COVID-19 Pandemic is Changing How Houses are Bought and Sold

The sale of real estate property was already in the process of evolving when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Making both buyers and sellers feel safe during the process has become the main goal of realtors across North America. Currently, the lack of available homes for sale is keeping would be buyers active in the marketplace. How long that will continue, according to Colby Hurd, principal broker and owner of the Red Door Agency in Kingsport, TN, is of course difficult to say. Hurd noted the process usually starts with potential buyers taking a virtual tour of various properties from the comfort of their own living rooms. If a home ticks the necessary boxes a call is made to the broker who represents the owner of the property to see if on-site visit can be arranged. Hurd has said he will do everything to make sure the visit is as safe as possible, including his opening and then closing as many doors after the tour with a sanitized wipe, while wearing gloves and a mask. If the homeowner wants the potential buyers to where some sort of PPE, he arranges that as well. Closing have also changed with buyers and sellers now in separate rooms.