Buying a house and being afraid of COVID-19? This is how real estate agents protect their clients

I’ve been trying to buy a house for the past few months, but have become increasingly concerned about how to do it safely in the midst of a pandemic. Every time I see a new location I have to sign forms on COVID-19, p. For example, if I have traveled somewhere, I recently tested positive or I know someone who has.

But my question: are there any responsibilities or rules that runners have to follow? What happens if a real estate agent I meet tests positive for the virus? Do you have to tell me? Do they have a deadline before they have to go back to work and show houses again? I’m sure there are guidelines for disinfection and protective gear, and I’ve seen realtors wear masks and clean counters, but would appreciate any guidance you might have on how best to do this. do in these unprecedented times.

With my best wishes,

A worried but hopeful buyer

Better to worry

Buying a home can be a stressful and stressful process before you even consider the concerns of the ongoing pandemic. The good news is that the housing industry has digitized much of the home buying process to keep people safe.

For starters, it’s important to know that real estate agents must comply with local and state regulations. Some regions have viewed real estate as an essential service that makes open houses, home visits and personal signings possible, even when there are home orders.

But even then, many real estate agents take even more precautions to keep people safe. The National Association of Realtors recently released a guide for its members to get advice on how realtors should handle real estate exposures in the future. The trade group urged its members to use virtual demos and limit personal activities as much as possible, even though local laws allow things like open houses.

Many agents are now using 3D technology like Matterport to visualize what a house looks like that allows people to walk through and feel it without having to leave it in person. Other agents conduct initial consultations via Zoom or FaceTime to limit the number of face-to-face interactions. Some even require buyers to be pre-qualified for a mortgage before visiting a home to make sure they are serious about business and less occasional visits.

“When a buyer doesn’t or can’t look at a home, I did a lot of FaceTime to give them extra perspective so they can open a specific door or just ask about the home. I can do this through FaceTime. said Maggie Wells, a real estate agent for Keller Williams in Lexington, Kentucky. In fact, some people have chosen to buy homes that they have only visited virtually, although not necessarily for everyone.

When performing in-person appraisals, realtors should require everyone to wear masks and disinfect surfaces already touched, such as doorknobs, counters, and light switches.

As soon as an offer is submitted, many agencies can also handle much of the closing process digitally. However, this may vary depending on where the electronic signature is allowed. In cases where electronic signature is not possible, many agents coordinate the automatic signature, where the process is done in the car rather than people entering the office.

In cases where an agent comes into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has tested positive themselves, these guidelines may vary from broker to broker and depend on the location of the agent. your practice. “Everyone relies on the honesty of others to contain the spread and keep people safe,” said Dan Galloway, Redfin RDFN.
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Market Manager for the District of Columbia.

The National Association of Realtors has created a sample plan for businesses to guide their COVID security practices. Let’s say the seller finds out he has caught COVID-19. When an agent has a confirmed case of COVID-19 (positive or from a client), the National Association of Realtors suggests contacting the director of human resources immediately.

The agent in question must self-isolate for the period recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the broker must determine if other employees should do the same.

The agent is then advised to seek the consent of the seller to notify any other agent who has visited the property in the past 14 days that a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 is on the property.

You should also immediately notify your customers. However, real estate professionals must consider the privacy of individuals. If the seller has not consented to the disclosure of their identity, the agent may not be able to identify the property or person in question. And even if they agree, agents should be sensitive to your privacy.

In these cases, this information may be passed through the multiple listing service so that other brokers are notified of a positive case. “I have received exposure notifications from other brokers [through the
multiple-listing services] So I know a lot of them have processes, ”Galloway said. “And the multiple listing service often tells you which safety precautions to take.”

Going forward, I suggest that you have an in-depth conversation beforehand with any agent you want to work with to find out what their practices are, not just house calls, but signings as well. Find out how they communicate COVID cases to both your office and to your clients. If you are ever concerned that your agent is not taking sufficient precautionary measures, don’t be afraid to contact his office or end your relationship with him.

Good luck with the rest of your home buying journey. Hope you and your family can soon find a safe and secure new home for you.