How To Hold A Safe Property Viewing During COVID-19

After over a month in complete lockdown, the government finally gave the green light to the property market back in May. Since then, restrictions have continued to be eased. Those who were in the middle of a house move before lockdown have been able to continue, and those who wish to move can do so safely and legally under certain guidelines. 

But there’s still a lot of confusion and hesitation over what can or should be done over the summer. Here at Jordan & Halstead, we have made sure to stick to government guidelines throughout the pandemic. We understand that the matter of health and safety is everyone’s primary concern at the moment – and it’s ours too. 

While estate agents and home buyers can visit properties for viewings and to take photos or videos, it’s incredibly important that we all work together to protect one another’s health during this time. While our offices have been closed, we have had a small team available to talk by email or phone – we’re doing everything we can to keep everyone we work with perfectly safe and healthy. 

If you’re intent on either hosting a property viewing or on viewing someone else’s property, the first we thing we recommend is that you stay up to date with all the relevant government advice and guidelines. That’s what the team here at Jordan & Halstead is doing. We’re here to put your mind at rest and to help you feel more confident about your house move. Here are some of the ways in which the property viewing process can be made safer for all involved. 

1. Using the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

One of the most common ways in which people across the country are helping to protect one another from the coronavirus is the use of personal protective equipment (or PPE). It is mandatory on public transport and is an incredibly common sight in our supermarkets and retail outlets. Here at Jordan & Halstead, we think it’s absolutely essential for any property viewing hosted during the pandemic too. 

If you’re not sure what protective equipment you should use during the property viewing, or you’re concerned that the other parties involved won’t also be using PPE, just get in touch with us here at Jordan & Halstead. There’s a lot of advice and guidance out there about what is suitable in the current circumstances and we’re more than happy to provide our professional insight into helping to make the property viewing process as safe as possible. 

It’s important that everyone works together when it comes to the PPE used during the moving process right now – both for everyone’s protection and safety, but also for peace of mind too. Face coverings and masks are a fantastic way to protect those around you while gloves are also a great way to make the process a little safer. Touching surfaces and internal doors is difficult to avoid, so it’s important to take appropriate measures. 

2. Advice for those booking a property viewing during COVID-19

Searching for and buying your dream home should be an experience that is exciting and enjoyable! In fact, it’s one of the things we specialise in here at Jordan & Halstead – we’re a local estate agents that love to make the buying process as fun and stress free as possible. But it’s incredibly important that we don’t get too ahead of ourselves at the moment and that we have the patience needed to make the sure the process is as safe as can be. 

When it comes to those hoping to view a property during the COVID-19 pandemic, we always recommend that: 

• You postpone the viewing if you, someone you live with, or someone you have been in contact with has been unwell within the last two weeks. This is important to protect everyone involved. 
• You prepare to maintain social distancing during the viewing. There’s a lot of NHS advice out there about how to socially distance safely and responsibly. It’s also important to stay on top of official advice as this can sometimes change. 
• You bring only two applicants to the viewing including yourself. This includes children. While this can be frustrating, it’s another important step that limits physical contact between people. 
• You try to touch as little as possible inside the property – touching nothing if possible. The internal doors will likely be left open for you along with other extra measures, but touch as little as possible and remember to wash your hands or use sanitiser as often as possible. 

3. Stay on top of official government advice

As we mentioned above, the government has eased restrictions a great deal over the past couple of months when it comes to the property market. But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t going to be many more changes down the line. That’s why it’s so important to stay up to date and on top when it comes to the government’s advice on moving and viewing property. We are living in an unpredictable and always changing world at the moment.

Some of the current advice includes the fact that those who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus or who are self isolating with a diagnosed family member should not leave their home – this includes for property viewings. While this may seem obvious, it’s also the most important advice out there at the moment. 

Those who are considered clinically vulnerable to the coronavirus should also incredibly careful and cautious when considering leaving lockdown to move house. Current government advice for people considered ‘at risk’ is to suspend or delay moving house except under incredibly pressing demands. 

Get in touch

Want to find out more? There’s a lot to take into account and it can be incredibly daunting to move house or to view properties during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the team here at Jordan & Halstead is here to help. Just get in touch with us today to discover how we can provide the advice, assistance and guidance that you need.