Realtors are coming up with creative ways to keep business going during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sherry Sheldrick, president of the Saint John Real Estate Board said it isn’t business as usual.
“The Saint John Real Estate Board, along with our provincial association has strongly recommended to the membership that all face to face real estate transactions cease including open houses and showing appointments and so that’s big for us because we are a face-to-face business,” she said.
Sheldrick said 2019 was a record-breaking year sales-wise so the demand is there and the inventory is low. She said the year started off strong and what’s happening has put a pause on the industry.
“We also recognize that housing is essential and that some transactions have to happen in urgent situations. Those may include closings,” she said.
Sheldrick said she’s optimistic the demand will still be there during and after the state of emergency.
She said right now some realtors may go into a property to show homes to clients and all precautions are taken to keep clients and realtors safe.
“We can do a lot of digital signing, remotely without having to meet face to face. Some use virtual tours, maybe 3D technology, or drone technology,” she said.
Sheldrick said realtors are adapting as they move forward, and for the most part, they’ve been on board from the get-go in regards to the early response of minimizing risks.
She said it’s tough to try to see how the real estate market will move forward because things are changing practically hourly.
“It’s so hard to predict right now, with the uncertainty of we have no idea how long this may go on. I think it’s another month out we should be OK, but if this goes on a lot longer, the whole economy is going to change.”
