Selling Your House During COVID-19
Selling your home during the COVID-19 Pandemic may have its challenges, but with the right precautions put into place by you and your Realtor, it is very achievable. Real estate is deemed an essential service in Ontario. Like many essential services, real estate transactions are adapting to a new reality.
Sellers will need to protect themselves and their home, whilst allowing the marketing and sale of the property to proceed smoothly and effectively. Not only will you be allowing buyer traffic into your home, but you will also have to allow for any photographers, home inspectors, realtors and appraisers etc. Steps that you will need to take to market and sell your property will have to be discussed with your Realtor and should have a clear plan in place to be successful.
8 steps for selling your home during COVID-19
If you’re selling your home, there are a number of steps you can take to help you during this time. Use the tips below to make sure you, those showing your home, and those visiting are safe.
1. Enable virtual tours and take many photographs
Virtual tours, photographs, and floor plans are commonly used on sites like Realtor.ca. More than ever, these are essential for selling your home during COVID-19. Conventional open houses are not allowed at the present time, but virtual open houses through Facebook or Zoom are great options that your Realtor can perform.
Take photographs of as many areas of your house as you can so that buyers can examine all the nooks and crannies to see if it suits their family needs. Make sure photos and tours are true to size; making your home look bigger than it is will simply turn the buyer off when they actually see the home. If possible, offer customers virtual tours so they can experience the space more than once without having to actually visit.
2. Feature Google Maps in your listing
Share Google Maps and GPS information on your listing so that a prospective buyer can examine the area, including the proximity to highways, schools, supermarkets, malls, etc. Always suggest that visitors drive by the area and see how it suits them before they decide to enter your home for a tour.
3. Ensure all parties access the house safely
Photographers, videographers, home inspectors, and appraisers will all still need to access the house to facilitate the sale. Anyone with access should have new protocols in place that keep them - and others that access the house (including you!) - safe. Have your realtor verify that anyone entering has proper safety precautions in place.
4. Do your part as the homeowner
As the homeowner, there are a number of things you can do to make the process better for yourself and those working to sell your home. Ensure a smooth visit by putting hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes at the front entry. Having essential cleaning supplies accessible will mean that if anyone touches anything by mistake, they can sanitize it immediately. Leave all doors and closets open for easy viewing and the lights on so anyone entering can tour the home without touching anything.
Go through your entire home from the perspective of a home buyer, and make sure you can do so without touching any items.
5. Experienced realtors know the safety precautions
Realtors will only be bringing serious, pre-qualified buyers into your home. These visitors will have gone through your pictures and virtual tours, and will already be seriously considering your home. At this time, anyone actually entering your home will be a serious buyer, and not someone browsing or simply comparing options.
Buyers will be advised not to bring any children and visitors will be limited to a single person or a couple. Visitors will be advised not to touch anything for everyone’s safety and to follow current health protocols. The realtor should also make sure they sanitize the space.
6. Give your realtor specific instructions
If you have particular health precautions that you would like visitors to follow while in your home, communicate these to your realtor. If you want visitors to wear masks or gloves, tell your realtor, so they can submit it in writing via your Realtor.ca listing.
7. Do your due diligence
Make sure your Realtor obtains a signed Buyer Property Access Authorization and Limitations COVID-19 Protocol on your behalf from each realtor and any buyer that enters your home. This form states that neither are experiencing any symptoms, that they have not been exposed to COVID-19 through travel or any other person, and release you - the homeowner - from any liability.
8. Disinfect after visitors have been in your home
Thoroughly disinfect your home immediately after a buyer or industry professional has entered your home. Go through your entire home, wiping down any knobs, handles, railings, or other obvious places a visitor may touch with disinfecting wipes.
Buyers still have the Region of Waterloo in their radars and I believe it is still a seller’s market to be taken advantage of. There are so many new technical innovations and tools that your Realtor has access to. By utilizing these tools and having clear communication with your Realtor, you can minimize the risk of exposure to you and your family and successfully sell your home.
I am always available for any questions or comments on this article or any other Real Estate questions that you may have.
