Hi Everyone,
I hope you and your families are all doing well. I wanted to reiterate our corporate position on conducting real estate during this challenging time.
OREA’s position is that ALL REALTORS® should immediately stop face-to-face business, including open houses, in-person showings, and maintaining agents and public office hours.
They are reminding us that the government gave the “essential” label to real estate to permit transactions to close – NOT to allow OREA members to carry on with normal business practices during a crisis.
They want all members to work remotely only.
HKRE is in agreement with this directive:
Only list what needs to be listed now. For eg., a situation where a seller has bought firm and needs their home sold to close on their purchase. Or a buyer who has sold firm and needs a place to live.
Showings should only be done after the buyer has seen the property on-line (virtual tours, photos, floor plans) and are deemed qualified to buy the property. Only buyers who will be on title should visit the home. Make it clear that there will only be one showing. No second or third showings.
In the case where a home has tenants, there should be no showings…only via remote.