# Open House Tips for Buyers: The Buyer’s Experience | Coquitlam > How to use open houses as a buyer in Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities: plan your weekend, what the host can tell you, a printable question checklist, and what to do next. **Source:** https://soldbycraig.ca/coquitlam-open-house-buyer-guide/ **Author:** Craig Johnston, REALTOR® (BCFSA Licence #187645) · Royal LePage Elite West **Site:** https://soldbycraig.ca --- Open houses · The buyer’s experience ## Open houses in Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities — the buyer’s experience. Anyone can walk into an open house. The difference is who’s on your side when you do. The person at the door works for the seller. Here’s what BC’s disclosure rules mean for you, and how I take my buyers in strategically: researched before, side by side at the door, and debriefed the same evening. [Book a 20-min strategy call →](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [How I go in ↓](#strategy) **Reviewed:** November 10, 2026 · **Market data:** GVR October 2026 · **BCFSA Licence:** 187645 · **Brokerage:** Royal LePage Elite West ★ 4.9 · 38+ Google reviews Tri-Cities resident 47+ years Earned on a Top 1% Team — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2023–2025 Earned on a Top 2% Team — Royal LePage nationwide, 2023–2025 The short answer · How should a buyer use open houses? Know who represents you before you walk in. The open-house host is the **seller’s agent**. In BC they can host and answer general questions without any paperwork, but once the talk turns to your budget or motivation, they must stop and give you the **Disclosure of Representation in Trading Services** form. Since 2018, BC has generally prohibited **dual agency**, so the listing agent can’t also represent you on that home. Go in with your own REALTOR®, research the home first, keep your budget and timing to yourself, and compare notes the same evening. Most BC home purchases also come with a **three-business-day rescission period** after acceptance. BC’s disclosure rules, in plain language ## Who represents you at the door, and why it matters. In BC, every real estate professional must tell you, in writing, whether they are representing you as a client or not. The form is called the **Disclosure of Representation in Trading Services**. At an open house, it’s the moment that tells the public whose side the person at the door is on. The host ### Works for the seller The listing agent’s loyalty is to the seller. They can host an open house and give general, factual answers about the home without giving you the form. They also owe the seller any material information you share, so your budget and timing can reach the seller. The moment it changes ### When the talk turns to you If the conversation moves to your motivation, your finances or your needs, BCFSA guidance says the host should pause and give you the Disclosure of Representation form. If you don’t have a REALTOR® of your own and want to keep dealing with them, they also give you the **Disclosure of Risks to Unrepresented Parties**, which explains the limited help they can give you. No dual agency ### They can’t act for both sides Since 2018, BC has generally prohibited one REALTOR® from representing both the buyer and the seller in the same deal, outside rare exceptions. If you fall for the home and want representation, the listing agent can’t provide it. You’d need your own REALTOR®. Walking in on your own ### You’re talking to the other side * The host works for the seller, not you * What you say about budget, timing or how much you love it can be passed on * You get general facts, not advice on price or strategy * If you want the home, you either find your own REALTOR® fast or deal unrepresented Walking in with me ### You have someone on your side * You’re my client, with my duties of loyalty and confidentiality to you * The host knows who they’re dealing with from the first hello, and doesn’t need to give you their form * I ask the questions, so you don’t give away your position * We already know the home’s history before we walk in How I do it differently ## We go in strategically. Most buyers treat an open house as a casual look around. I treat it as the first round of a negotiation. Here’s how I take my buyers in. 1 Before we go ### Know the home before we see it 1. AResearch ### The home’s history and its market Sales history, days on market, any price changes, and the comparable homes that have sold nearby. You walk in knowing what comparable homes have sold for, not just what this one is listed at. 2. BThe listing agent ### I call ahead Is there an offer date? What matters most to the seller: price, dates or terms? Is anyone else interested? An agent-to-agent call is often the quickest way to clear answers. 3. CYour game plan ### A role for each of you We agree on who talks and who looks. One partner chats with the host while the other studies the details. And we agree on what nobody says out loud: the budget, the timeline, or “we love it.” 2 At the door ### Side by side, about 90% of the time 1. AWith you ### I’m there with you About nine times out of ten, I walk in with my buyers. I introduce myself to the host as your REALTOR®, so the representation question is settled from the first hello. 