I know everyone has heard so much about COVID-19 and how it is currently changing our lives every day right now but I wanted to also let you know how that affects real estate. The real estate industry, at least in NY, the status from non-essential to essential changed during the process and the directives we were given were changing daily. We have now settled into more of a so-called routine for the time being.
It started that everyone needed to follow the CDC guidelines by minimizing people in the office and support greater sanitizing and cleaning methods. Shortly after that we became non-essential, offices had to close, and we could no longer do any real estate transactions that required face-to-face contact.
Just when we had accepted that real estate would be put indefinitely on hold the Empire State Development agency deemed us essential. Immediately people started to resume business as usual. The agency then had to clarify things and after a few more changes we are at the point we are now.
We can conduct business but nothing that requires face-to-face contact meaning we can not attend closings, we can do virtual showings if the seller allows access to the property, we can get new listings but only if it can be done without physical contact, brokerage offices must remain closed, and we must follow the CDC guidelines if we are in public or entering a property.
So what does this mean for my clients? For buyers, you can still look at listings online but will not be able to see a place in person until we are cleared to resume business. Sellers have probably already noticed a slowdown in activity for this same reason, that most customers are unlikely to purchase a place they can not see in person. Hopefully, we will get back to business soon, I miss all my clients, but in the meantime know I am here to help in any way I can.
Most importantly, I hope everyone stays safe and healthy!
This is how I have been keeping in touch with my family.
