process?

Communication is everything. Will they check in weekly by call or text? Provide showing feedback? You want proactive updates — not just someone who says, “Call me if you have questions.”

7. What happens if I’m not happy with your services?

Ask about their cancellation policy. A strong agent should work to earn your trust every day — not trap you in a contract.

8. How do you handle buyer leads and conflicts of interest?

This is one of the most overlooked — and most critical — questions.

Dual agency (one agent representing both buyer & seller) is heavily restricted in BC because it creates obvious conflicts. But what about when someone clicks on Realtor.ca or our ads asking about your property?

Ask your agent:

• Will you try to redirect that buyer to other homes so you can earn both sides of the deal?

• How do you ensure my best interests always come first?

At Collab Realty Group, we take it a step further:
✅ If a buyer lead comes in on your home — from Realtor.ca, our website, or our marketing — we assign them to a separate agent in our office, not on your listing team.
✅ This ensures you always have dedicated representation, with no pressure to “double end.”
We even put this promise directly into our listing agreement so you’re fully protected.

9. How do you handle negotiations?

This is where thousands (or tens of thousands) can be gained or lost. Do they aggressively push, or take a more strategic, collaborative approach? Make sure it matches your comfort level and goals.

10. What do you think my home is worth (or what can I expect in my price range)?

If selling, they should prepare a comparative market analysis (CMA) that’s thorough and backed by local data — not just guesswork. If buying, they should set realistic expectations on what your budget gets you today.

11. Why should I hire you over another agent?

Listen for more than clichés. Look for passion, proven systems, local expertise, and a commitment to putting your goals ahead of their own commission. At Collab Realty Group, we like to say:

We care deeply about your “why” — and we’re fiercely committed to helping you achieve it.

💡 Bottom line

The right realtor will earn your trust by answering these questions openly, not just with rehearsed sales lines.

If you want a transparent, no-pressure conversation about your next move — whether buying, selling, upsizing, downsizing, or investing — we’d love to help.

📲 Contact Collab Realty Group today for a friendly consultation.
We’ll show you exactly how our local knowledge, tailored strategies, and ethical policies set us apart.

Thinking about selling your home in BC? Whether you’re moving up, downsizing, or cashing in on your equity, it’s important to understand the true costs of selling a property — so there are no surprises when you close.

From realtor commissions to legal fees, mortgage penalties, and getting your home ready, here’s what to budget for.

💼 Realtor Commission Fees (7 & 3)

In the Fraser Valley and most of BC, real estate commissions are commonly structured as:

• 7% on the first $100,000, plus

• 3% on the balance of the sale price

So, on an $800,000 home, your commission would roughly be:

🔍 Where Does This Money Go?

• A portion pays the buyer’s agent, which incentivizes them to bring qualified buyers to your property.

• The remaining portion goes to your listing agent, covering not just their expertise, but also:

✅ Professional marketing costs:

• Photography, video tours, drone, floorplans

• Targeted online ads (Facebook, Instagram, Google)

• Print brochures, signage, open houses

✅ Negotiation & transaction management:

• Pricing strategy, reviewing offers, handling multiple offers

• Coordinating showings, vetting buyers, managing paperwork to ensure a smooth close

This investment means your home is seen by more buyers and attracts stronger offers — ultimately netting you more.

📝 Legal Fees & Conveyancing

When you sell, you’ll need a lawyer or notary to:

• Prepare documents to transfer the title

• Pay out your existing mortgage

• Ensure funds are properly distributed

This typically costs $800 – $1,500, depending on the complexity of your sale.

🏦 Mortgage Discharge or Penalties

If you’re breaking a fixed mortgage before the term ends, your lender may charge a prepayment penalty. This can be:

• A few thousand dollars, or

• Tens of thousands — depending on how much time remains, your rate type (fixed vs variable), and your lender’s formula (many use an Interest Rate Differential for fixed).

Before you list, it’s wise to call your lender and request a payout statement so you know exactly what to expect.

🧽 Preparing Your Home for Sale

Most sellers spend a little upfront to help their home sell faster and for more. Typical costs include:

These improvements can dramatically impact first impressions and final sale price. 

📑 Other Costs

✅ Strata Documents:
If you’re selling a condo or townhouse, your strata corporation will charge for documents (bylaws, minutes, Form B), usually $100 – $400.

✅ Property Taxes & Utilities:
You pay up to the possession date. Any overpayments or underpayments get adjusted by your lawyer on closing.

✅ GST:
Most resale homes are GST exempt. GST generally only applies on new homes purchased from a developer.

💡 Bottom Line: Budget 6-8% of Your Sale Price

For most homeowners in BC, the total costs to sell (including commission, legal, and typical prep) look like this:

So on an $800,000 home, you might see total costs of $50,000 – $65,000, depending on your mortgage and how much you invest in prep.

⭐ Want to See Your Exact Net?

At Collab Realty Group, we make sure you’re 100% clear on what your net proceeds will look like before you even list — so you can confidently plan your next move.

📲 Get a free home value & detailed net sheet today.