2. BRead the room ### Gauge the competition How busy is it? Who else is serious? How many names are on the sign-in? Are other agents walking their clients through? That tells us how fast we may need to move, and how strong an offer needs to be. 3. CWhen I can’t be there ### You go in briefed You know what to look for and what to ask. On the sign-in, you say you’re working with Craig Johnston, and you leave the conversation about price to me. If the talk turns to price or your plans, the host may hand you a disclosure form. That’s normal. 3 After ### Decide with the full picture 1. AThat evening ### Same-evening debrief We compare notes while it’s fresh: what you loved, what worried you, how it stacked up against the comparables, and what the room told us about the competition. 2. BThe paperwork ### Documents reviewed with you The disclosure statement, permits and, for a strata, the strata documents. I review them and walk you through what they mean. When it helps, we book a second, private viewing. 3. CThe offer ### An offer built to compete Winning isn’t always about price, though you have to be close. It comes from the relationship with the listing agent, asking the right questions and listening, then delivering an offer they can show their seller as the best one. I’ve won on dates. After acceptance, most BC purchases carry a three-business-day rescission period: cancelling costs 0.25% of the price and must be done in writing. [Book a 20-min strategy call →](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [What happens after your offer is accepted](/blog/subject-removal-bc-coquitlam-buyer-guide/) Before you go ## Plan your open-house weekend. Five homes in an afternoon blur together by dinner. A little planning turns a pleasant drive into a real comparison. 1. 1Thursday or Friday ### Shortlist and route Pull every open house that fits your brief, then group them by city and home type so you see similar homes back to back. With me, this is where the research starts: sales history, days on market and the comparables for each stop. 2. 2Before you leave ### One checklist per home Print the [checklist below](#checklist) once for each home. Same questions, same order, every stop. Bring a tape measure and your phone for photos, if the host allows them. 3. 3At each home ### Look past the staging Check noise at the hour you’re visiting, light, smells, signs of water and how the layout feels with furniture in it. Then walk the street for five minutes. 4. 4That evening ### Compare while it’s fresh Rank the homes the same night. Memory fades fast after five or more tours. If one stands out, book a private showing so you can take your time with your own REALTOR®. What the same budget buys across the Tri-Cities: townhouse benchmark, October 2026 | City | Townhouse benchmark | Getting around | | --- | --- | --- | | Coquitlam | $962,600 | Millennium Line SkyTrain; Coquitlam Central also has the West Coast Express | | Port Moody | $895,800 | Millennium Line SkyTrain; Moody Centre also has the West Coast Express | | Port Coquitlam | $854,900 | Buses and the weekday West Coast Express | Benchmarks: Greater Vancouver REALTORS® MLS® HPI, October 2026. Seeing all three cities on one weekend shows you what that gap buys in space, age and location. Questions to ask ## Your open-house checklist. Questions the host can answer, in the order that saves time. Print one for each home and compare them side by side that evening. ### Ask the host Print this checklist * **How long has it been listed,** and has the price changed? * **Is there an offer date,** or are offers being reviewed as they come in? * **What’s included?** Appliances, window coverings, light fixtures, the shed. * **Is there a Property Disclosure Statement** I can see, or an inspection report? * **When were the big items done?** Roof, windows, furnace, hot water tank. * **Were renovations permitted?** Especially suites, decks and basements. * **What are the property taxes,** and, for strata, the monthly fees? * **Strata only:** any special levies, the depreciation report, rental and pet bylaws, assigned parking and storage. * **Which schools is it in catchment for?** Then confirm it yourself with the school district’s locator. * **Can my REALTOR® book a private showing** this week? ### Check for yourself * **Noise** from roads, SkyTrain or neighbours at the hour you’re there * **Light:** which rooms get sun, and when * **Water:** staining under sinks, around windows and on ceilings * **Smells** that air fresheners might be covering * **Storage, parking and the garage:** will your life fit? * **Strata notice board and common areas:** they hint at how the building is run Questions the host may ask you ### “Are you working with a REALTOR®?” Answer honestly. If you are, give their name. Either way, unless your REALTOR® is with you, the host should give you a written disclosure of who they represent before discussing your needs. Keep it to yourself ### “What’s your budget? When do you need to move?” You don’t have to answer. A friendly “I’ll let my REALTOR® talk about that” is enough. Your budget and timing are your bargaining position. Beyond the photos ## What an open house shows you that listing photos can’t. ### How it sounds Road and SkyTrain noise at the time you’re visiting, footsteps from the unit above, and the neighbours’ dog. If the music is playing, ask