Open House Protocol During COVID-19 Pandemic
Our regulator (RECBC) and our association (BCREA) has suggested that open houses can take place once more with very strict guidelines in place. Our brokerage (RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty) has developed the following policies and procedures for open houses for our agents. Strict adherence to these policies and procedures must be followed. There must be no exceptions.
Above all consider the following:
The optics in our smaller community, if residents believe our office is being careless in this time where sensitivity and sensibility should be paramount
The guidelines and protocols established by the provincial health office and WorkSafe BC
The safety and health of all parties involved: sellers, potential buyers, agents
On what properties may an open house be conducted?
At this time, only new homes, existing vacant homes, and new development marketing. No open houses may be held in new or vacant multi-family, unless there is strict control taken over elevator access, limiting it to one person (or related group of persons) at a time with sanitising of railings, doors, and floor selection keypad in between uses.
For all other properties currently listed, and for those that you will be listing in the next while, ensure your Schedule A reflects that there will be only virtual open houses until further notice.
What steps must be taken before conducting an open house?
Ask the sellers if they believe the potential risk is justified.
The seller must sign a waiver accepting responsibility for having people through their property.
The seller must agree to clean and sanitise the property before and after the open house.
Post this protocol at the open house and post signage to aid in the attendee's understanding of the protocol.
Ask a colleague to conduct the open house with you – one of you to tour the property with the potential buyers, watching for touchpoints that require sanitising after the visit; one agent to do ‘crowd control’ especially with elevator; to have the traffic flow one way in, one way out; and to ensure that physical distance is maintained with non-related groups of people.
What will govern behaviour at the open house?
Protocols already in place sanctioned by PHO, the brokerage, and WSBC as well as the following:
All potential viewers are to be asked questions concerning any recent travel, any recent exposure to COVID-19, any symptoms. develop a checklist for these questions and have the buyer answer them in writing and provide a name, address, and telephone number in case of necessary contact tracing. This sheet should include the statement that the viewers are entering the premises at their own risk and space for their signature.
Ensure that the potential viewers are pre-qualified financially, have viewed floor plans, pictures, and video tours, have driven past the property to assess location and neighbourhood suitability.
The agent conducting the open house must supply masks and sanitiser to each attendee. Insist that each attendee wash or sanitise their hands before entry.
The agent should ensure that frequent ‘touch spots’ are sanitised between viewings.
The agent must sign a waiver agreeing to follow this protocol and these guidelines and must file the waiver with the office.
The agent must ensure proper physical distancing is maintained at all times.
Before planning any open house, all agents must read ‘rethinking open houses’ during the pandemic as circulated by email from BCREA and RECBC. Where there is any contradiction between this brokerage protocol and the guidelines contained in that circular, this protocol will govern as it is more stringent.
This protocol is subject to change if there is a second wave of COVID-19 or if the pandemic is declared at an end.