REBGV.ORG | May 5, 2020
Home sales and listings remain temporarily suppressed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is predictable given the physical distancing requirements we’re all trying to follow today. However, this isn’t the only change that COVID-19 is causing in the real estate market.
“We’re seeing more innovation and rapid adoption of new technology. REALTORS® are using new tools to showcase homes virtually, assess community amenities, provide guidance, and handle paperwork electronically,” Colette Gerber, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver president-elect (REBGV) said.
The provincial government named the real estate profession an essential service to help the home buying and selling community meet their housing needs during the pandemic.
“We’re an essential service, but it’s not business as usual,” Gerber said. “Realtors are working hard to comply with the provincial health orders and responsibly operate in today’s environment.”
Whether your housing needs are immediate or not, your Realtor is there to help advise you through challenging circumstances.
“Today’s circumstances are challenging. Hopeful home buyers and sellers have a lot of questions,” Gerber said. “Realtors are working to guide and advise their clients to make wise, responsible housing decisions in their best interest.”
Talk to your Realtor today about your housing questions, concerns, or goals. When you do, consider these tips:
- If you want to physically see a home or have any other in-person interaction, you’ll need to be patient. In-person meetings will need to be done with the upmost caution and may take more time to coordinate.
- Your Realtor may need to document some pre-screening health questions, implement distancing procedures and sanitary practices.
- You can do a lot virtually today. More than you think. Talk to your Realtor about the different activities you can do from your computer to better position yourself in the housing market.
- Ask about doing a virtual tour of home, pre-qualifying for a mortgage, assessing the latest housing market statistics, signing documents, accessing strata documents, reading community development plans and more online.
If you have questions, ask your Realtor. They’re there to help you with your housing needs.