JOSH SUHR: Real estate in the time of COVID-19

Rules for a pandemic

When it comes to real estate (and everything else for that matter) the COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented event. Your real estate professionals are working diligently to keep what has been deemed an essential industry on track, but please understand that we are building the playbook for this on a day-by-day basis.

Housing is one of the key pillars not only to our economy but to our way of life and the market will continue to move. That being said — we have a public health crisis that we need to take seriously.

The days of loading your family into the car and driving around to look at houses on a Saturday are going to be replaced temporarily with a safer, more efficient way of doing things. Here are a few key points:

• Communication: This is a crucial time to stay in communication with your Realtor, lender and title company. Mortgage underwriting is changing by the day and you will want to make sure everything is current with your loan approval.

• Virtual tours: We all know that homes sometimes look different in person than in their real estate photos. In an effort to minimize exposure, virtual tours of listing are very common practice. These can be done by the listing agent or buyer’s agent before scheduling a live showing.

• Open houses: While there has been no policy prohibiting open houses, your agent is most likely going to recommend that you not hold one. The point of an open house is to get multiple prospects through your property and that flies in the face of social distancing and safety.

• Be respectful: This should go without saying, but when people are letting strangers walk through their home there is a responsibility to follow sanitary and distancing protocol. You will be asked to drive your own car, glove up, avoid touching anything, and in many cases only two people at a time are allowed through a home. If you are looking with family or friends, they may have to wait. We ask that you please respect these requests and help us keep everyone safe.

In conclusion, let me say how grateful your local Association of Realtors is for your continued support. I believe that the true colors of a community come out under duress, and that we will come out of this crisis stronger and more connected than before. We are all in these difficult times together — stay safe, wash your hands and continue to be good to each other.

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Josh Suhr, 2020 president of the Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtors.