First, let’s take a quick second to acknowledge that I totally hooked you with that alliteration in the title.
Now that that’s done, let’s figure out how you and your family can stay safe while putting your house on the market during a pandemic. Ideally, you want as many serious buyers in your house as possible with the goal of creating a multi-offer bidding war in a matter of days. But with a lot of showings comes a lot of cooties.
After working with you to make sure your house shows its absolute best, I will arrange for a professional photographer/videographer to come out to your house to take pictures, shoot a video, and create a 3D virtual tour. The goal is to give potential buyers a multi-pronged, immersive virtual experience that gets them excited about the house. That said, by allowing them to “walk-through” the house from their computers or phones, anyone simply window shopping can get their fix online, leaving only serious buyers to schedule in-person showings.
Agents will be asked to schedule showings online and you will be notified through text. Only one party of three is allowed at a time and they are required by law to wear masks. It’s advisable to leave all lights and doors open so visitors aren’t touching any light switches or knobs unnecessarily. I also provide hand sanitizer and shoe booties right inside your front door.
But let’s be honest, not everyone is going to leave the lights on and I can’t ensure people won’t open drawers or closet doors, etc. When you get home, take some time to wipe down the house, especially in high traffic areas. It’s not even a bad idea to open some windows and let the air out for a short bit, even in the colder weather where you might spend a couple extra bucks on your heating bill.
I have never been a fan of open houses – I think they’re a bigger tool for agents to pick up buyers than to actually sell your house. And in these current times, I think they’re even more unnecessary. If a buyer is qualified, motivated, and excited about your house, they will make time to schedule a showing with their agent, it’s as simple as that.
As a father and husband, I take the role of protecting my family very seriously. Likewise, I do everything possible to ensure the health and safety of my clients. If now is the time you’re ready to sell, I guarantee it will be done in a manner that makes you feel as comfortable as possible.
