How to House Hunt During Covid

The new guidelinesfor house viewings

For a short while, everything was on hold, thanks to Covid-19. Homebuyers were unable to complete on new purchases and prospective buyers unable to view properties. Yet, over the last couple of weeks, we have all seen restrictions lift in aid to help some normality return. Including that of the property market.

Thankfully, many homeowners can now proceed with selling their home and purchasing on, including viewing prospective properties. But how has covid-9 changed how we house hunt? We have the new guidelines all here.

VIRTUAL PROPERTY VIEWINGS ENCOURAGED

Guidelines have a huge emphasis on prospective buyersconducting a large part of their property search online.

‘Initial viewings should be done virtually wherever this ispossible, and physical viewings should only be conductedwhere buyers are seriously considering making an offer on aproperty,’ explains the guidelines.

Sellers will likely be advised to invest in pre-recordedvideo tours to form part of the online details.

GLOVES AND MASKS WILL BE WORN

Whilst the guidelines do not mention the need to wearPPE during viewings, many agents nationwide will beconducting viewings with both buyers and agents wearingmasks and gloves when in the property.

ONLY POTENTIAL BUYERS TO ALLOWED TO VIEW A PROPERTY

To ensure that social distancing can bepractised, agents will be encouraged torestrict the number of people who attend aproperty viewing. With government guidelinesstating that ‘only those in your immediatehousehold should be there’, be sure to checkwith individual agents as to their guidelines.

POTENTIAL BUYERS CANNOT TOUCH ANYTHING

As a viewer, you will not be able to touchany surfaces within a property. Sellers may beasked to leave doors open and lights on tolimit the risk of agents or viewers needing totouch anything.

SELLERS WILL NEED TO WAIT OUTSIDE DURING VIEWINGS

To minimise contact, sellers will be askedto leave the property whilst the viewing istaking place.

PROPERTIES SHOULD BE CLEANED AFTER VIEWINGS

Despite all measures, sellers will still beadvised to clean their property after aviewing. Especially ‘high risk’ areas like doorhandles and light switches.