Selling In A Pandemic

At the end of 2019 COVID-19 started making its way around the world. It caused mass lockdowns around the world, forcing business and life as we knew it to come to a screeching halt. While we continue to battle against it we have begun to try and create some new normalcy in our lives. That includes some measures to re-open business, and that includes real estate. 

The lockdowns forced a change of plans for many, and that includes people looking to or needing to sell their property. So if you are in this situation you may be asking, is it possible to sell my home amid the ongoing pandemic?

In short, yes. While some can say they can wait, others cannot. We have no idea how long this pandemic will go on. Experts are not even sure, there are so many variables in play. So not everyone will be able to ride it out and wait for the eventual end of COVID-19 before selling their home. Don’t forget, our government deemed real estate agents to be an essential service, and this is one of the reasons why. 

Let's take a deeper dive into some of the ways you can be sure our family is safe while selling in COVID-19.

First off, work with a realtor that understands the magnitude of the situation and environment. When selling your home, your real estate agent is the gatekeeper. During the listing period, your agent is who will be letting people into your home. It is incredibly important that they understand how to deal with the challenges presented and that they take the health and safety of yourself and your family very seriously.

Second, now is the time to choose an agent who has or will invest in high-quality marketing material, tools, and resources.  With open houses discouraged at this point, the visual appeal of your home matters. While some may want to visit your home in-person, many more are doing so digitally. They are going through listings online, looking for their next home. They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but during these times, that is exactly what people will do. Their first impression is going to be huge. It’s critical that your realtor gets professional photos of your home, provides a video or 3D Tour and makes a floorplan available. What is available to the public is going to go a long way to securing a buyer.

The third point takes the previous point a step further. You want to work with a realtor that is comfortable with technology. This pandemic has brought video conferencing platforms to the forefront of business. Apps like Facetime, Zoom, or Skype can enable safe meetings and consultations while reducing unnecessary contact and risks. On top of that, many documents and forms you need to sign or complete can be done remotely and digitally through apps and programs as well. Technology is a massive asset to help navigate the current environment, have an agent who can leverage that. 

Next, work with an agent that knows how to limit the amount of unnecessary showings. It goes without saying, you want the least number of people as possible to enter your home. You don’t want the tire kickers who are out “just browsing”. You want serious buyers who are ready to offer on our home. A good agent will help with screening and vetting interested parties. A quick tip they should give is they request that buyers drive by your home before making an appointment to enter it.

The next tip is something simple you can do if there are people who want to walk through. Prior to the showing, turn on all the lights and open all the doors yourself before leaving the home. These are the high touch surfaces that if contact can be limited will reduce risks by minimizing the need for strangers to touch anything inside your home.

Last, immediately when you get back in, before doing anything else, disinfect. Even though you took the steps in the previous point, re-clean any frequently touched surfaces after any showings. These are areas such as door handles, light switches, kitchen counters, etc. that they are most likely to touch.

Here at Jump Realty we stay on the cutting edge of technology. All of our agents can do many tasks digitally and keep you safe. There is simply too much at stake to not have safety as the highest priority. We ensure that any of our listings follow this advice and even go beyond. We trace everyone entering and exiting the property with exact times. We require all parties to wear a mask inside the home at all times if showing. We also keep the amount of people allowed to view to a minimum. We ensure all regulatory paperwork and guidelines set out by the bodies who govern us as well as the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit are strictly followed. It is possible to sell your home during this pandemic, you just need the right agent. Feel free to contact us here and we can help you stay safe if you are buying or selling.