Isle of Wight estate agents say 'It's good to be back after lockdown'

Yesterday, the government set out plans to restart England's housing market, which has stalled during the coronavirus lockdown.

Agents can now open branches, viewings can be carried out and removal firms and conveyancers can restart operations.

The government's housing secretary Robert Jenrick said the changes must be carried out under social distancing and safety rules.

Simon Wratten, director of Fox Property, said: “We welcome the easing of the rules for estate agents and will cautiously start doing viewings from today.

"We need to get business moving again and this is the first small step on that path.

"Of course we will observe proper social distancing and complying to all Government guidelines.”

Keith Trigg, managing director of Trigg and Co, said: The re-opening of the housing market paves the way to unfreeze the estimated 400,000 moves that were in process when the lockdown was ordered in March.

"We have prepared operating charters for their vendor, landlord and holiday letting clients which are being posted on our website.

"These give clients absolute assurance

Initial telephone-based valuations are also being provided by our expert team, based on discussions with the homeowner, photographs of the property and knowledge of every road, street, lane and cul-de-sac on the Island.

"So it’s at times like these that necessity is often the mother of invention – with a better and more responsive service often emerging from times of disruption and hardship."

"It’s not quite business as usual but prospective buyers and renters are now permitted to visit and view properties on the market. Agents can bring new properties for sale or rent to the market, lawyers can agree completion dates and removal companies can get people physically moved. All of this needs to be done whilst maintaining social distancing and in accordance with strict Government Guidelines in place to ensure that agents, tradespeople and the public work safely and avoid transmission of Covid19.

What does it mean in practice?

Firstly, before re-opening for business, all estate agents must consider the safety of their staff and their clients. This involves agents making adjustments to their office layouts, desks, seating and reception areas and reviewing their working practices. This will mean some staff still working from home where they can, other staff attending the office on a rota basis, changes to office cleaning and restricting public access. The key thing is for agents to maintain a safe working environment, with staff working at a 2 metre distance wherever they can and avoiding sharing desks, computers, pens and the like. This will be quite a logistical exercise and agents may well keep their front door locked as all visits must be by prior appointment.

Viewings

One of the key changes will be around agents visiting clients homes to provide valuations and arrange viewings. The Government advice for agents and the public is extensive and recommends that first viewings should be done virtually wherever this is possible – with buyers and renters only physically viewing those properties they are most likely to want to move into. All physical viewings will be limited to members of the same household, with no ‘Open House’ or similar events. When physically viewing properties, everyone must avoid touching surfaces, wash their hands regularly, and bring their own hand sanitiser. The number of people on a viewing should be minimised and if accompanied by small children, mum’s and dad’s must try to keep them from touching surfaces and ensure they wash their hands regularly. That will be a challenge in itself!

Before a viewing takes place, the seller and agent must arrange to open all internal doors and ensure surfaces, such as door handles, are cleaned each viewing with standard household cleaning products. Sellers will be asked to vacate the property whilst viewings are taking place. After the viewing, the homeowner should ensure surfaces, such as door handles, are once again cleaned and towels disposed of safely or washed.

It goes without saying that if anyone involved in a viewing is showing symptoms of coronavirus or is self-isolating, then a physical viewing cannot take place. All viewings will be by appointment only and involve members of a single household. Agents must try to accompany viewings wherever possible.

Tradespeople, Surveyors and Removals

Tradespeople and surveyors will have to follow pretty much the same rules as agents, but with one person visiting the property at any time. No tradespeople should enter a property where a member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating and the householders should maintain social distancing, wash their hands regularly and minimise contact as far as possible, for example by staying in another room.

It will be tough for removal companies to maintain social distancing. Everyone will be asked to try to do as much of the packing themselves as they can and to clean their belongings, with standard domestic cleaning products, before they are handled by removal firms. Whilst the removers are in the property, clients should ensure any internal doors are open and seek to minimise contact with the crew.

It won’t be possible to even provide a cup of tea to the removal man – movers are advised not to provide refreshments but ensure the removers have access to hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible.

Lettings

Agents and landlords will have to take similar steps to ensure that property visits for tenants check-in’s, check-out’s, preparation of inventories, repairs and maintenance and periodic inspection visits can be carried out safely. Gas and electrical safety checks for new tenancies together with essential maintenance and repairs should be carried out wherever possible in the period between a property being vacated and a new tenant moving in. If this is not possible and home visits are needed to an occupied property, these will be done by appointment and with measures put in place to ensure physical contact is minimised.

Thorough cleaning between tenancies will be a high priority for agents, landlords and new tenants.

Innovation and Best Practice

So, it’s not exactly ‘business as usual’, but these are important steps to get the Island moving again. Clients will no doubt be paying careful attention to how the Island’s agents conduct their business, and those firms who abide closely to the guidance and keep their staff and clients safe, will certainly be rewarded as agents, lawyers and everyone else involved in house moving recover from the lockdown.