Since to the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, it kind of seems like the world has been flipped on its axis. Many companies have left the office behind in favor of working from home, people have been forced to cook more often or rely on take-out orders with the dine-in closure of all restaurants, at home schooling is now a thing (parents, I feel for you) and we've had to limit or entirely stop seeing our friends and family face to face. Certain essential services remain open under the governments rules, and real estate is one of those services. People still need homes; imagine that! If you have a need to buy, sell or rent during COVID19, you can expect the process to look a little different - things are not business as usual. Real estate services have had to adapt to the evolving climate to ensure a safe experience for buyers, sellers, renters and their realtors. Below I have outlined some of these changes so that you can have a good idea of what to expect when conducting a real estate transaction at this time.
VIDEO CONSULTATIONS WITH YOUR REALTOR
To mitigate risk of exposure, an in-person meeting with your realtor is not recommended at this time. Luckily, it's 2021 and we have tools at our disposal to meet virtually through services such as Facetime, ZOOM, Google Hangouts, Skype and more. This option is being extended by many other service providers in the real estate transaction such as lawyers, mortgage representatives and more.
VIRTUAL SHOWINGS, 3D TOURS & VIDEO TOURS A virtual showing can come in many forms;
Real-Time Video Showing: The showing is conducted on an electronic device such as a laptop, iPad or cellphone using streaming video technology such as FaceTime, Zoom, etc.
Recorded Video Showing: Any type of walkthrough that was prerecorded. The video can be shared through a video service like YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
Virtual Tour Showing: A listing agent creates a way for the buyer to have a 360-degree view of a property online.
ELECTRONIC SIGNINGS
Electronic signings are great now more than ever. And in this day and age there are many great services that allow for quick and easy signatures from the comfort of your home. Many parts of the real estate transaction can be electronically signed, but some things, such as legal documents from your lawyer, may need to be signed in person while exercising proper precautions and safety measures.
LIMITED IN PERSON SHOWINGS
It is currently recommended to limit in person showings when possible, but if not possible, safety measures are put in place to ensure your safety such as mandatory masks and hand sanitization, private showings with no overlapping appointments, limited amount of attendees permitted per showing appointment and frequent cleanings of surfaces. You will likely be required by the listing agent to sign a COVID19 disclosure form prior to any in person showings. Open houses are currently not permitted at this time.
In closing, the need for real estate still remains during the global pandemic and it's simply being approached differently to ensure the safety and comfort of all parties involved. If you have a need to buy, sell or rent during this time, I would be happy to help and will ensure that the process is as comfortable and safe as possible for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out.
Yours Truly,
The Condo Confidential
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