We seem to be in another corona surge period, with San Francisco treading water when it comes to hospitalizations and rising infection rates. That’s why it’s extremely important for agents and clients to continue following correct property showing protocols when it comes to real estate business.
Listing agents, please make sure you have hand sanitizer and shoe covers in the property if you are allowing showings. It is not particularly encouraging when I bring clients to a property via lockbox, and find a sign requesting that we take our shoes off when there are no shoe covers in sight. And no hand sanitizer. Sticking a lockbox on the house and assuring me that I am scheduled for the showing isn’t convincing me that you’re handling things the proper way. Yes, I bring hand sanitizer with me, but please do your part to assure everyone’s safety.
And please resist the urge to put an A frame outside the property during an appointment timeframe. My clients and I arrive at a home and the anxiety level goes up if we think there’s a possibility random people off the street may be inside. If you have to market yourself, the house sign will be sufficient.
Buyers, mask up when you arrive at a property. Your agent may know you, but you don’t know where your agent has been and vice versa. Put on shoe covers if they’re available. And to be on the safe side, bring hand sanitizer with you and use it when you first enter, and when you leave. Try not to touch too many surfaces in the property.
Everyone, keep a safe distance when you’re in a home.
Sellers, if you are living in the property during the marketing period, make sure you personally wipe down touch points in between showings. It is possible for agents or cleaning people to miss a light switch or faucet here and there, and you want to make sure you’re protected.
Here’s the running list of San Francisco Association of Realtors (SFAR) announcements and guidelines. It pretty much mirrors general corona protocol. But keep the guidelines fresh in your mind until we have a vaccine that’s widely available.