How to show a vacant
house safely
Realtors and
Property managers can operate on a limited basis during the Pandemic. Cautions
are in order; however, we are in basic needs business of “shelter” as in Food,
shelter and clothing.
Instruct
your prospective buyers or tenants to keep driving by the outsides. If vacant
there is a big advantage during this Pandemic. Prospect can peak in the windows
if vacant which would be inappropriate if occupied. If a buyer or tenant wants
to see the inside here are some ideas to be safer in doing so.
·
Qualify
your prospect. No sense leaving your home if the buyer or tenant cannot
complete a transaction. This is not a time for a noisy neighbor showing.
·
Set
the appointment at least 2.5 hours ahead or behind any other showing. This will
leave time for any airborne particles to dissipate.
·
Have
the seller or as a Realtor place Clorox or Lysol disinfection wipes at the
front door entrance. Might also add a spray disinfectant medical gloves and
shoe covers. Some Realtors have been supplying shoe covers for a long time now.
·
Realtor
shows up early in a separate vehicle. Normally to drive the prospect is better,
but during the pandemic, stay in your own separate vehicle.
·
Realtor
has gloves, a normal mask, and his/her own disinfectant wipes. The Realtor uses
the wipe to clean off the lockbox and key as it is presented. Then opens the
door with the key inside the disinfectant wipe.
·
Realtor
can walk through with shoe covers and turn the heat/AC to comfort zone, unlock
side or rear doors, turn on lights where needed, wipe all door handles, light
switches, and cabinet knobs that a buyer or tenant might touch.
·
Realtor
goes back to his/her vehicle alone and waits for the prospect to show up or
instruct the prospect to stay in their vehicle with a “wave salutation”. Remember
no personal contact and stay your distance.
·
The buyer is instructed via a cell phone to use the front door that you have just
disinfected. Ask each person entering the house to take a wipe when then enter.
Children should not enter the house. They should use the disinfected wipe in
their hands between the skin and any doorknob or anything that they touch.
·
Instruct
the prospect not to touch anything that is not important to them even with the
disinfecting wipes in their hands.
·
With
Zoom or Skype or Facetime the Realtor can participate in the showing from their
vehicle. A buyer might focus on an item like the furnace and ask a typical
question. The Realtor seeing what they are focused up can answer typical
questions. Or the buyer might say, “I don’t like the blue carpet”. The Realtor would have the opportunity to overcome small objections.
·
After
the prospect has completed their tour they should get back into their vehicle.
·
The Realtor then has a special duty during the pandemic to re-enter the house and
wipe down anything that the buyer may have touched. Don’t’ forget the appliance
handles, faucet handles, toilet handle inside and outside door handles of all
sorts including but not limited to interior, exterior, closet, garage, and cabinets.
Even any pull chain that might have been used.
·
Realtor
needs to be extra sure that the key, lockbox and front door handle is wiped
with disinfectant when he/she leaves.
·
The
rest of the transaction can be done from the Realtor’s home computer using DocuSign
or other internet authorizations.
We do
acknowledge that there is always some risk. Some mistake, a momentary lapse in
the procedure, so putting showings off is the safest procedure. I agree with
the government and health department rules, regulations and recommendations.
Still, I think that Realtors can operate on a reduced basis.
Showing a
house that is occupied is another story.
Thomas Goebel is an international real estate consultant with offices in Plymouth Michigan, USA, and Windsor Ontario Canada. Look for more info on this site soon.
705 S Main Plymouth MI, 48170 USA
734-453-7000
TomEgoebel@Gmail.com