for a quiet minute in the main bedroom. ### How it lives How light moves through the main rooms, where the furniture actually fits, and whether the kitchen works when three people are in it. ### How it’s been cared for Water staining under sinks and around windows, smells, and the age of the furnace and hot water tank. In a strata building, the notice board and common areas tell you how the building is run. Staging is there to help you picture the home, not to hide it. If it’s one of my listings ## What to expect at my open houses. When you visit one of my listings, I’m the one at the door. I don’t hand my sellers’ homes to another agent. You’ll sign in on your phone with a QR code, and the home’s photos, floor plans and a room-by-room walk-through open right there. You’ll also get a printed brochure to take home. 1**Sign in, about 20 seconds**Your phone offers to fill in your details. Tell me if you’re working with a REALTOR®. 2**The home you’re in, first**Photos, floor plan, the area and the video tour, all in one place. 3**Walk it room by room**Each room’s photos and measured size, starting at the front door. 4**Ask without waiting**“Any offers yet?” “Monthly costs?” One tap, even when the room is busy. Save it, share it with family. * **Been to one of my open houses before?** Your phone remembers you, so you’re signed in automatically. * **Working with a REALTOR®?** Say so on the sign-in, and I’ll respect that relationship. * **No pressure.** You’ll get a thank-you and a request for your thoughts about three hours later. Joining my monthly newsletter is up to you. See what’s open: [my current listings](/listings/). If you’re selling, here’s how I run these open houses from the other side: [Open houses: the seller’s experience](/coquitlam-open-house-seller-guide/). What Sellers Say ## 4.9 stars across 38+ Google reviews. [★★★★★](/reviews/) Verbatim quotes from Craig's Google Business Profile. [★★★★★](/reviews/) “Craig sold my property in just 6 days, which is an incredible feat. After receiving one offer, he quickly reconnected with all the other realtors who had viewed the property, and before I knew it, we had multiple offers—all over asking price!” Heather Fox Sold over asking in 6 days · August 2024 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “We received seven offers, and Craig held firm on our priorities: no subject to sale and achieving our price. We took the home off the market over Christmas, but behind the scenes Craig continued working. When we re-listed in January, it sold in just three days to buyers he had been nurturing — at the price we wanted.” Jim Turnbull 7 offers · Sold at target price · Sold + bought January 2026 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “Craig kept me informed of the local market for a couple of years before I asked him to handle my Coquitlam sale. He laid out the strategy upfront, the listing generated a lot of interest, and we had an acceptable offer in under a month. I was stressed going in — Craig helped me overcome a lot of my anxiety. I’ve already introduced him to my sister, who plans to sell soon.” Fj Young Sold Coquitlam in under a month · July 2026 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “Craig was there with us everyday. Guiding us to our next step we were kept informed daily sometimes multiple times a day as to what was happening… Our home sold in only 6 days with multiple offers.” Gerry & Aline Howitson Sold in 6 days, multiple offers · November 2025 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “One of the sales was my Mom’s home. She is 97 and so this was a very emotional issue to be leaving her beloved home of so many years… Craig was extremely patient in explaining the market and was very sensitive to her concerns. We can’t thank him enough for his empathy and understanding in working with an elderly person through a difficult time in a very caring manor!” Ann English 3 transactions · Sensitive elderly-client work · March 2024 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “Craig is a true professional and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to buy or sell their home. His approach is clear, data-driven and resulted in multiple offers for our sale.” Robert Shin Multiple offers on sale · July 2025 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “Craig Johnston recently sold my townhouse in West Vancouver in less than 6 days for over asking price!!!!! Craig is one of the most prolific and highly motivated realtors I have seen in the Realty business, and I have extensive experience buying and selling properties of all sorts.” Riverplate Equities Seller · November 2023 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “Craig absolutely delivered on his promise of selling my condo, exceeding my expectations. Craig met with me prior to listing and gave helpful advice for making my home shine to potential buyers. The media and internet exposure, salesmanship and presentation were all top tier.” Rich & Andrew Seller · August 2025 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “He went above and beyond what was required and managed to sell our condo at one of the slowest times of the year! From helping with the staging to being available to show to the unit at any time, Craig managed to sell our place when other comparable units nearby