Showing Your Home During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Experts predict we will be in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic for at least another 6 to 9 months if not longer. You may think the real estate market has tanked due to the pandemic but this is not the case. Interest rates remain low and are enticing buyers to take advantage of lower mortgage payments. The pandemic is changing the way real estate is being sold and making showing your home a bit more challenging. But with creativity and preparation, showing your home can be done safely. The following guidelines will help keeping you, your family, your Realtor, and your prospective buyers safe and healthy.
Preparation
The first thing you want to do is prepare your home for sale. Deep, clean and declutter. You want your home to sparkle inside and out the fresh paint and clean windows. Clear off your counter-tops and remove all personal items. Put toys away and remove excess furniture. Clean out closets so they appear larger and don’t forget to clean out the garage. Add some color with decorative pillows, bowls of fruit or fresh flowers.
Virtual Tour
Your Realtor will want to create an online virtual tour for buyers to take a look at before physically entering your home. There are many options for creating tours with photos, as well as video walking tours moving from room to room. While online tours aren’t quite the same as seeing a home in person, they tell a buyer a lot about the property.
Virtual Open House
Today’s technology is ideal for virtual open houses. Who ever heard of Zoom pre-pandemic? But Zoom and similar programs are perfect for conducting a virtual open house.
In-Person Showings
While buying a home sight unseen is on the rise, most buyers will want to see a home in person before deciding to buy. With extra precautions, this can be done with safety in mind…
1. Limit the number of persons entering you home to Realtors and the prospective buyers. This is not the time for children and extra family members.
2. Have everyone entering your home sign a Covid-19 form certifying they do not have the virus or have not been exposed to someone who does. Also, require everyone wear masks, gloves and use hand sanitizer before entering.
3. Leave doors open and lights on to minimize touching surfaces.
4. Clean and disinfect before and after the showing.
Bottom line is buyers are buying and sellers are selling during this pandemic. They are just doing in more creatively and cautiously.
If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call them today at 334-834-1500!
