A top realtor in Surrey is not the one with the most signs on lawns. It is the one who prices accurately, negotiates with evidence, tells you the truth about a property and keeps a deal together when it gets difficult. Those are skills you can test before you hire anyone. After more than $900M in career sales across residential and commercial real estate, here are the lessons our team has learned about what actually moves the result for a client, with real numbers from deals we have closed.
Lesson 1: The price is made before the offer
Most of the money in a deal is won or lost before anyone signs. A strong realtor builds the case for a price from recent sales, the property's condition and, for income property, its actual income and expenses.
When our team helped a client buy a medical and professional office building at 4695 Canada Way in Burnaby, the property was listed at $8.499 million. We secured it for $6.85 million. Results like that come from a detailed look at a building's tenants, its position in the market and what comparable buildings have traded for, so the client has a clear, defensible number to offer.
For a home seller, the same principle applies in reverse. An overpriced listing sits, and buyers start to wonder what is wrong with it. A realistic price based on current sales attracts the right buyers early, when interest is highest. That is why we start every listing with a home valuation based on real comparable sales, not a hopeful number.
Lesson 2: Negotiate with facts, not pressure
Good negotiation is calm and specific. It points to something the other side can check: a lease ending soon, a roof near the end of its life, or recent sales below the asking price.
A few results from our client acquisitions:
- Office building, 276 Victoria Street, Kamloops. Listed at $6.8 million, purchased at $6.2 million, a reduction of $0.6 million, at a 7.0% cap rate.
- Grant Thornton office building, 99 Padmore Street, Penticton. Listed at $3.4 million, purchased at $2.9 million, at a 6.6% cap rate.
- Medical building, 3210 25 Avenue, Vernon. Listed at $11 million, purchased at $10.5 million, at a 6.6% cap rate.
- Retail plaza, 5411 132 Avenue, Edmonton. Listed at $5.2 million, purchased at $4.65 million.
Not every deal is about the lowest price. In a competitive situation, the right move can be to pay a little more for the right property. For a well-leased commercial property at 4509 25 Avenue in Vernon, our client paid $3.195 million against a $3 million list price to secure a 6% cap rate. Knowing when not to push is part of negotiating well.
Lesson 3: Know the part of Surrey you are working in
Surrey is a city of distinct communities. A detached home in South Surrey, a townhouse in Clayton and a condo in City Centre attract different buyers at different prices. Commercial property differs even more between Newton, Guildford, Cloverdale, Fleetwood and Campbell Heights.
A top realtor can tell you what sold on your street or in your business park recently, why, and how long it took. Ask any agent you interview to walk you through three recent sales near your property. Our Surrey commercial neighbourhood guide shows how much the areas differ.
Lesson 4: Tell clients what they need to hear
The fastest way to lose a client's money is to tell them what they want to hear. A good realtor says when a price is too high, when a building has a problem or when a deal should be walked away from. That honesty is what clients remember years later, long after the details of the deal are forgotten.
Lesson 5: Manage the deal all the way to closing
Accepting an offer is the middle of the deal, not the end. Financing, inspections, strata documents, lease reviews, environmental reports and lawyers all have deadlines. A strong realtor tracks every condition, keeps the other side informed and solves problems before they become reasons to collapse the deal.
On a commercial purchase, that can mean coordinating accountants, lawyers, lenders and landlords at the same time. On a home sale, it means keeping the buyer's financing and inspection on schedule so you can plan your move with confidence.
Lesson 6: Awards are supporting proof, not the reason to hire
Our team has received more than 40 awards, and in 2025 our commercial team was named one of the Top 3 commercial teams across Canada at RE/MAX, based on commission. We are proud of that, but awards measure past volume. They do not tell you how an agent will handle your sale.
Use awards and sales totals as a starting point. Then judge a realtor on the questions in our guide on how to choose the best realtor in Surrey: their local results, their pricing plan, how they will market your property and what the agreement says.
Work with our team
The Oberoi Group is led by Jas Oberoi and Maria Hussain from our office in White Rock, serving Surrey, South Surrey, Langley and the Fraser Valley across residential and commercial real estate. See the deals behind what we think makes a top realtor in Surrey, learn about Jas Oberoi, or browse Surrey homes for sale.
If you are thinking about buying or selling, talk to the team. We will answer every question before you decide who to work with.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good realtor in Surrey?
Accurate pricing from recent sales, calm and fact-based negotiation, detailed local knowledge, honest advice and careful management of the deal through to closing.
How can I check a realtor's results?
Ask for recent sales near your property, how long they took and how the price compared with the asking price. Check their licence with the BC Financial Services Authority.
Do awards mean a realtor is better?
Awards and sales totals show past volume. Use them as a starting point, then judge an agent on their local results, pricing plan, marketing and agreement terms.
Does The Oberoi Group work on both homes and commercial property?
Yes. The team works across residential and commercial real estate in Surrey, South Surrey, Langley and the Fraser Valley.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and program rules in this article were checked against these official pages on October 16, 2026. Rules change, so confirm current details before you act.