We Will Pass Through This…
Hello readers, I hope you are all healthy and staying that way. I think about you often and I wonder how some of you are holding it together. I am taking things a week at a time, adjusting to life living on a schedule set by Coronavirus. Like all Realtors, I am still working but doing all my work from home and remotely reaching out to clients a lot more by phone and email and utilizing technology to show properties virtually with video walk throughs, 3D Materport tours, Docusign, Zoom; all are amazing
tools which have become essential. But this pandemic won’t isolate us forever. We will get through this. Yet while you are stuck at home, let me challenge you at this one thing personally, not having to do with real estate. It is this: Be present. Hold those who are close to you closer just a little longer each day. Work will wait. The busyness of life will resume. But right now: rest to work. Don’t continue the mouse-wheel of working to rest, working to rest, working to rest. Just rest now. Restfully press into whatever changes are coming your way, no, our way. So much is happening that affects our market: the low supply of homes, fluctuating mortgage rates, the closure of university and K-12 classrooms, people having to work from home while home schooling their kids, Wall Street volatility, and the government stimulus... Many people are choosing to wait to sell real estate until after the pandemic’s peak has passed. Good idea if you are currently living in the home you need to sell or have tenants living in the home. Uncertain times are reason enough to pause your plans to move. And why risk contracting COVID-19 with physical showings of property? Anyway it is unrealistic to require buyers to make an offer sight unseen if you’re not allowing showings. Some sellers are allowing physical showings and in this case agents must ask their clients, “is this physical showing a need or want?”, and if its an essential need then we must coordinate with buyers and sellers and agents and state and local rules and to make sure that the CDC safety guidelines are all being done such as distancing more than 6 feet apart, wearing masks, gloves, being quick in and out, using sanitary wipes on surfaces touched, and getting forms newly available to agents signed by all parties. Absolutely no showings if anyone has had exposure to the Coronavirus. Agents should not be present in most cases, and last but not least we must adhere to our city and state government and broker policies regarding physical showings. Many people are simply waiting this things out. There are people who need to sell or buy commercial and residential real estate, and their need can’t wait. For folks in that boat, you may be wondering what you can do. Are you stuck? Well certainly, if you have a true need during this next month or two – we’re told the virus spread is going to peak in California – you need to seek the advice of your Realtor. Personal health and safety takes priority over making real estate sales. We have so much tech in our arsenal to virtually show property and remotely sign contracts with clauses to protect buyers who can’t view property. And you can buy and sell during this time. That has not been outlawed. Escrow companies are working, county recorder’s office functioning, Realtors are working, appraisers, loan officers, notaries, and home inspectors. And because the transfer (sale) of real estate is an essential need now for some, there are still properties coming up for sale almost every day. The ones that are vacant are easier to sell. Vacant properties present a much better opportunity for buyers to view and for sellers to sell for the best price. Don’t displace your tenants for goodness sakes! But if you have a vacant home, list it! And if you can move out of your home into a rental, do it. It’s much less complicated to sell a vacant home during the Coronavirus pandemic. Before you do anything consult with a Realtor. Dustin Cheatham is a REALTOR® at Century 21 Select Real Estate, since 2015, DRE License #01972561. Dustin gives his clients an exceptional experience, both in home buying and selling. He is committed to staying informed of the daily changing market so that he remains a local expert. Dustin stays ahead of these market trends allowing him to properly market homes and help buyers qualify to purchase them. He’s a Top 7 Producer for C21 Chico, and has earned Top ListerAwards, Quality ServiceAwards, “Best of Chico” 3rd Place Realtor 2016 & 2017. Contact him at (530) 3556881 or ChicosRealtor@gmail.com DustinSellsRealEstate.com