Coronavirus: Estate agents shun open-for-inspections in favour of private tours

Private tours of homes instead of public open for inspections, bottles of hand sanitiser on entry, and warnings to vendors to lock away the toilet paper: welcome to buying real estate amid coronavirus.

With jitters high about large gatherings, even as the housing market rebounds, real estate agents are at pains to protect their vendors, buyers and staff.

Professionals chief executive David Crombie is running a national training event for his staff on Friday about considerations from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Open for inspections is one of those, and the suggestion that maybe the offices perform individual open for inspections,” he said.

“A couple have already started doing that. They won’t be doing those group open-for-inspections, they’ll be doing individual ones.

“They can ask the question: ‘Have you been overseas in the last two weeks, or have you been around someone who has been diagnosed with the virus?’ ”

He also suggests agents make hand sanitiser available to visitors before entering a property, and in the front desk of their offices.

Handshakes are in the crosshairs, even for a traditionally relationship-driven industry.

First National chief executive Ray Ellis counsels staff not to put their hand out to shake with clients, but instead to give them the opportunity to offer their hand.

Amid the panic buying that has stripped supermarket shelves of toilet paper, he has encountered toilet paper thieves at open homes.

“We always tell people, put your watches away, put your jewellery away [when your home is open for inspection],” he said.

“We’re asking the people that are displaying their home to hide all their valuables, particularly their toilet paper.”

His offices were increasingly asking visitors to take off their shoes, he said, while staff were cleaning auction paddles before handing them out. He suggested spraying homes so they smelled extra-clean before visitors arrive.

Ray White managing director Dan White has his team wiping down all the door handles before visitors arrive at a home, and displaying signs asking people who have been in restricted countries not to attend.

“Other than that, we’re open for business,” he said. “We’re ensuring we’re providing the safest possible environment.”

Century 21 chairman Charles Tarbey says administration and IT staff across the group have been offered the chance to work from home, while most agents are operating as normal.

“There’s still plenty of activity, people are turning up, some of them with face masks on,” he said. “We provide sanitary stations, we offer to provide masks if people want one.”

Brad Teal, of the eponymous real estate agency, has staff keeping their distance from others.

“The staff have all got their own private bottle [of hand sanitiser] they use out at open homes and we’re mindful of keeping things moving.”

Kay & Burton chairman Gerald Delany is fielding offers from tech start-ups suggesting virtual auctions, but the agency is continuing to conduct auctions in person as usual.

“I notice some enterprising people are promoting to us the potential for online auctions,” he said.

“We’re business as normal, at this point in time.”

But, he is noticing clients touching elbows in place of handshakes, and a greater awareness of good health practices.

The majority of real estate agents contacted say they are not seeing any impact on sentiment from the coronavirus outbreak, which has spooked sharemarket investors and prompted the federal government to unveil a $17.6 billion economic stimulus package. With interest rates at ultra-low levels and a pent-up demand for property, numbers of visitors at open homes so far remain relatively high.

Even so, the average number of groups through open homes in Melbourne fell 15 per cent in the week to March 8 – a long weekend – from the first half of February, Domain data shows. Sydney attendance slipped 14 per cent in the same time, although it is unclear how much of the dip is related to the virus. 

Mr Delany is seeing “marginally” a slowing of activity as his well-heeled clients watch their sharemarket holdings get trimmed or worry about the outlook for the economy, but says most buyers are thinking long-term and also mindful of low borrowing costs.

“Most people I’ve been talking to say it’s an opportunity,” he said.