How to Sell a House During a Pandemic

 

The current pandemic has changed life as we know it. Right now, if you want to sell your home, you will have to approach it in a completely different way. Depending on whether you need to isolate, you may not even be able to welcome viewers to your property. The good news is that it can still be listed on the open market, and as long as the price is right, you’ll find a buyer.

How to Sell a House During a Pandemic

Staging the Property

Staging a property makes it more attractive to buyers. However, you might not want professional stagers traipsing around your home at this time. Strangers are potential disease vectors, and any new furniture brought into your home could be infected with the virus.

One way to avoid being infected is to use a virtual staging company.

What is virtual staging? Virtual stagers use software to remodel your rooms virtually. This is especially effective if your home is slightly dated or has a bespoke look your buyers might not appreciate. It’s also cheaper than a traditional staging company, so it’s definitely worth considering.

Virtual Viewings

Viewings can be done virtually, too. Instead of inviting buyers into your home, you can let them view it all via a virtual 3-D tour. It’s not quite as good as an actual tour, but it does let buyers see the layout of each room, so they can decide whether the property meets their requirements. If they decide to take it further, you can then offer them a virtual viewing via video link.

Use software such as Facetime to show people around your home. You can do this yourself or ask the realtor to do it for you. Viewers can request a closer look at anything of interest and you or the realtor are on hand to answer questions. It’s a great way of showing off your home without risking infection.

Open Weekends

Instead of booking regular viewings as normal, organize an open house event and get it over and done within a couple of days. Open house viewings tend to be popular, and when organized in advance, they can generate a nice buzz of interest in the property.

The great thing about an open house event is that viewing slots can be booked by appointment and social distancing measures adhered to. Your realtor can show viewers around, with everyone wearing masks and using handwash stations at each entrance.

If you prefer not to be involved, you can stay somewhere else for the weekend, such as in a hotel. This ensures you are not coming into contact with multiple strangers.

Extra Hygiene Measures

It’s vital that extra hygiene measures are adopted when you are conducting viewings or showing realtors around your home.

  • Make sure everyone wears face masks and takes off their shoes before they enter the property.
  • Maintain social distancing at all times.
  • Ask visitors to use hand sanitizer before touching anything
  • Once visitors have left, wipe down all door handles and surfaces, to minimize the risk of infection

Follow the protocols above and you can keep yourself and your family safe while selling your home.