How to Safely Sell Your Home During the Coronavirus Crisis.

If you are looking to sell your home during the Coronavirus crisis, there are ways to protect yourself, your property, and still close the deal. Even though many of us are under shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders, real estate protocols have expanded allowing us to connect with house hunters looking to purchase. 

Virtual Showings Become the New Norm 

1. Virtual home tours, professional drone videos, and eye-catching photography allow potential buyers a birds eye view of your property without stepping a foot inside. From the convenience of their laptops or I-Pads, today's buyers can get a room by room tour of your home at all hours of the day or night. Virtual home tours also benefit you as a seller,  as you are limited to potential contact with others and don't need to leave your safe space during showings. 

New Appraisal/Inspection Protocols 

2. Once you have received an offer and go under contract, your Listing Agent can request that the appraisal and home buyer's inspection be conducted with proper safety protocols in place, allowing for minimal face to face contact.  Home inspection companies and appraisers are working within the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct in-home visits wearing masks, gloves, and shoe booties while ensuring they adhere to social distancing orders in place.

You can request to be separated in one area or room of your house, while the inspection or appraisal is completed. Prior to their arrival you can leave doors and cabinets open, limiting the number of surfaces that might be touched during the inspection. 

Remote Closings Are A Possibility

3. Virginia is one of 23 states that allow for online and remote notary services for real estate closings. This allows buyers and sellers the opportunity to  execute electronic documents while in different physical locations. Lenders and title insurance companies are also expanding their ability to prepare documents, send them electronically for signatures, verifing personal information by video, and limiting the amount of in-person contact. 

So if you are thinking of listing your property, you can feel confident that the real estate industry is adapting to the challenging times and real estate professionals, across the whole industry, are taking  precautions to protect you and your home.