In these uncertain times, it’s important to us to keep you informed on how we will ensure we keep our Opes staff and customers protected and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Property sanitation is paramount and our team will be completing the following disinfection processes during our:
Private inspections and appraisals.
- Private viewings strictly by appointment only and with the consent of the vendor and property occupants
- Pre-registration of all private viewing attendees including names, addresses and phone numbers, to assist with contact tracing
- All attendees to be emailed COVID-19 information beforehand, including hygiene expectations
- Private viewing is ‘contactless’ and surfaces cannot be touched by attendees. The agent will open any doors/ cupboards on behalf of attendees
- Agent to open internal/external doors as appropriate beforehand to minimise the risk of surface transmission
- Property owners/occupants to leave premises during viewing, where possible
- One private viewing at a time. Viewings to be spaced sufficiently apart to allow time for sanitising after each viewing, as required, and to ensure
- Maximum of two people from the attendee’s ‘bubble’ to attend a private viewing there is no contact between attendees
- Attendees to wait in their vehicles until agent advises they can enter, to ensure that there is no contact between attendees
- Keep private viewings very brief, suggested 15 minutes
- Display COVID-19 information and hygiene notices at property
- No private viewings at properties where a person living at the property is or has been in the 14 days prior to the viewing, unwell or self-isolating
- Agent to wear gloves and hand sanitiser to be available for use by all attendees entering and exiting the property
- Those feeling unwell, have travelled overseas recently, are self-isolating or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 may not attend the viewing
- High-risk people should consider not attending the viewing (e.g. those over 70 or those with other existing medical conditions)
- Physical distancing of 2m to be maintained at all times
- Shoes removed prior to entry
- Afterwards, sanitise or use antibacterial wipes to wipe down areas attendees may have accidentally touched
- All Exterior and Interior door handles
- All balustrades
- Contactless Property Information
- Contactless Listing and Sale Documents
Pre-settlement inspections and purchaser due diligence:
If a professional (For example, a building inspector, valuer or engineer) is attending the property, they need to:
- adhere to physical distancing (2m)
- not attend property if occupants have been overseas recently, are self-isolating or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14
days, or if they or anyone they have been in contact with have been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days - limit number of persons at the property (e.g. have professionals attend separately)
- minimise their time at the property
- minimise in-person contact with vendor/s.
- REA recommends purchasers should not attend the property with the professional. We recommend they join by phone or videoconference if they wish to
- REA recommends licensees provide the professional with access to the property, but wait outside or in one room in the house while the professional works
- Record contact details of any professional visiting the property and the date they attended, to assist with contact tracing
- Ask the professional to sanitise areas they may have touched – or ask them to wear gloves which can be disposed of immediately after the visit