Best practices from Dr. Robert Strang when buying or selling a home amid the COVID crisis
The Real Estate Commission reached out to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Strang, asking what advice they would convey to the real estate industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was recommended that we comply with the following information:
- Social distancing, travelling in separate vehicles and not showing houses of those in self-isolation.
- Frequent hand hygiene. Real estate licensees and buyers will be going into homes where the risk may be unknown. It is extremely important for these individuals to touch as little as possible during the viewings and practice hand hygiene before entering and after leaving the premise.
- Practice cough etiquette (cough into your sleeve or a tissue and discard the tissue immediately)
- Social distance – maintain a 2 metre/6 foot distance between the real estate licensee and buyer/seller at all times
- Those in self-isolation cannot have their house shown to potential buyers as visitors are not allowed and they are not permitted to leave their home during their isolation period. If the real estate licensee themselves is in self-isolation they will not be able to conduct viewings. If the buyer is in self-isolation they are not able to leave their house and cannot view properties at this time. If the licensee or buyer are experiencing flu-like symptoms, they should not conduct business.
- Frequent environmental cleaning. If real estate licensees are required to have a face-to-face meeting, ensure frequent environmental cleaning is occurring (pay extra attention to high-tough surfaces like door handles, arms of chairs, pens, etc).
If you are planning to buy or sell a home, it is important that both you and your real estate agent comply with these guidelines for the safety of everyone involved. Although this is not the best time to be considering a move, the market is still very active. Last week we saw 70 offers written and 105 new listings, you can view more statistics over the past few weeks here. If you need to buy or sell in the next few weeks, contact us to make a plan. We'll ensure your next move is a successful one.
We are here to help when you need us!
Chris Perkins, Broker/Owner
COldwell Banker Maritime Realty
