Surrey Presale Buyer's Checklist: 12 Things to Check Before You Sign

Buying a presale in Surrey means signing for a home that isn't built yet. You choose from floor plans and renderings, pay a deposit, and wait for completion. That's exactly why a checklist helps: the questions you ask before you sign shape everything that follows.

The short answer: before you sign a Surrey presale contract, check 12 things. Your mortgage pre-approval, your full budget, the estimated completion date, the deposit schedule, location and transit, real square footage, strata fees, parking and storage, rental and assignment rules, the warranty, the disclosure statement, and your 7-day rescission period.

This guide walks through each item, tells you what to ask, and shows how our four active communities answer it: QUEENS Condos, QUEENS Townhomes, Guildford The Greatest 2, and Fleetwood Village 2. Use the same list at every presentation centre you visit and you'll be comparing like with like.

The Surrey presale checklist at a glance

Save this table or screenshot it for your next visit. Each item is explained below.

Before you visit: get your money in order

1. Is your mortgage pre-approval ready?

Get pre-approved before you fall in love with a floor plan. Once Dawson + Sawyer signs your Contract of Purchase, you have 7 days to finalize your purchase. We recommend having your mortgage approval in writing by the end of that window, because once the contract is firm you are financially obligated to complete.

Ask about holding your approval, too. Presales can complete a year or two after you sign, and a lot can change in that time. We partner with lenders on a Builder Capped Rate Mortgage, which holds your mortgage approval until your completion date. It protects you against rising rates, job changes, and lending policy changes along the way.

2. Have you budgeted beyond the purchase price?

The starting price is only part of the number. Build your budget around these costs:

• Deposits. Paid in stages before completion, on the schedule set out in your contract.
• Down payment. For Canadian residents, the minimum is 5% on the first $500,000 and 10% on the portion above that, up to $1,499,999. At $1.5 million or more, or if you're buying as an investment, it's 20%.
• GST. 5% of the purchase price, due at completion.
• Property Transfer Tax. 1% on the first $200,000 and 2% on the balance up to $2 million, due at completion. It can't be added to your mortgage.
• Legal fees and closing adjustments. Ask your lawyer or notary for an estimate early.

Here's a quick example. On a $500,000 condo, GST is $25,000 and Property Transfer Tax is $8,000 (1% of $200,000 plus 2% of $300,000), before any rebate or exemption.

Those rebates and exemptions can make a real difference on a new home:

• First-Time Home Buyers' GST Rebate. Since March 2026, eligible first-time buyers pay no GST on new homes up to $1 million, with a reduced rebate between $1 million and $1.5 million. That's a saving of up to $50,000 (Department of Finance Canada).
• BC newly built home exemption. Qualifying buyers who live in the home pay no Property Transfer Tax on a newly built home with a fair market value under $1,100,000, with a partial exemption up to $1,150,000 (Government of BC).

Each program has its own rules, so confirm your eligibility with your lawyer or accountant before you count on it.

At the presentation centre: compare community by community

This is where presales start to look different from one another. Ask every sales team the same questions and write down the answers.

3. What is the estimated completion date, and how firm is it?

Presale completion dates are estimates. As construction moves along, the date can be revised by written notice, and your final completion date is confirmed with at least 30 days' notice. You get your keys on the possession date, which is the business day after completion.

Our current estimates show how much timing can vary within one builder: Fleetwood Village 2 lists move-in for early 2027, Guildford The Greatest 2 for summer 2027, QUEENS Townhomes for 2027, and QUEENS Condos for 2028. Ask what stage construction is at today and whether the date has moved since launch.

4. What does the deposit schedule look like?

Deposit varies by project, ranging from a total of 2% to 5%. Please speak with the Sales Team for more information. Deposit structures can change, so get the schedule for your home in writing before you sign.

Also ask who holds your deposit in trust and when it can be released. The disclosure statement should spell this out.

5. How will you get to work, school, and SkyTrain?

Transit access is one of the biggest differences between Surrey presales. Here's how the locations of our four communities compare:

• Fleetwood Village 2 is near the future Fleetwood SkyTrain Station on the Surrey Langley SkyTrain line, which is expected to enter service in late 2029 (Government of Canada).
• QUEENS Condos and QUEENS Townhomes are on King George Boulevard in Bear Creek, about five minutes south of Surrey City Centre, with R1 RapidBus service. It's roughly a 16-minute bus ride to King George SkyTrain Station.
• Guildford The Greatest 2 is a five-minute walk to Guildford Town Centre and Guildford Recreation Centre, with quick access to Highway 1.

Tip: before you commit, do your real commute from the site at rush hour, once by car and once by transit.

6. How much space are you actually getting?

Floor plans usually show two numbers: interior square footage and a total that includes the deck or patio. Compare interior to interior. For example, one two-bedroom junior plan at QUEENS Condos lists 656 square feet in total, made up of 603 square feet inside and a 53-square-foot deck.

While you're looking at plans, check the ceiling height, closet and storage space, where the in-suite laundry sits, and whether furniture you own will fit. Sizes on presale plans are approximate, so confirm the details in the disclosure statement.

