COVID-19 TIPS
TIPS FOR SELLING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Tips for Selling Your Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic
1. Have Clear Upfront Expectations
In these times, it’s more important than ever to have clarity around the sale of your home. Read our pre-listing package and complete the questionnaire so that we can best address your needs up front . A new job, growing family, or just looking for a better climate – there may come a time when you need to move from your current home. While the reasons for it are often exciting ones, the idea of selling your home can be overwhelming. But with some sound strategy and the help of a real estate professional, you can go from “For Sale” to “Sold” in no time.
2. Conduct Remote Listing Presentation
Video conferencing is a great way to practice responsible social distancing. We make it easy using Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and Google Hangouts. At this time, we may also ask you to walk us through the home so that we can see the home and any improvements you’ve made.
3. Complete Pre-List Inspection & Appraisal
Have a pre-list inspection and appraisal (and fix items the inspection finds) to put you in a much stronger position to educate and negotiate with potential Buyers and minimize the number of visits Buyers and Vendors will need to make to your home.
4. Get Instant Offer
We can present you with an Instant Offer to purchase your home in a time frame that works for your family. This means no showings, no open houses, no Buyers walking through your home.
5. Use the Latest Imaging & Video Technology
Photos and videos, especially if you live in the home, will be extremely important so that potential Buyers can really see the home and to minimize unnecessary traffic. Where possible, we include a floor plan of your home so that Buyers don’t have to tour the home in person.
6. Utilize Other Great Resources & Vendors
Use our list of recommended Vendors to guide you through staging, repairs, etc. We expect homes will need to be in tip-top shape in the coming market and market shift to garner the most showings and best possible offers.
7. Conduct Virtual Open Houses
Use streaming services, such as Facebook Live or YouTube Live, to give Buyers options for seeing your home during Virtual Open Houses .
8. Use Streaming Video for Showings
We use streaming video, such as Google Hangouts, Skype, WhatsApp, or Facetime, to show Buyers and Agents around the home and to tour the property.
9. Utilize Personal Protection Items
Require hand sanitizer, shoe booties, and face masks for Buyers, inspectors, Realtors, repairmen, etc, and require anyone entering your home to use these items. Leave light switches on for visitors and sanitize light switches and door handles when they leave.
10. E-sign Online Documents
We already use Dotloop and Docusign to digitally sign documents. This should be the only way to handle documents through this crisis.
11. Close Remotely or in Small Group Settings
Closing can take place in small groups (Buyers and Sellers separate from each other) to mitigate the spread of the virus. In some cases, closings can be done completely remotely with one of our recommended Closing Agents.
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Tips for Buying a Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic
1. Get Pre-Approved & Lock Your Rate Early
Get pre-qualified To purchase a home, you’re likely going to need a loan. Which means you’ll want to get pre-qualified for that loan before you even start looking at homes. The pre-qualification process requires meeting with and authorizing a lender to examine your finances and credit history. Your lending officer may provide you with a document detailing how much you are pre-qualified to borrow.
2. Conduct Remote Buyer’s Consultation
Video conferencing is a great way to practice responsible social distancing. We make it easy using Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and Google Hangouts.
3. Begin Your Home Search Online
Websites and mobile apps are a valuable tool in the home search process. From photos and video tours to home and neighborhood details, they provide a wealth of valuable information to help you zero in on homes that fit your needs. But while these technologies play an important role, they should never replace viewing homes in person. There are aspects of homes that you just can’t see online, like layout details, design, and craftsmanship to name a few. Be sure to bring your real estate agent with you as he or she can provide expert analysis and may notice things you would otherwise miss.
4. Conduct Live Video Walk-Throughs of Homes
We can request the listing agent or seller to walk through the home on a live video so that we can see the home without going there. If the seller or listing agent are unwilling to do this, someone from our team will be happy to do a live video from the home for you.
5. E-Sign Online Documents
We typically use Dotloop and Docusign to digitally sign paperwork. This should be the only way to handle documents through this crisis.
6. Utilize Personal Protection During Required Meetings
We have a supply of shoe booties, face masks, and hand sanitizer that we can use when viewing a home or for essential meetings such as with home inspectors and repairmen.
7. Consider New Contingencies
If we make an offer without physically seeing a home, we can make the offer contingent on physically viewing the home. In this way, you are assured to have your dream home under contract with the ability to cancel the contract should the reality of the home not match photos and videos.
8. Close Remotely or in Small Group Settings
Closing can take place in small groups (Buyers and Sellers separate from each other) to mitigate the spread of the virus. In some cases, closings can be done completely remotely with one of our recommended Closing Agents.
9. Deep Clean Your House Before Moving In
The perfect time to deep clean your new home is before you move in, when it’s empty, and every nook and cranny is easy to reach! We have a list of recommended vendors to provide to you.
Thinking of buying a home? These are unprecedented times with many confusing and challenging things to consider. At Dan’s Family Homes, we remain on top of the latest news and education to deliver unparalleled service and advice to our clients. Let’s chat about how we can work together to meet your home buying dreams.