You Can't Live In The Ceilings: Practical Advice for BC Home Buyers, Sellers, and the Agents Who Serve Them

Buying or selling a home is a high-stakes endeavour. Prices continue to smash records, competition is fierce, and life-altering decisions are often made in an instant. Your home may be your largest financial investment-and a large proportion of your net worth. Yet, few people understand how the industry actually works. In this concise and engaging guide, REALTOR(R) Mary Cleaver shares everything you need to know about buying and selling real estate in British Columbia, including:
- How realtors are paid, and the legal duties they owe to you
- How timing and preparation can increase a home's value
- The power of smart marketing and pricing strategies
- Practical considerations when buying or selling
- Effective negotiation tactics
- What your agent needs from you

Drawing on her deep industry experience, Mary explains why people who work closely with their agents often achieve better results, including a more suitable home, a better deal, and a less stressful experience. She shares stories from the field and demystifies every step of the buying and selling process. This candid guide will empower you to choose the right realtor, collaborate effectively, and hold your realtor accountable throughout the process. Together, you can form a powerful team in the uncompromising game of B.C. real estate-whether you're buying, selling, or both.

Mary Cleaver has been a practicing realtor since 2011 and has led her own team since 2016. She is certified as an Accredited Real Estate Negotiator (AREN) and a Professional Real Estate Negotiator (PREN). She has been certified in the Medallion Club (Top 10% of agents in the British Columbia lower mainland) every year since 2014. She has been buying and selling real estate personally-primary residences, investment properties, a presale property, and a vacation home-since she was 21 years old, most of these in B.C.