7. What are the strata fees, and what do they cover?

Strata fees are estimated at the start and confirmed before completion. At QUEENS Condos, they're currently estimated at about $0.53 per square foot per month. On a 700-square-foot home, that works out to roughly $371 a month.

Ask what the fee covers. At our communities it typically includes property management, building insurance, landscaping, water and sewer, general maintenance, garbage and recycling, snow removal, pest control, and upkeep of the amenities. Bigger amenity packages are great to use, and they're part of what the fee pays for.

8. Are parking and storage included?

Never assume. Ask about the specific home you're considering. At QUEENS Condos, one parking stall and one storage locker are included with all homes in Building 1 at Bay Side. At QUEENS Townhomes, most four-bedroom plans include parking for two vehicles. If you drive an electric car, ask about EV charging options for your home.

9. Can you rent it out, or transfer the contract?

Rental rules matter even if you plan to live in the home, because plans change. Our Presale FAQ confirms there are no rental restrictions in our bylaws, and as the original owner you keep the right to rent. Always confirm the current rules in the disclosure statement and strata bylaws.

Assignment rules are just as important. Assigning means transferring your contract to someone else before completion. We do not allow assignments without developer consent. Please speak with the Sales Team for more information.

10. What warranty and build standards come with the home?

Every Dawson + Sawyer home is protected by the Travelers 2-5-10 Home Warranty:

• 2 years on materials and labour
• 5 years on the building envelope
• 10 years on structure

Then look past the warranty at how the building is put together. Our homes use 2x6 exterior walls with R20 insulation, a rainscreen system, and cast iron plumbing to reduce sound between homes. At QUEENS, every home is built and tested to BC Energy Step Code 3 for energy efficiency. Ask every builder the same construction questions and compare the answers.

Before the contract goes firm: read, then use your 7 days

11. Have you read the disclosure statement?

In BC, a developer must give you a disclosure statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act. It sets out the key facts about the project so you can make an informed decision (BC Financial Services Authority). Read it with your lawyer, and pay close attention to completion dates, deposit handling, the strata budget, bylaws on rentals and pets, and parking.

12. Do you have a plan for your 7-day rescission period?

The date Dawson + Sawyer signs your contract is your Acceptance Date. From there you have 7 days to cancel without penalty. Use them well:

1. Get your mortgage approval in writing.
2. Have your lawyer review the contract and disclosure statement.
3. Check rebates, exemptions, and any tax questions with your accountant.
4. Talk it through with your family.

At the end of the 7 days, your second deposit is due and the contract becomes firm and binding.

How our Surrey presales compare on the checklist

Here's how our four active communities answer the key checklist items today. Details can change, so confirm current pricing and availability with our sales team.

Want the full picture of how the communities feel to live in? Read our Surrey presale communities comparison.

What happens after you sign?

Knowing the road ahead makes the wait easier. Here's what to expect with Dawson + Sawyer:

• About three weeks before completion: our Homeowner Care Team books your orientation walkthrough.
• At least 30 days before completion: you receive your final completion date in writing.
• Possession day: the business day after completion, when you get your keys.
• First 30 days: you send one list of settling-in items for service.
• Before your one-year warranty ends: you send your year-end list.

Our Homeowner Care page explains each step in more detail.

The bottom line

A good presale decision comes down to asking the same questions everywhere. The community that gives you clear, written answers on dates, deposits, fees, and rules is usually the one that's easiest to buy from, and to live in.

Bring this checklist to our presentation centre, or register to get current pricing and floor plans for every Dawson + Sawyer community.

Frequently asked questions

What should I ask a developer before buying a presale in Surrey?

Ask about the estimated completion date, the deposit schedule, the strata fee estimate and what it covers, whether parking and storage are included, rental and assignment rules, the warranty, and who holds your deposit in trust. Then read the disclosure statement with your lawyer before your rescission period ends.

How much deposit do I need for a Surrey presale?

Deposit varies by project, ranging from a total of 2% to 5%. Please speak with the Sales Team for more information. Ask for the schedule in writing before you sign.

Can I cancel a presale contract in BC?

Yes, within the rescission period. BC's Real Estate Development Marketing Act gives presale buyers 7 days to cancel in writing. At Dawson + Sawyer, you have 7 days from your Acceptance Date to cancel without penalty. After that, the contract is firm and binding.

What taxes do I pay on a new presale home in BC?

Two: GST at 5% of the purchase price, and Property Transfer Tax at 1% on the first $200,000 and 2% on the balance up to $2 million. Both are due at completion. Rebates and exemptions may reduce or remove them, depending on the price and your eligibility.

Do first-time buyers pay GST on a new home in 2026?

Eligible first-time buyers may not. The federal First-Time Home Buyers' GST Rebate became law in March 2026. It removes the GST on new homes up to $1 million and reduces it between $1 million and $1.5 million, for a saving of up to $50,000. It generally applies to purchase agreements signed on or after March 20, 2025 and before 2031. Confirm your eligibility with a lawyer or accountant.

Can I assign my Dawson + Sawyer presale contract?

We do not allow assignments without developer consent. Please speak with the Sales Team for more information.