had been sitting for weeks!” Alex Kadhim Seller · February 2023 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “No matter value of the property, Craig puts great care into preparing high-quality marketing content, ensuring each listing is presented at its absolute best. Craig presents very professionally and is very responsive with his communications.” Allan Liang Seller · March 2025 · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “His creativity, top-notch communication skills, and a solid plan were instrumental in selling high and buying low. His foresight in negotiation, predicting outcomes before they happened, truly set him apart. He's also humble and very respectful.” Sue H. Sold + Bought · Google Review [★★★★★](/reviews/) “Throughout our journey, Craig demonstrated immense patience and understanding. He went out of his way to provide extra resources and various options to consider on both the buy and sell side.” Justin J. Buyer + Seller · Google Review ‹› [Read all 38+ reviews →](/reviews/) Questions buyers ask ## Open houses for buyers: your questions, answered. What can the host at an open house tell me without the seller’s permission? General facts about the property (what’s included, age, size, strata details), but not the terms of other buyers’ offers. BCFSA guidance says a listing licensee can’t disclose one buyer’s offer terms to another without the seller’s prior consent, preferably in writing. It also works the other way: the host owes the seller loyalty and must pass on material information about buyers, so anything you say about your budget or timing can reach the seller. Ask about the home, not the negotiation. When should an open house host give me a disclosure form? When the conversation moves past general property questions into your motivations or financial qualifications. BCFSA guidance lets licensees host open houses and give general factual answers without paperwork, but if they start asking what you can afford or why you’re moving, they should pause and give you the Disclosure of Representation in Trading Services form and, where appropriate, the risks form for non-clients. If your REALTOR® is with you, the host doesn’t need to give you the form. If you’re on your own, even with a REALTOR® back home, expect the form if you start talking about your budget or motivation. Do I have to sign in at an open house? Most hosts ask, and it’s reasonable: strangers are walking through someone’s home, and the sign-in is part of keeping it secure. You can ask how your details will be used. At my open houses I ask every guest to sign in, with a QR code on your phone; the page tells you how your details are used, and you choose whether to join my newsletter. If you’re working with a REALTOR®, say so on the sign-in. Does my REALTOR® need to come with me to an open house? No. Open houses are open to the public, so you can tour on your own. With my buyers, I’m there about nine times out of ten: I introduce myself to the host as your REALTOR®, read the room and ask the questions that would give away your position if you asked them. When I can’t be there, you go in briefed, tell the host you’re working with me, and we debrief that evening. Can the listing agent represent me if I want to buy the home they’re hosting? Generally no. Since 2018, BC has prohibited dual agency (one REALTOR® representing both the buyer and the seller in the same deal) except in rare circumstances. The listing agent represents the seller. You can still buy without representation, in which case they must give you the Disclosure of Risks to Unrepresented Parties, which explains the limited help they can offer you. Or you can have your own REALTOR® represent you. That decision is worth making before you fall in love with the home. Can I take photos or video at an open house? Ask the host first. Some sellers are fine with it and others aren’t, especially where family photos or valuables are visible. Most listings already have professional photos, and many have floor plans and a video tour online. At my listings, the sign-in gives you every photo and the measured floor plan on your phone. What should I look for at an open house that listing photos won’t show? The things a camera can’t capture: road and SkyTrain noise at the time you’re visiting, how light moves through the main rooms, smells, water staining under sinks and around windows, and how the floor plan feels with furniture in it. In a strata building, read the notice board and look at common areas; they hint at how the building is run. Use the same written checklist at every home so you can compare a Burquitlam condo and a Port Coquitlam townhome on equal terms afterwards. How do I plan an open-house weekend across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody? Group homes by city and type, because prices differ more than people expect. In October 2026, the townhouse benchmark was $962,600 in Coquitlam, $895,800 in Port Moody and $854,900 in Port Coquitlam. Seeing all three on one weekend shows you what that gap buys in space, age and location. Check transit as you go: Port Moody and Coquitlam have Millennium Line SkyTrain stations and West Coast Express stops, while Port Coquitlam relies on buses and the weekday West Coast Express. If I love a home at an open house, can I write an offer the same weekend? Yes, and