Real Estate Agents: Open House Precautions to Take During COVID-19
You took the courses, passed your exam, and had been a licensed real estate agent for about a month when Covid-19 reared its ugly head. The virus understandably has realtors on edge, as face-to-face interactions are impossible to avoid in this line of work.
Open houses are essential, in most cases, to show properties, but it’s scary in today’s world. So, what precautions should you take? Are there ways to protect yourself and keep your agents, clients, and others safe during open house events?
Keep Up with Your Testing
Realtors who are working with the public every day are in a high-risk category. You may come in contact with people who are sick or even colleagues who have contracted the virus. Fortunately, widespread testing is available now and you can find a location if you feel you’ve been exposed. If you or one of your employees begin to feel sick, go home immediately to prevent a possible spread.
If you think you may have had the virus previously but were never tested, you might be able to get an antibody blood test. These tests will tell you if your body has COVID-19 antibodies, meaning your immune system fought the virus off previously.
Leave All Lights on in the Home for the Entire Event
While it might seem strange to have lights on in a home in the middle of the day, it’s a good idea during the coronavirus outbreak. Leaving the lights on keeps agents and people who are touring the house from touching the light switches to turn them on. If someone does touch a light switch make sure to disinfect it as soon as possible.
Have Cleaning Stations Set Up Ahead of Time
Make sure that you set up cleaning stations ahead of the event and have them manned and ready to go before the first agents and potential buyers arrive. Ensure that there’s alcohol-based hand sanitizer all throughout the property, and keep soap, cleaning wipes, and paper towels on counters so that they are easily accessible to all. It’s also a good idea to hand out travel hand sanitizer bottles at the door.
Offer Booties to Potential Buyers at the Door
While you can’t make potential buyers wear booties, you can offer them at the door. Sometimes, explaining that the booties will keep from contaminating the seller’s property will make all the difference. It can’t hurt to offer them and make sure your agents are wearing them as well.
Clean Surfaces between Each Potential Buyer
Between each potential buyer, you should wipe down all high-traffic surfaces. That includes the following.
- Doorknobs
- Cabinet handles
- Faucet handles
- Countertops
Wiping down these areas before the next visitor arrives will cut down on the possibility of someone coming to your open house catching COVID-19. Make sure that you clean everything completely after the open house ends as well.
Be Open and Honest About the Threat
It’s extremely important to let agents, potential buyers, and sellers know about the threats that come with having an open house during the pandemic. Be open, upfront, and honest, then the choice they make is theirs and theirs alone.
Educate the Agents
The more the realtor and the agents know about COVID-19 and how to prevent it, the better off you’ll be. Holding meetings before the open house and before showings can easily help prevent the spread of the virus. The more they know, the better off they’ll be, including knowing things like the symptoms to watch out for during open houses as well.
In a world of uncertainty, everyone knows that the show must go on and that includes selling houses and hosting open houses to get the job done. However, if you follow the tips and precautions above, it’ll be much easier for agents, the seller, and potential buyers alike to come away from the open house happy and healthy.