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Rainmaker
4,572,439
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Generally, I believe people can be flexible and alternatives in behavior continue to be introduced for all sorts of things.  Time will tell as the world may seem upside-down/inside-out for some right now.  Calmer heads and prudent thinking will always be present while others are merely "out there" for other reasons. 

Mar 13, 2020 06:01 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

No... my comprehensive virtual tours are fine. 

Mar 13, 2020 08:36 AM
Ambassador
2,436,470
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I did a facetime tour of a home last week but it wasn't because of the coronavirus, it was because the buyers were in another state. 

I'd do a similar tour of a home if someone were interested. They don't get the exact same feeling as being there in person (odor, feel, etc), but it's better than just photos.

Mar 13, 2020 07:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,197,508
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

My first reaction is that the market might tap the brakes for a short period of time but only for a short period of time.  It is the season and prople still need to have a home to call their home.  Anything I can do to help will be done.  

Mar 13, 2020 06:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I have done this for years with out of state buyers. 

Mar 13, 2020 08:26 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

If a buyer who has been looking and is qualified had me as their agent they would be glad to know that we will get mission accomplished no matter what. Same for sellers too. Beware of self-defeat. It is everywhere waiting!

Mar 13, 2020 07:50 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,630
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

NO! (if I was still active) at least I would not encourage it. That being said if they asked me to do a video walk through for them I would not hesitate to do so. I want to be an active part of the transaction by being their in person, interacting in person, and signing that purchase agreement in person.

Mar 13, 2020 06:22 AM
Ambassador
3,125,954
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

That is an alternative. Have several buyer clients coming next month, perhaps it will dissipate by then.

Mar 13, 2020 06:20 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

No. Virtual tours should be enough, and drive-bys help in cases where sellers are worried about having unknown people walking through their homes during this time. Bright mls allows up to 150 photos.

Mar 13, 2020 06:09 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Great idea actually!

Mar 13, 2020 06:08 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,833
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Nope, buyers still need to walk properties (which has not slowed down in San Diego). It's a rare buyer that purchases their primary home sight unseen. Virtual tours and so forth only delay the eventual need to walk it.

Mar 13, 2020 09:41 AM
Ambassador
2,062,085
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Don't laugh.  Our office has produced the following flyer for use at Open Houses:  "Dear Guest, for your health, safety and that of colleagues and hosts, we ask that you please use the hand sanitizer provided upon entering.  And while your visit is most appreciated, please understand if I don't shake your hands in greeting"

I've already seen serious showing reluctance in the market.

Mar 13, 2020 09:02 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I will not. Photos, videos and marketing descriptions will be enough ... or the buyer can see the home by walking and touring the home.  Whatever it takes we will work it out. 

Mar 13, 2020 08:51 AM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

 My listings already have multiple photos, virtual tours, Matterport, drone aerial views, and more than enough information.

Mar 13, 2020 07:08 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,565
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I have had buyers this week, and maybe they don't ride with me in my car, they follow.   We need to keep washing our hands, and sanitizing our phones.

Mar 13, 2020 06:15 AM
Rainmaker
2,241,576
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Home videos are the open house on demand for the schedule of your buyer.  Video show and tell full motion with natural sound is help yourself and take one after another tour of the listings, the area events, schools, library, what to do for fun, the FAQ. Our peak "selling" "touring" time segment is ten oclock at night, Sunday, off hours way beyond M-F 9-5... that's the time busy buyers have with kids, jobs, life. In small rural areas there are no crowds, no gangs, no traffic and you have safe space. Country not urban spacing. Lots of it and the "major sports" are boating, skiing, hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, swimming with just you or small groups taking in the local sights. Have lots of sales where I never met the seller, the buyer either and video causes the "I'll take it" for cash. Low low prices really helps not need a bank loan, all the layers of players buying and selling. 90% is list it, sell it, lots of empty chairs at the closing if there is one in person otherwise all through the Internet, Fed Ex. The Active Rain group is so diverse and not the same approach to list and sell. 

maine outdoors small town

Mar 13, 2020 05:36 PM
Rainer
378,517
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

depends on situation at hand.

Mar 13, 2020 02:43 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Every tool helps, and virtual tours do help to shorten the list of homes that need to be visited.

Mar 13, 2020 01:52 PM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Hadn't thought of that but it was a source of discussion earlier on AR. Life is not for the faint hearted

Mar 13, 2020 10:42 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

No.  As a general rule, for the last 20+ years, we won't even accept an offer where the buyer hasn't physically seen the house.  Virtual tours are fine and dandy, but they are no substitute for physically being there.  We once allowed a site unseen offer for a listing of ours.  Videos, were done by their agent, escrow moved along.  Near the end the buyer flew in to sign docs, went into the house and didn't like something about it or the area and backed out.  Sellers were rightly pissed and a new rule was born.

 

I am going to physically show property today to one of my clients.  Likely wearing gloves.

Mar 13, 2020 10:12 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

ARMS,

I could not have said it better than Michael Jacobs did. A

Mar 13, 2020 09:58 AM
Ambassador
3,383,334
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I did an in person tour yesterday.  I told the buyer to not touch a thing.  I had all the lights on.  Opened all the doors.  I live two minutes away, so I was able to wash my hands quickly.  She had an hour to drive home.

 

Mar 13, 2020 09:26 AM
Ambassador
5,049,477
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

No plans to do this. Will offers videos and plenty of photos as always as listing agent. But if I have a buyer who is not local and wants Facetime, will offer that as I always have.

Mar 13, 2020 09:03 AM
Rainmaker
883,732
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

Majority of people are not freaking out about this. We are selling homes still the old fashion way... we show it to them... if they like it they write an offer  and we make it happen!  

Underwriters are still hiding out but they always keep their distance!!!

I have been considering offering a roll of toilet paper at closing!! Too soon?

Mar 13, 2020 10:51 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

actually I have long offered facetime and skype showings.

Mar 13, 2020 08:27 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,431
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

All of us need to take the needed steps to protect our own health and to recommend the protection needed by our clients.

Some published models indicate that 100,000,000 people in the United States may become infected by the coronavirus with a million or more deaths. If this is an accurate projection, more than a few real estate agents will be among those who die. Those in the senior age group need to be especially careful.

Mar 13, 2020 11:33 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Have been for over twenty years, why stop now?

Mar 14, 2020 03:15 PM
Rainmaker
556,536
Greg Cremia
Shore Realty of the Outer Banks - Nags Head, NC

Nobody needs to buy a home. Many desire to buy but nobody 'needs' to buy a home.

Mar 14, 2020 05:03 AM