COVID-19 UPDATE

ALERT LEVEL 2 COULDN’T COME SOON ENOUGH

Century 21 has your health and safety, as well as that of our people, as our top priority.

“We’re anticipating plenty of activity in the coming weeks, with Kiwis keen to make decisions. Regardless of all the disruption, many families still want a bigger home, empty nesters still want to downsize, and first-home buyers still want to make the most of record-low interest rates,” says Derryn Mayne, Owner of Century 21 New Zealand.

Her comments come as New Zealand now sits at Alert Level 2 after several weeks in the much more restrictive Levels 3 and 4.

Level 4, which took out the end of March and almost all of April, represented almost total lockdown with real estate agents limited to the likes of phone calls and zoom meetings. Level 3, in late April and the first half of May, enabled private viewings of homes for sale and rental properties under strict conditions. Private viewings were initially a key sticking point under Level 3, but the issue was quickly resolved thanks to the likes of the Real Estate Institute (REINZ) working closely with the Government.

Ms Mayne says despite real estate transactions largely in hibernation for over a month, Century 21 has seen plenty of activity and has used the time to lift its brand exposure through digital marketing and public relations.

During the Level 4 lockdown, Century 21 salespeople were busy doing the likes of virtual appraisals. Under Level 3 they pushed play on listings, brought in the photographers, and organise private viewings.

Now under Level 2, real estate offices have re-opened and all the usual real estate activity has resumed, with protocols in place. All activity needs to adhere to a minimum of one metre physical distancing, hygiene etiquette must be adhered, and records must ensure that contact tracing of all clients can take place. The likes of auctions, open homes, and rental viewings are back on - for less than 100 people.

She says with lower deposits now required, the first-home market will benefit thanks to the Reserve Bank’s decision last month to temporarily scrap its LVR restrictions. The move will also bring more property investors into play.

What’s more, serious buyers didn’t disappear during lockdown. They just got onto their computers rather than into their cars. In fact, Kiwis have been looking at property online in droves, with popular real estate websites reporting more traffic and longer average user times over the past couple of months.

“We are chomping at the bit, but we’re also conscious it’s not completely business as usual. With clear guidelines in place for real estate to operate safely under Level 2, we’re working harder than ever for buyers and sellers alike,” says Derryn Mayne.