The timing of our needs in life are not always convenient. Understanding this, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added Residential and Commercial Real Estate to the list of essential services.
“How can that be?” you ask. “People just shouldn’t sell or buy a home right now,” you say.
Here is an example: before the stay-at-home order you had a job move taking place. You purchased a home in another city/state for the new job and placed your current home on the market. You are unable to sustain two mortgages long term. You need to sell the home in the city/state you left. Or you sold your home and need to purchase a new one in the new destination.
There are many scenario’s where the sell/buy of a home is a crucial need rather than just a want or normal need.
The California Association of Realtors (CAR) has issued Guidelines for Real Estate Best Practices During COVID-19. These are practices for working under the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom as CAR understands them. Keep in mind some counties’ and cities’ restrictions are greater.
We are fortunate to live in a time when almost everything can be done electronically or virtually.
Photography is the first need when selling a home. Beyond still images, 3-D photography now allows prospective buyers to ‘walk through’ the entire house virtually—and even measure rooms. A seller preps the home as they would for any photo session and does not need to be present with the photographer. After the photographer leaves, the seller should follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
Realtors can then post the 3-D virtual tour and photos on their Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and other Real Estate sites—and send to the Ramona Real Estate Association if they’re a member, for posting on the RREA Facebook page, where it can be shared out again and again.
Now, a buyer can visit and tour the seller’s home from the safety of their own home, and communicate with their Realtor by email, phone, text, Facetime, or video-meetings service, such as Zoom. Offers are then submitted electronically and reviewed in the same way.
Once an offer is accepted, the following examples are activities that still, typically, will be required in person:
Buyer’s inspections—visual plus final walk-through and agent visuals as required—can be done with social distancing. Home inspectors can complete their inspection without the seller or buyer present and can review with the buyer/s and Realtor after—as can termite or any professional trade called for inspections or repairs. Appraisers can also go independently, and Escrow/Title can be done electronically.
Loan documents and notary can take a little more planning for protecting all parties but are also opening up to electronic availability.
If you need to sell or buy a home, it can be done with everyone’s health and safety first and foremost. For more details about best practices, talk with your local Realtor from the safety of your home.
