HOW REALTORS ARE KEEPING COVID-19 AT BAY

The CENTER FOR Disease Control (CDC) has published safety guidelines and we are all responsible to follow the guidelines required by New York State to protect ourselves and others.  As Realtors, it’s our responsibility to protect homeowners and homebuyers.  I would like to share with you what steps we are taking as an industry.  This is a list of guidelines we have been required to institute to mitigate health risks and the spread of the virus:

Prior to Showings:

• Encourage buyers to narrow their property search through photos, virtual tours, and other technology to reduce the number of in-person showings.

• Consider adopting a policy of asking all buyers for a pre-qualification letter to limit in-person showings only to qualified and serious buyers.

• Discuss with a seller the precautions that will be taken when showing their property and adhere to seller’s specific requirements.

• Require property showings by appointment, in lieu of open houses.

• Require sellers and potential buyers to disclose exposure to COVID-19 or if they exhibit any symptoms.

• Discourage non-essential parties from attending showings.

• Ask buyers to remain in their vehicle until the agent arrives at the property.

• For owner or tenant-occupied properties, request seller or tenant to open cabinets, closets, etc. and turn on lights before leaving the property.

• For vacant properties, open front door, open cabinets, closets, window coverings, and turn on lights.

During In-Person Showing:

• Require that all persons entering a property use hand sanitizer, remove footwear or wear booties, and wear a face mask and gloves.

• Social distance by maintaining at least 6 feet of space between persons at all times.

• Avoid shaking hands with clients.

• Limit the number of persons who may attend a showing and show only one person at a time.

• Instruct persons touring the home to avoid touching any surfaces in the home, except for handrails for safety and not to use bathroom facilities at the property.

• Do not share phones, pens, or tablets or other personal property during the showing.

• Provide hand sanitizer to all persons leaving the property.

After Property Showing:

• Wipe down any surfaces touched during the showing with a sanitizing wipe or disinfecting cleaner, and suggest the seller also disinfect the property.

• Speak with buyers outside of the property at a distance of 6-feet or speak by phone or email.

• Maintain a detailed log of interactions to enable contact tracing.

Over the past five months, we have learned that the virus is most contagious via contact with human droplets in the air that do not necessarily dissipate immediately, and a mask is an important deterrent. It is uncomfortable, but the alternative - catching the virus and possibly dying or passing it to someone who dies - is not an acceptable one.  If we are going to win this war against the coronavirus, we must work together to protect ourselves and everyone with whom we come in contact.

PLEASE - DO THE RIGHT THING…