In Arizona and all around the Nation-- heck the
world- things are changing. With Covid-19 looming around the corner on
the door handle, on a light switch perhaps even in your car, you just can’t be
too careful! Arizona has been hit, but
as bad as some states. In this new normal you will notice many more Virtual
tours, open houses done through video, or Facebook, sanitizer wipes in each home
asking the potential buyers to make sure they use them. Buying or selling a home can be stressful even
under ordinary circumstances now add all of this-- it can be overwhelming! Unfortunately, the current state of the world is
far from ordinary and no one knows how long this will be our new normal. The
housing market is feeling the crunch- but in some ways is becoming more efficient.
As fewer buyers want to get out and shop for a home, and fewer sellers want to
take a risk with selling. Brokers and Agents are finding creative ways to make
it all work for their clients. Now- This isn’t to say that nobody’s buying and
selling, of course; the market is just going through some changes and some
tweaks.
One of the biggest
changes revolves around how buyers and sellers are handling social isolation
and social distancing. If you’re thinking of selling, or are in the market to
buy, here are a few new “rules” to keep in mind when entering the real estate
fray in the era of self-isolation.
Increasing Online Presence
One
of the big changes to the real estate process is an increased dependence on online
resources instead of in-person shopping. This includes lots of pictures and
videos of properties being posted online, but many sellers are taking things
even further than this. Recorded virtual tours, online conferences to allow
buyers to ask questions about the property, and even livestream walkthroughs
with a seller or agent showing the property are all increasingly popular
options to supplement or even replace in-person showings and conferences.
Fewer if Any Open Houses
Open houses are a
popular way to show off a property to many potential buyers, but in the current
crisis these events are a big no-no. In many locales, open houses aren’t even
allowed under state and federal guidance. In states where they haven’t been
specifically banned, many sellers are still hesitant to hold an event that
would bring multiple people into close contact with each other. Online “virtual
open house” conferences are popping up as one option to adapt to this, letting
multiple potential buyers come together on Zoom or a similar video conference
service at the same time to get a better feel for the property that’s being
sold.
More One-on-One Time
As convenient as
online access and virtual tours are during the current isolation period, few if
any buyers would sign on the dotted line without getting a chance to see a
property in person. To accommodate this, many sellers and agents are meeting
with potential buyers by appointment only. This lets a potential buyer get a
good look at the property in question while also restricting the size of the
meeting as much as possible. Many of these appointments are made with the
understanding that if any participant feels the least bit under the weather on
the day of the meet-up, then it will need to be rescheduled for another time.
Respecting Social Distancing
Even when buyers and
sellers do meet up, the process is usually a little different than it used to
be. Social distancing rules are usually respected, meaning that everyone
involved should stay at least six feet apart at all times to prevent potential
infection. Discussions about the property and general Q&As are more likely
to occur outdoors in the open air, and any greetings or introductions skip out
on traditional handshakes. Masks, gloves, shoe covers and hand sanitizer are
commonly available on site, and many sellers go through and open all of the
doors and windows to both maximize airflow and to allow interested buyers
access to the entire house without having to touch doorknobs or other surfaces
in order to see inside.
Closing Remotely
Remote closing—In Arizona
have been approved and should be implemented very soon. The negotiations are
becoming much more common, taking advantage of video conferencing to bring
everyone together without actually having to be in the same room.
Now, There may be some
instances where people have to meet up to actually sign paperwork because it
removes that point of contact, but digital signings of the actual closing
documents are more common and notaries are starting to explore the ways they
can use the technology and still be in compliance with the law. Even when
people do come together for closing and signing, it’s much more likely that
everyone will utilize social distancing and that both parties will use their
own pens instead of sharing.
As the situation evolves,
so do the added measures so keep in mind it is a moving target and I have stayed
on top of all the details to make sure you are getting the best care and the
best team around!
We are all in this together,
and if there is anything I can do to help you buy or sell a home- please call
or text me and I would be happy to help in any way I can!
