Buyer's Guide

Buying a home involves a lot of moving pieces — financing, paperwork, deadlines, and a market that moves fast. Here's how the process breaks down, step by step, with John & Gurwinder guiding you the whole way.

1. Get pre-approved

Before you tour a single home, talk to a mortgage broker or lender and get pre-approved. A pre-approval tells you exactly what you can afford, locks in an interest rate for a set period, and shows sellers you're a serious buyer when it's time to write an offer. While you're at it, budget beyond the purchase price — down payment, BC's Property Transfer Tax (first-time buyers may qualify for an exemption), home inspection, legal/notary fees, and moving costs all add up.

2. Define your search

With your budget set, narrow down where and what you're looking for. We'll set you up with a saved search across your target areas — Abbotsford, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, Richmond, Surrey, and Vancouver — so new listings land in your inbox the moment they hit the market.

• List your must-haves (beds, baths, commute, school catchment) separately from your nice-to-haves, so a great home isn't ruled out over a fixable detail.
• Think about resale from day one — layout, lot, and location tend to matter more long-term than finishes.
• Get familiar with recent sale prices in your target neighborhoods so you can move quickly and confidently when the right home comes up.

3. Tour homes & make an offer

Once we find a home worth pursuing, we'll walk through it together and talk through the property's condition, comparable sales, and where it sits in the current market. When you're ready to write an offer, we'll help you decide on price, deposit, and subject conditions (financing, inspection, insurance, or a review of strata documents) — and negotiate on your behalf to get you the best possible terms.

4. Subject removal & closing

Once an offer is accepted, you'll typically have 5–7 business days to satisfy your subject conditions — arranging final financing, completing a home inspection, and reviewing any strata or title documents. Once subjects are removed, the deal is firm. From there, your lawyer or notary handles the title transfer and Property Transfer Tax payment, and coordinates with your lender ahead of the closing (completion) date.

5. Move-in day

On or before possession day, we'll do a final walkthrough to confirm the home is in the agreed-upon condition. From there it's just utilities, address changes, and the movers — and you've got the keys to your new home.