HOW REALTORS ARE DOING BUSINESS UNDER NEW YORK STATE OF EMERGENCY

Since March 7, 2020, when Governor Cuomo declared a State disaster emergency, all businesses were directed to utilize to the maximum extent possible - telecommuting or work from home procedures to reduce the in-person workforce at any location by 100%. Only businesses or entities designated “essential”, are not subject to the in-person restriction, but only to the limited extent necessary to provide such services or functions. The obvious services - health care, emergency services, police, grocery store, restaurants (take-out food only), transportation, hotels, etc. designated as essential and operating. But essential services also include, residential moving, cleaning services, financial institutions, maintenance landscaping, and many more.

On April 9, 2020 Real estate services were added to the list but with tight restrictions:

“Real estate services shall be conducted remotely for all transactions, including but not limited to title searches, appraisals, permitting, inspections, and the recordation, legal, financial and other services necessary to complete a transfer of real property; provided, however, that any services and parts therein may be conducted in-person only to the extent legally necessary and in accordance with appropriate social distancing and cleaning/disinfecting protocols; and nothing within this provision should be construed to allow brokerage and branch offices to remain open to the general public (i.e., not clients).”*

So, what does this mean and how does it affect how Realtor’s conduct business?

1.    Realtors can continue to list properties remotely.

2.    Realtors can work with buyers remotely.

3.    No open houses.

4.    Realtors can take photographs, videos of properties for clients. Seller should leave the property to avoid person-to-person contact.

5.    Appraisals and home inspections are allowed but with minimal person-to-person contact – purchaser cannot be present.

6.    No in-person final walkthrough. Realtor can video for buyer or buyer can do final walkthrough without the Realtor.

7.    No unsolicited telemarketing marketing to solicit listings/sales to a member of the public.

Bottom line - we are here to serve you. We are doing business with limitations and in a different way.  But just look at some of the magnificent properties in this ad. We can help you too!  Give us a call at 631 765 5333 or email me - marie@beninatiassociates.com.  Let’s talk.

The ESD rules are restrictive, but certainly necessary to stem the tide of COVID-19.  We all must continue to do everything we can to stop this pandemic. Sheltering in place, is working. Wearing masks and protective gloves is working. We have to keep at it until we conquer this coronavirus “enemy!”

A million thanks to our heroic Healthcare, Emergency Care, Fire Department, Police, Food & Beverage Services, Post Office and Town personnel who are on the front lines…God Bless you all! 

 

* ESD Guidance on Executive Order 2026, Section 14, as Amended April 9, 2020.

Hope SPRINGS Eternal…We Shall Overcome!

This week we celebrate two very important holidays – Passover and Easter.  These religious holidays are celebrations of hope and salvation – Passover commemorates God’s deliverance of the Jews from Egypt and the birth of the Jewish people as a nation.  And Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the birth of Christianity.

We will be apart for the celebrations this year, because of the Coronavirus Pandemic.  This unseen enemy has stopped every one of us in our tracks and made us realize how vulnerable we truly are. How dependent on each other we truly are.  And how responsible we are to protect and support each other, our families, friends and neighbors - but also strangers - if we want to stop the spread and the resulting deaths of thousands of people. 

Our actions can abate the spread of the virus – if we stay home - even though we are bored.  Our actions can further the spread of the virus – if we don’t stay home, if we don’t quarantine, if we sneeze or cough and don’t wear protective masks and gloves. Each one of us has a responsibility to protect everyone we come in contact with and stop the spread of this deadly virus. With diligence and Hope, “We Shall Overcome.”

Passover and Easter remind us that even in the most trying of circumstances, we must always “hope.”  May this beautiful verse* about HOPE inspire you:

Hope opens doors where despair closes them.

Hope discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what       cannot.

Hope regards problems, small or large, as opportunities.

Hope looks for the good in people, instead of harping on the worst.

Hope cherishes no illusions, nor does it yield to cynicism.

Hope sets big goals and is not frustrated by repeated difficulties or setbacks.

Hope pushes ahead when it would be easier to quit.

Hope puts up with modest gains, realizing the “the longest journey starts with one step.”

Hope accepts misunderstandings as the price for serving the greater good of others.

Hope is a good loser because it has the divine assurance of final victory.

Hope draws its power from a deep trust in God and the basic goodness of human nature.

Hope “lights a candle” instead of “cursing the darkness.”

We wish you a Happy Passover and a Blessed Easter.

                           

*HOPE written by Father James Keller, Founder of The Christopher.