Selling Real Estate During The Coronavirus FAQ's
Current as of 12 May 2020
We understand that during times such as these you may have many questions about your local real estate market, the impact on your home, along with how to sell, buy, manage or rent during this time.
We are here to help and as a starting point we have compiled the following selling real estate during the coronavirus FAQ’s. Of course, your local McGrath Agent is still contactable via phone, email and social media to help with any further questions.
At McGrath, It’s business as unusual, although it’s still business.
Is it still possible to sell my property during the Coronavirus?
Yes, it is. You can still buy and sell a property during the Coronavirus period. In fact, right across our network we are seeing many committed buyers keen to buy a property immediately.
Is it the right time to sell my property or should I wait until after the Coronavirus?
Every seller has a different motivation for selling so there is no one size fits all answer to this question. We have options to sell immediately and options to sell at a later date if required.
It is important to talk to your local McGrath Real Estate Specialist as they are living and breathing your local real estate market and can discuss your specific property needs.
How can buyers inspect my property?
- Open homes can proceed with a maximum of 10 people
- Physical distancing must be maintained, with one person per four square metres
- Social distancing also applies to indoor spaces, for example only up to 5 people in a 20 square metres room
- Traditional open for inspections are permitted
- On-site open for inspections will be restricted to 10 people in addition to staff required to facilitate the inspection
- Contact details of all attendees will be recorded
- Social distancing measures are still in place
How can I sell my property via auction?
- NSW: The NSW Government has relaxed the restrictions to once again allow on-site auctions on the basis that a number of key health guidelines are followed. For more on this announcement including the relaxation of restrictions and the key guidelines, click here.
- ACT: On-site / public auctions are permitted with a maximum of 10 people. Names and contact details of each person in attendance must be recorded. More here.
- VIC: On-site property auctions are permitted and are restricted to 10 people in addition to staff required to facilitate the auction. The contact details of all attendees will also be recorded. More information here.
- QLD: On-site property auctions are permitted, however the QLD government have restrictions in place until July restricting the number of people who can attend. For more information read the Queensland Government Roadmap to Easing Restrictions here. Social distancing must be observed and names and contact details of each person in attendance must be recorded. More here
This easy to use platform offers buyers the opportunity to watch, register, bid, buy and exchange on live property auctions. This service will ensure bidders can still participate and bid at an auction at the comfort and safety of their own home.
Live auctions will be hosted from the property or within the relevant McGrath office.
How can an agent negotiate a private treaty / private sale during the Coronavirus?
Your agent is a specialist negotiator and that doesn’t change during Coronavirus. They are skilled at working with buyers, fielding questions, facilitating answers and achieving exceptional results for our clients.
Our agents are working with active buyers in the market, the McGrath database and using normal methods such as phone, email and digital meeting platforms to achieve the best possible result for you and your property.
How would a McGrath Real Estate Specialist appraise my property?
We can currently still come to your home and conduct the appraisal.
If you are more comfortable with this occurring virtually, we can help here too. We would ask you to walk through your home on Facebook or Instagram Live, Facetime or a similar virtual process.
Either way, your local agent will review:
- Its key selling features
- Its location
- Local buyer demand
- Their active buyer database
- Relevant market data
- Wider market trends
- Properties currently on the market
They will summarise their findings and provide you with a comprehensive report on the local market along with a suggested price guide for your property which is appropriate during this coronavirus period.
Please note, if the agent visits your property, they will strictly comply with all government social distancing and hygiene regulations before and during their visit.
How would my McGrath Real Estate Specialist promote my property during COVID-19?
Your McGrath Agent would work with you to create a customised marketing strategy within the boundaries of the current regulations.
As a starting point, your marketing plan would include promotion on mcgrath.com.au, via social media, directly to our buyer database and via phone calls to our active buyers.
If you are looking for a more comprehensive marketing plan, we would combine the methods detailed above with professional photographs, floor plans, virtual tours and a promotion across all the key real estate portals.
Importantly talk to your agent about structuring the best marketing campaign for your property and your local market during this time.
How will you mitigate the spread of the virus during any private inspections?
All private viewings will be conducted with strict social distancing and hygiene procedures to help mitigate the spread of the virus, including:
- Regularly cleaning hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub
- Not shaking hands with open home visitors
- Making sure where possible hand sanitiser is used
- Washing and sanitising hands thoroughly after each private inspection
- Always washing hands with soap and water before eating and after visiting the bathroom
- Covering their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, and disposing of used tissues immediately
- Avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
- Seeing a health care professional if they are unwell and staying away from the workplace and other public places
How do I stay informed about the latest information on Coronavirus and its impact on my property?
The McGrath Insights Centre is your go-to-resource for the latest information on all things COVID-19 real estate related. Each week we will update this with practical insights from John McGrath and our wider network of industry leaders, about what is happening in the Coronavirus property market and how it impacts you.
We’ll also be sharing practical tips for homeowners, investors, buyers and renters, to help ensure you are in a strong position.
Why should I choose McGrath to sell my property during the Coronavirus?
At McGrath our agile way of doing business has ensured we have been able to adapt quickly to the changes and new regulations enforced by the Federal Government and we will continue to adapt as needed over the coronavirus period.
- All our agents are proactively in contact with their active buyer database. They clearly understand your local market, demand, pricing and in many cases are in a good position to facilitate a quick sale with super keen buyers
- Our industry leading digital platform ensures we can promote properties extensively via our website, virtual tools, social channels and network wide email campaigns
- Our online auction platform ensures we can sell your property via auction and still benefit from having a sales deadline for buyers which we know can help extract a great result
How do I contact a McGrath Real Estate Specialist to talk about my property?
All our agents are easily contactable via phone, email, social media or digital meeting platforms. They would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about your property, your local market and to discuss your short or long-term property plans.
A final note
Everyone at McGrath hope you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy. We also want to assure you that we are operating under what we call ‘Business as Unusual’ conditions, although importantly it is still business and we are here to help.
Have more questions about selling a property? Download our Selling a Property Guide, read our 10 Steps to Selling Your Property During the Coronavirus article or contact your local McGrath Real Estate Specialist.
This information is provided subject to our Terms and Conditions.
