Adjusting to the coronavirus outbreak is the new normal, and like everyone else real estate agents are working to keep themselves and their clients safe.
According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, conducted on March 9-10, almost one out of every four home sellers is making changes to how their home is viewed, whether it’s by temporarily suspending open houses, requiring homebuyers to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer or asking them to remove their shoes or wear booties during showings.
In two of the hardest hit states – Washington and California – those numbers jump to 44% and 34%, respectively.
The survey also showed that buyer interest in most states remains high, with 78% noting no change and a mere 16% saying buyer interest is down. Those numbers could change, however, if harder hit states are any roadmap.
The Real Estate Randy Team at Compass is giving private showings by setting up lockboxes that allow clients to view homes on the market while avoiding crowds.
Twenty-one percent of California respondents reported waning buyer interest and 19% of Washington agents reported a decline in potential homebuyers in the market.
Agents in Boston are already making adjustments on showings and with larger events.
Randy Horn with the Real Estate Randy Team at Compass said he’s made private showings easier by setting up lockboxes, so potential buyers can visit listings with their agents while avoiding crowds.
“I’m still hosting open houses but not shaking hands, and I keep hand sanitizer available, so everyone is mindful about spreading germs,” Horn said in an email.
He noted that the outbreak could be a benefit to serious buyers who might experience less competition in the marketplace. “There are still opportunities to be found, and there will be some that benefit from this unprecedented market disruption,” he said.
Rich Kim, Operating Principal at Keller Williams Cambridge/Somerville/Allston/Brighton and organizer for the Greater Boston Association of Realtors YPN Committee, said GBAR decided this morning to postpone its YPN kickoff event scheduled for March 26. The group has not picked a date to reschedule, Kim noted.
Kim said he is working with team leader Katie Beck on an advisory to agents that GBAR training sessions will be held via Zoom video conferencing. “We have a training class almost every single day,” he said. “We want to be as proactive as possible.”
At Keller Williams, agents are being advised to conduct virtual showings through Zoom, FaceTime and Facebook chats to “mitigate risk and protect the people in our community.”
Kim said it’s too soon to tell whether the pandemic will affect open houses, but he noted that there has been a bit of a decline in rental showings.
“It’s really about being proactive and understanding what we’re facing,” he said.