The recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has led to many changes that impact the way we go about our lives and the way we can sell real estate. At Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate it is business as usual and we will dedicate the same level of care, expertise and professionalism that you have come to know.
To help you work through this situation, while remaining informed and able to make the right decisions with property, we have created a number of frequently asked questions for you to refer to:
How has Coronavirus (COVID-19) impacted the state of the market?
Although the general level of inquiry and transactions have slowed we have still seen a healthy amount of transactions occurring.
We as an organisation have adapted quickly and can confirm that genuine buyers and sellers are being brought together in new ways previously unexplored which allows a safe non-contact transaction to occur.
What should I do if I want to sell my property during this time?
If you are considering selling, we are here to assist you. We are very well prepared to sell property throughout this period and will continue to provide an exceptional level of service, delivering the best possible result for each and every one of our clients.
Can I still get my property appraised?
Yes you can and we have varied ways for this to occur. One is just to email or text one of our agents and they can return to you a report with an estimate of your homes value based on a comparable market report which could suffice or, if you wish, we are still able to offer market appraisals by attending your property and exercising the utmost care when it comes to hygiene and social distancing.
Alternatively, we are also able to offer you a virtual consultation and an opinion of value without needing to physically visit your home. We can do this via Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Zoom and various other live streaming platforms.
Please contact us to discuss how we can appraise and successfully sell your property during this period.
Are properties still selling?
The quick answer is yes. Across our national network we are seeing a number of transactions occurring. Now more than ever it is imperative that genuine buyers and sellers are introduced, and our process identifies those participants and allows us as a group to still transact sales and listings.
We have adapted the way we operate and have adjusted many of our property campaigns to work effectively throughout this time.
Can I still sell my property via an auction?
Yes, you can. Whilst the current restrictions prevent all real estate agents from holding a traditional public auction, there are many online auction platforms available, meaning that you can still sell your home through a formal auction process. Online auction platforms enable you to sell your property under auction conditions and also enable multiple bidders to bid on your property remotely.
Alternatively, some listings have been converted to hybrid platforms that allow competitive bidding without the need of an Auctioneer.
Rest assured, our Agents and Auctioneers are trained to operate in a range of challenging situations while focusing on achieving the best possible outcome for you.
How can someone view my property?
We are still able to hold private inspections and have put measures in place to ensure we mitigate the risk of exposure during a private inspection appointment. Appointments are one on one and allow any potential buyers to take their time and view your property with the sales agent.
In addition, we are recommending that new listings include additional photography, property videos and 3D Virtual tours to assist those buyers interested in your property that are unable to visit in person.
How is paperwork signed remotely?
We already use digital contracts to facilitate sales in a seamless manner and will continue to do so throughout this time.
What are you doing to mitigate the risk of exposure to Coronavirus (COVID-19) during inspections?
We are exercising the utmost care when it comes to hygiene, social distancing practices and Government regulations when hosting private inspections.
We have put the following procedures in place:
- Maintaining healthy social distancing (at least 1.5m)
- Keeping attendees at the appointment to a minimum
- Advising attendees to refrain from touching surfaces within the property where possible
We also request buyers refrain from attending an inspection appointment if they have:
- Tested positive to, or have symptoms associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Recently been in contact with someone diagnosed with Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Recently been overseas or agreed to any self-isolation conditions
How do the current circumstances change the way my property would be marketed?
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate agents are committed to providing our clients with an effective and tailored marketing strategy regardless of the current market conditions.
We will ensure your property is given every opportunity to be seen by all potential buyers through a tailored marketing campaign. It is now more important than ever to promote your property to a targeted group of buyers and also showcase as many features of your property as possible. We have the expertise and the tools to facilitate this at competitive pricing.
We can help you achieve a tailored campaign by;
- Taking additional photos to include all rooms and key features of the property
- Shooting a property video to help give buyers a better feel for your home prior to inspection
- Using the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate targeted broadcast system that allows us to target buyers and immediately gauge their interest
- Utilising new technology to do a property 3D tour
- Hosting your property on the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Australia website
- Promoting your property through multiple media channels with Better Homes and Gardens
- Making direct contact with our pool of active buyers on our database.
Do you know the current value of your property? Click here to find out.
Disclaimer: The opinions posted within this blog are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, others employed by Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate or the organisations with which the network is affiliated. The author takes full responsibility for his opinions and does not hold Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate or any third party responsible for anything in the posted content. The author freely admits that his views may not be the same as those of his colleagues, or third parties associated with the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate network.