Here Are All Your Top Questions about Selling Your Home in the Age of Coronavirus, Answered
With every day of this pandemic feeling like it brings a fresh batch of news, plus the protests, you’d be forgiven for feeling confused about the actual state of things now. While many cities start to reopen—and some continue to experience a high volume of new COVID-19 cases or the damaging effects of riots—it’s hard to know how any sector of the economy is doing, especially the real estate market.
Are things getting back to normal? Is there a new normal? Is now an OK (or even appropriate) time to consider selling a home? Whether you’re curious about the timing of a sale or the nitty-gritty details of how it will all go down, we’ve got you covered. We’ve gathered advice from the real estate experts to answer your most pressing questions about selling a home during the COVID19 pandemic.
Can I sell my house during the Coronavirus pandemic?
Selling a house should always be based on a number of factors, particularly with regard to your family’s health and financial situation. But to cut to the chase: Yes, you can still sell a home during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly here in Minnesota where real estate services were deemed essential from the beginning. In most markets across the counrty, inventories are low and prices are high—which means you can still make a profitable sale and it's no different here in the greater Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.
With low inventory and high buyer interest, many homes are selling very quickly—within days or hours in some cases. Some houses are selling from virtual showings only. Interest rates are also low, and there’s serious pent-up demand for homes, especially in lower price ranges.
Is it SAFE to let people in my home for showings?
You might be asking yourself if it's safe to go through the traditional home showing and selling process. Assuming your family members are all in good health, there are several precautions your REALTOR can take to safely show your home to interested buyers.
Safety measures many agents are taking include:
No overlapping showings
No children in the house
Masks on, shoes off
Hand sanitizer and anti viral wipes at the door
Sellers turn all of their lights on and doors open (even for closets), since this translates into fewer surfaces being touched, and agents leave them on when they exit
No group showings/open houses.
Are houses even selling now?
The key to these kinds of numbers seems to be in the inventory: Markets with low inventory are seeing houses sold quickly. As always, we’d recommend chatting with a local real estate agent to get the pulse on exactly how your market is performing.
Should I sell my house during a recession?
Since this economic recession is largely dictated by the pandemic, it’s almost impossible to keep the two separate. But if you do decide to sell during this period of economic downturn, take the time to consider your own financial stability, as well as the conditions of the market you're moving to.
If you planned to sell your home due to relocation, job loss or moving for larger space, then I would recommend proceeding—but with caution. Do you have another home or area in mind? Are you looking for a unicorn (home that doesn't exist in your price range)? Always be sure to see if what you are seeking is available or will be available before you put your home on the market.
Will I have competition if I try to sell my house right now?
Even during a pandemic, you can expect some competition from other sellers.
“Once you sell, you’re way more likely to have competition as a buyer,” says Parnes.
Not necessarily. Although the economy’s experiencing a historically high jobless claims, that doesn’t mean prices are going down. There are less buyers, but there are also a lot less homes on the market so the old rule of supply and demand still holds.
While you might not have to lower your price, you need to plan your listing extra carefully and you may need to be more patient in pursuing a good sale.
If your house is priced correctly, and depending on your market, it may just take a little bit longer to sell but don't just assume your slow sale is due to COVID-19. It could still be a problem with your price, condition or location if other homes are selling before yours.
How can I sell my house without allowing buyers to walk through?
If you're selling, now's the time to make the most of virtual tours.
Should I stage my house?
Staged homes always sell faster and especially in times like these.
The real question isn’t whether you should stage your house, but how you should stage it. With more tours and showings happening online, you might consider having your home virtually staged rather than actually inviting people into your home to decorate it.
How can I prepare my home for a virtual tour?
A virtual tour can run the gamut from a live walk-through with an agent on FaceTime to a sophisticated 3D rendering from companies such as Matterport. But for the most part you want to prepare for a virtual tour the same way you would for a still-photo shoot—by decluttering it, upping the curb appeal, and making sure nothing is broken or an eyesore.
“Make sure everything is clean, all lights are turned on, fans are off, blinds are open, surfaces are cleared, and everything is put away,” advises Anac.
How can I close remotely?
Some states are handling remote closings but MN still requires you to meet with a notary.
Looking for more advice on selling your home in the age of COVID-19? Call Sarah First!
See this previous post:
Sarah Marrinan says:
"I jumped into being very virtual and mobile for my clients over 5 years ago as I realized there weren't many agents offer those services - particularly to relocation clients. That meant I was ready for the way COVID was forcing us to do business but of course since most other agents weren't, neither were the consumers... and so it took a while for many people to come around. But some did. I actually had two houses that I did a fully virtual transaction. I met with the sellers virtually, helped them get staged virtually, and the only person I sent to their home was my photo/videographer that also took measurements and did the floor plans. Once I had all the marketing ready, we put the homes into coming soon status and received offers without the buyer's ever coming to the house. The only time the buyers went out was for inspection with their inspector. Now... that process certainly isn't for everyone but it proves that it can work!"
As a Certified Residential Specialist with multiple additional real estate designation, certifications, awards and experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, Sarah Marrinan would love to share her knowledge and expertise. Proudly servicing the Twin Cities, MN with extra focus in these areas: White Bear Lake, Hugo, Lino Lakes, Centerville, Vadnais Heights, Shoreview, Mounds View, Circle Pines, Mounds View, Mahtomedi, Forest Lake, Columbus, Wyoming, Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Roseville, Lake Elmo, Stillwater and Oakdale, MN.
Contact Sarah on this website at www.CallSarahFirst.com/contact
