11 Ways to Safely Reopen the Housing Market
States may be reopening and the coronavirus on a national downward trend, but the virus remains a concern. As homebuyers flood the housing market, home builders and real estate agents will have to take extra precautions to keep all parties healthy. According to Forbes, experts recommend spacing out showings, having buyers wear masks, opening windows, and installing extra air purifier systems to help reduce the risk of transmission while showing a home. Learn more ways that experts say professionals can safely reopen the housing market.
Selling homes was deemed an essential service in some places and as of late May, physical home tours are now allowed in all 50 states. Sellers should limit tours and require buyers to wear protective coverings; buyers should ask key questions about ventilation and take advantage of virtual tours
“These risks that we are talking about, in the home or in the home buying or selling process, are low and manageable,” says Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
- Social distance, wear a mask and wash hands regularly.
- Sellers can open doors and windows to bring in fresh outdoor air, which can cut down on airborne transmission, Allen suggests.