you should have your own REALTOR® prepare it, with subjects such as financing and inspection where you need them. In BC, most residential purchases also carry a **three-business-day Home Buyer Rescission Period** after acceptance; cancelling costs 0.25% of the price and must be done in writing, and neither side can waive it. It’s a safety valve, not a substitute for doing your homework. If you’d like to plan your open-house weekend first, [book a strategy call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/). I’ve been to one of your open houses before. Do I have to sign in again? Usually not. If you signed in on the same phone, the page recognises you and signs you in automatically, with a quick welcome back. If you’re on a different phone or you cleared your browser, it takes about 20 seconds to sign in again. You can also tap “Not you?” to sign in as someone else. Who’s writing this ## Someone who hosts open houses and tours them with buyers. ### Craig Johnston, REALTOR® I’ve lived in the Tri-Cities for more than 47 years. I stand at the door of my own listings’ open houses, and I walk through other agents’ open houses with my buyers. That’s why this page covers both sides honestly: what the host is listening for, and what you should keep to yourself. REALTOR® · BCFSA Licence #187645 Royal LePage Elite West Earned on a Top 1% Team — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2023–2025 Earned on a Top 2% Team — Royal LePage nationwide, 2023–2025 Earned on a Medallion Club Team, 2021–2025 4.9 stars · 38+ Google reviews [Read Craig’s full bio →](/coquitlam-realtor-craig-johnston/) [Read every review](/reviews/) Methodology ## Where this comes from. Sources & Methodology*Show all 8 sources* * **Disclosure at open houses:** [BCFSA — overview of the agency and disclosure rules](https://www.bcfsa.ca/industry-resources/real-estate-professional-resources/knowledge-base/practice-resources/overview-changes-agency-and-disclosure-rules). * **The Disclosure of Representation form:** [BCFSA — Disclosure of Representation in Trading Services form FAQs](https://www.bcfsa.ca/industry-resources/real-estate-professional-resources/knowledge-base/practice-resources/disclosure-representation-trading-services-form-faqs). * **Client vs. unrepresented, and dual agency:** [BCFSA — Protecting real estate consumers](https://www.bcfsa.ca/public-resources/real-estate/protecting-real-estate-consumers). * **Sharing offer terms:** [BCFSA — Offers](https://www.bcfsa.ca/industry-resources/real-estate-professional-resources/knowledge-base/practice-resources/offers). * **Hosting open houses:** [BC Financial Services Authority — Hosting open houses](https://www.bcfsa.ca/about-us/news/blog/hosting-open-houses). * **Home Buyer Rescission Period:** [BCFSA — Home Buyer Rescission Period](https://www.bcfsa.ca/public-resources/real-estate/buying-home/home-buyer-rescission-period). * **Tenanted homes:** [Government of BC — rental property showings and open houses](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/sell-rental-property/showings). * **Benchmarks and days on market:** Greater Vancouver REALTORS® MLS® HPI and REALTOR® Report, October 2026, refreshed with each monthly release. Written and reviewed by Craig Johnston, REALTOR® (BCFSA Licence #187645), Royal LePage Elite West · Last reviewed November 10, 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Not intended to solicit buyers currently under contract with a brokerage. Keep reading ## The guides that go with your weekend. Each link goes one level deeper on a single part of buying. #### Before you tour * [Buying a Property: the Full Playbook](/buying-a-property/) * [Where to Buy in Coquitlam](/where-to-buy-in-coquitlam/) * [Affordability Calculator](/coquitlam-home-affordability-calculator/) * [First-Time Buyer Guide](/coquitlam-first-time-buyer-guide/) * [Move-Up Buyer Guide](/coquitlam-move-up-guide/) #### At the open house * [Red Flags When Buying a Coquitlam Home](/red-flags-buying-coquitlam-home/) * [Open Houses: the Seller’s Experience](/coquitlam-open-house-seller-guide/) * [Craig’s Current Listings](/listings/) * [Coquitlam School Catchments](/coquitlam-schools/) * [Tri-Cities Parks and Trails](/tri-cities-parks/) #### When you find the one * [After Your Offer Is Accepted](/blog/subject-removal-bc-coquitlam-buyer-guide/) * [Subjects and Conditions in BC](/subjects-and-conditions-bc-real-estate/) * [Closing Costs Guide](/coquitlam-closing-costs-guide/) * [Tri-Cities Market Update](/real-estate-market-update/) * [Client Case Studies](/coquitlam-real-estate-case-studies/) Tri-Cities monthly ## Know what your market is doing before you buy. October 2026 Coquitlam detached HPI is $1,571,400, -7.0% YoY. What that means for your buy or sell decision — without the salesy fluff. One email per month. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam, no listings flood, no marketing automation games. Genuine monthly update from a 47+ year Tri-Cities resident. ## Plan your next open-house weekend with me. A 20-minute strategy call, no pressure. Tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll send you a shortlist and a route, with notes on every home. [Book a 20-min strategy call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [See my current listings](/listings/) [Call 604-202-6092](tel:+16042026092)