The new normal for home showings

Source: The Orange County Register

Precautions still will be needed after the lockdown ends, including the use of masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.

As we get closer to being able to move more freely about the Southland, we still will need to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Here are a few suggestions for buyers, sellers and agents to keep everyone as safe as possible and still sell houses.

Just as the Scouting motto suggests, always be prepared. Assemble everything you will need and keep it in a handy carrying container like a bag, bucket or basket.

Here are some supplies you’ll most likely want to have with you: Trash bags, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, disposable shoe coverings, a face mask that covers your mouth and nose, disinfectant wipes, disinfectant spray,p and anything else you can come up with to increase your protection.

Then, when you have all the equipment you need to keep yourself, your agent and the home sellers as safe as humanly possible, pay attention to how you use all of your assembled products.

First, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water for at least 30 seconds before you leave your home. Drive your own car to the first house on your tour.

Before you get out of your car, don your personal protective gear, including your gloves, face mask and protective shoe coverings.

If you cannot find gloves, consider carrying a disinfectant wipe in your hand. If you cannot locate protective shoe coverings, consider stepping into the bag used to pack your produce at the grocery store.

At a minimum, wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose.  And do not touch your face.

Now you’re ready to get out of the car.

While you’re in the house, look with your eyes only – don’t touch anything – especially your own face. If you absolutely must touch something in the house, only touch it with a gloved hand or the wipe.

And don’t touch your face.

When you are through and are outside the house, take off your gloves (or wipes) and shoe coverings and place them in a trash bag you can seal reasonably well.  Since it is unlikely you touched anything in the house with your mouth, it is probably safe to reuse your cloth mask or bandana at the next house.

Then wash your hands with hand sanitizer. You just walked through a stranger’s house.

Don’t take anything with you from their house into your car or into the next house on your tour list.

If you do have more than one house to see, repeat the preparation process before each visit and take the necessary precautions to dispose of the items you used at that house before you get back in your car to go to the next house or to go back home.

Throw away the trash bags you used before you go back in your own house.

This is what the new normal looks like for home buyers.  Be prepared and be safe.

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