In light of recent global outbreaks with respect to health and political movements, I find myself incredibly puzzled with how we got here. In the midst of my confusion, I find that I can only write about what I DO know, which is that your Sunday afternoon pleasure of going to Open Houses has changed. My Sunday afternoon of marketing a home has changed as well, and not all for the worse.
While it is true that we (currently) no longer have the ability to host Open Houses for purposes of marketing real estate, there is a silver lining in it all..for the sellers, for the buyers, for the agents. Gone are the days (for now, at least), when crowds of people would stroll through a home for sale out of sheer curiosity, to get design ideas for their own home, or to stop and chat with other neighbors. While this was an incredibly pleasant aspect for the visitors and often for myself as the agent hosting the open house (who doesn’t like to meet new people?), for the seller of the home it could be perceived differently. Of course, the sellers’ goal is to get only qualified and interested, action-ready buyers through their house after all the hard work they did to prepare it for the viewings.
With showing (and most all other real estate related activity) protocols changed, the seller is getting a bit more of what they want. With new required procedures as set forth by the Ca. Association of Realtors, prior to setting an appointment to see a property – and you MUST have an appointment for a specific time now so as to avoid more than one party in the home at once- a buyer must sign a form called a Property Entry Advisory Declaration (PEAD), certifying they agree to follow health and safety guidelines and that they do not exhibit any symptoms, essentially. A buyer will need to have agent representation in order to process this form for them – whether its the listing agent of the home or an agent they have already engaged with and plan to work with….no more questionably interested buyers kicking the can coming through the sellers’ home….
Before getting to the point of signing he PEAD form above, a buyer MUST get pre-qualified for a loan, if financing, or show that they have the funds ready to purchase. No more questionably qualified people coming through the sellers’ home….
And before arranging an appointment, the buyers should properly vet the location with a drive by and review all virtual online material provided by the listing agent. I have started using a 3D virtual tour for each and every listing regardless of price range that is very helpful for buyers to get a clear understanding of the layout of the home prior to a personal visit.
As a result of these new changes, along with necessary personal protective gear (masks, gloves when required, sanitization before and after showings), a seller can expect only qualified, interested, and action ready buyers to come through the home that have already eliminated many possible objections before setting foot through the door. This creates a more effective use of time for buyers, sellers, and real estate agents alike…seems like a win for everyone, which is always my goal!
If you are interested in buying, selling, or just learning more about what is happening in our ever changing real estate market, give me a call at 619-944-2798. With technology, skill, experience, and diligence behind my name, I can help you too!