Part One – How To Sell Your Home Amidst A Pandemic
Selling your home at any time can be stressful for some people. To be placed in the position of having to sell in the midst of a global pandemic is a completely brand new challenge, to say the least. The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic created a new set of rules for almost every single industry in the world. The real estate world quickly adapted and created safety guidelines for buying and selling homes in these strange times.
When you are ready to sell your property, we will visit your home in person and, adhering to the new status quo, we will be wearing a mask, face shield, gloves and protective clothing. While there, a list will be made and left with you, detailing any repairs & maintenance, suggested updates & de-cluttering, plus any other aspects that should be taken care of prior to your home going on the market.
Once you’ve completed the list, we will return to your home (again in protective attire as before) and take detailed pictures of the interior and exterior of the home. The pictures will then be used to create a virtual tour of your home. The virtual tour helps reduce the number of in-person showings.
You Have Options
There are other ways to get your home listed for sale even if you do not want an in person visit to do our initial tour of your home. The best is for you to do a video call with us so that you can take us on a virtual tour of your home. We will take notes and ask you for a copy of your video so we can review it and make the proper recommendations to you regarding repairs & maintenance, updates, de-cluttering, etc…
We will also discuss the value of your home by providing a market evaluation that includes the comparable properties that have recently sold as well as the potential competition presently on the market. This information can be sent to you online through our market value evaluation system. We will take your goals and situations into account and help you set the best price and marketing plan to provide you with a timely top market value sale.
Let’s Get Your Home Sold!
We will begin marketing your home online utilizing the virtual tour among other avenues designed for maximum exposure to qualified buyers. We will require an accepted offer subject to viewing the property before any buyer will be allowed to enter your home. Prior to the buyer inspecting the home, we also require confirmation from their mortgage provider that they are approved for a loan high enough to purchase your home at the agreed upon price.
When it is time for viewing, you will be asked to turn on all lights, open all closet and cupboard doors to ensure easy access to all areas. Disinfect and wipe down all door knobs, countertops, cupboard and closet doors and knobs and any other surfaces that a buyer may come in contact with.
Time To Go For A Drive
It’s at this point, we will ask you to leave the premises while the buyer inspects the home with their agent. The buyer will be told to wear a mask, wipe their hands with disinfectant, wear gloves and remove their shoes. They will also be asked not to touch any surfaces such as door knobs, countertops, etc…
Once the buyer and agent have left, you will be encouraged to wipe down and disinfect any and all surfaces such as the door knobs, cupboards, countertops, and any other surfaces to ensure that they are clean and safe for you to return to your home.
All realtors and buyers will be required to sign a pre-written approved form to verify that they have not been out of the country within the previous 14 days, do not have a fever or any other symptoms, and have not been diagnosed with Covid-19.
We also require your written consent, in advance, to show the property to the buyer with the agent present. If you do not want the agent or the buyer in your property under any circumstances, you have that right. If the buyer is denied the right to view the home under the circumstances above but requires that right to complete the sale, the buyer can cancel the transaction at the buyer’s option.
