What makes you a great real estate professional is not just your specialized market expertise and negotiating skills. It’s also your ability to guide buyers, sellers and homeowner clients in times of uncertainty.
As a real estate professional, you are trusted with the keys to your clients’ most valuable asset. Sellers open their homes to you with an opportunity to represent their best interests when selling. Buyers open their hearts to you with an opportunity to make their dreams of owning a home come true.
In both scenarios, there is an unparalleled level of trust being shared, and it is your duty as their agent to ensure at all times (not just in times of uncertainty) that you are doing everything possible to protect them as well as their real estate best interests.
As the impact of COVID-19 continues, now is the time to think outside the box to bring confidence and calm to your buyers, sellers and homeowners.
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
1. Educate and Safety First
- If you or your clients are sick, quarantined, have travelled internationally of late, or if there is a possibility of COVID-19 exposure – stay home. This is an obvious one but it does need to be said. Sometimes people think, “I’m fine”, or “It’s just in my head.” During moments of crisis, there should never be a ‘roll the dice’ attitude. Take the time to ensure your clients are educated on whether or not they could be at risk – and ask that they follow these guidelines.
2. Virtual and Video Tours
- This is an excellent time to explore the benefits of virtual or video home tours for both buyers and sellers. Invest in the technology or expertise to enable you to provide this service to sellers and request that other listing agents provide this viewing opportunity as well.
3. Home Tour Safety Kit
- If you are taking buyer clients out to visit homes, consider bringing a COVID-19 Safety Kit. This kit could consist of sanitizing gel, disinfecting wipes, tissues, bottled water, masks and silicone gloves. Ensure these items are readily available when entering and leaving the home during your visits.
4. Provide Environmental Cleaning Services
- This is an opportunity to provide sensational customer service. Of course, every precaution should be taken to ensure the health and safety of your clients and interested buyers coming to visit the property. Consider offering an environmental cleaning service before and after a showing to bring comfort and an added layer of protection to your sellers as well as visiting agents and buyers.
5. COVID-19 Showing Rules Sheet
- For your sellers, create a guideline sheet for agents and buyers that detail the new rules of showings.
6. FAQ Cards in Every Room to Avoid Contact
- Providing fact sheets for interested buyers is the perfect way to provide insight while limiting their contact in the home. Create FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) cards for each room in the home and encourage them to read the information rather than touch and explore on their own. Get creative and customize these cards to display the unique features of the home.
7. Sanitation Stations
- Anticipate that potential buyers didn’t come equipped with the necessary items to fight viruses while exploring the home. Have a sanitation station set up at the entrance of the home and encourage visitors to use the available items. Stock sanitizing gel, masks, disinfecting wipes, tissues, bottled water and silicone gloves.
Stay in close contact with your clients – continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments to your plan as news is released. We have seen that drastic changes can happen daily and what is appropriate today may not work tomorrow.
Keep healthy and stay safe.
Remember, it’s a beautiful life, make it count.
Rich
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DISCLAIMER: Although this material has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, Richard Robbins International Inc. cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. All opinions expressed and data provided herein are subject to change without notice. The information is provided solely for informational and educational purposes and is not intended to provide, and should not be construed as providing, individual financial, investment, tax, legal or accounting advice. Professional advisors should be consulted prior to acting on the basis of the information contained in this document. Richard Robbins International Inc. assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the content.