Yes, and Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Sure, things are a bit different right now. Realtors are consistently asked two questions: one, can you still buy and sell homes right now, and two, how is the market?
The answer to the first question is a categorical yes! Unlike restaurants, hairdressers, and so many other businesses, real estate has not been asked to cease. Here at Ray Gernhart and Associates, we’re still working hard to help people sell their properties and to get buyers into new homes.
The answer to the second question actually surprises many people. Despite what you might expect, the market isn’t bad; it’s just different. Listen here for what Ray Gernhart has to say about this:
If you’ve been considering selling your property, now might be the most opportune time. Just expect a few things to operate a little bit differently:
Technology Is More Crucial to the Selling Process Than Ever
Technology already plays a huge role in the real estate industry. (What potential buyer today doesn’t hop on Zillow and pore over photos before deciding what properties to see in person?) During this crisis, though, technology has become invaluable to the home-selling process.
With people wary of entering others’ homes, technological tools, such as FaceTime or other video calling applications, can help buyers get a great sense of a home without having to see it in person. At Ray Gernhart and Associates, we’ve seen this firsthand, with multiple buyers putting in offers after seeing homes this way. Typically, those buyers will visit the house in person at some point to ensure it’s a good fit, but the visits are largely brief and with extra safety precautions taken. (See below for more on that.)
“I had a client this last week who actually sold a property online,” says Gernhart. “I went to the house. Gloves, mask, sanitizer. The whole nine yards. I videoed the property and sent it to the potential buyers, and they liked it, so they wrote a contract.
“Prior to the home inspection, I met them there for about five minutes. They actually liked it better than they thought they would, and in the end, we ratified a contract. The buyer got the house; the seller was able to sell their house. Everybody’s happy.”
Realtors today are still listing homes, but more than ever, they’re using every form of technology to get those properties in front of buyers.
Realtors Are Working, but Who Else?
The home-selling process involves lots of moving parts, and that reaches far beyond the seller, buyer, and their respective real estate agents. It also involves home inspectors, title company workers, loan officers, appraisers, and more. One of the biggest real estate–related questions during this pandemic is who is authorized to still be working, and the good news for sellers and buyers alike is that nearly all professionals related to the home-buying and home-selling process are still operating. For many in this industry, business has been modified but not closed.
At the closing table, for example, it’s usually quite common for the Realtor to attend. Today, in an effort to limit needlessly large gatherings, only signers are encouraged to come. Don’t be surprised if you’re also provided with gloves when completing your paperwork. Hours of operation and available staff could also be limited.
If you want to sell, don’t assume you have to wait until this pandemic passes. All the professionals necessary to help push this process through are still doing their jobs, and now is a great time to sell. Buyers are looking, and there’s simply not enough inventory on the market to satisfy the demand. That’s a recipe for selling a home quickly and profitably!
Extra Safety Precautions to Expect
Although real estate transactions are still occurring every day, the safety of the sellers, the buyers, and the Realtors is paramount. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to take a few extra steps when viewing any new home:
- Wear a Mask
Wearing a mask when outside your home can help limit how much your spread germs, as well as prevent germs from getting in. Just make sure you don’t touch the front of your mask while wearing it. Especially with makeshift bandanas and other do-it-yourself masks, they can slip off your nose, but adjusting them from the front can defeat the purpose. Read here for more details about the types of masks available and their relative effectiveness.
- Wear Gloves
While there’s still much we don’t understand about COVID-19, it is clear that it’s largely transmitted by our hands. Once the virus gets on the hands, it’s easily presented into the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Wearing gloves when you enter a place outside your home is an easy, harmless precaution you can take to protect yourself and others.
- Use Hand Sanitizer or Wash Your Hands Thoroughly
Before you enter a new home, make sure to use a dose of hand sanitizer, or wash your hands thoroughly. Do so again after you leave the home. Washing your hands before helps protect others in case you’ve caught COVID-19 and are still asymptomatic, and washing your hands after protects you if you’ve encountered the virus during a home visit. While the risk from this kind of limited exposure is likely low, the CDC recommends washing your hands before and after visiting any public place.
- Limit How Many Attend Viewings
Especially if you’re a first-time home buyer, it’s really common and understandable to want to bring along anyone who can help you make a decision. For some people that’s parents; for others it’s friends who have purchased homes before and know the questions that might not occur to home-buying novices.In this climate, however, the more people who attend, the greater the risk of someone catching or spreading COVID-19. Limit the number of people who attend a home showing to the absolute minimum. That usually means just the potential home purchasers. If it’s possible, arrange for a sitter for any kiddos. Children are particularly likely to touch just about any reachable surface, especially in an unfamiliar place.
As a seller, if you’re still living in the home you’re showing, make sure to wipe down all surfaces after any viewing. The Realtor might also ask you to do things he or she would normally do, such as turning on lights and opening doors. This helps minimize how many surfaces people have to touch.
“We are still selling homes,” says Gernhart, “but your safety, your security, is our number one priority, and we’re taking extra measures to make sure that’s ensured.”
Have you fallen in love with a property but are hesitant to see it in person? Good news! Now you can talk to Ray (virtually) and get into your dream home or sell your property without ever having to leave the house. Reach out today to learn more about buying or selling your home during COVID-19.
