The Government’s decision to reopen the property market is rapidly generating some of the most read stories on EYE, with agents split between excitement at returning to work and questions over the practicalities.
There are of course questions about why an agent can visit someone’s home but cannot visit their mum and dad, but there are also important industry issues such as if it is safe to send staff on viewings and to start welcoming the public back into branches.
EYE wants your views on how quickly you are returning to work and the practicalities, so please answer our poll below.
It closes at 7pm tonight and results will be published shortly.
Welcome financial relief for the treasury. Less furloughed staff, stamp duty revenue in, VAT collected etc etc
Welcome relief for those transactions that are stuck.
Welcome relief for those going mad at home and for worried business owners.
Welcome relief for the portals who will now be out of agents crosshairs for a while perhaps.
Lots of reasons to reopen but perhaps just as many to stay closed.
A hurried and muddled reasoning from Government hasn’t helped.
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It will be a brave (foolish?) agency that stays closed when its competitors are open. Many London agencies have maintained a skeleton staff right through this.
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That’s the problem one does it, all follow.
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We are clearly putting ourselves & our colleagues in harm’s way.
The point about not being able to visit family, (whom I assume we all know ‘reasonably’ well, but being encouraged to meet random strangers in theirs & other people’s homes is a pertinent one which reeks of contradiction.
Viewings will prove a logistical nightmare. How well do we know the viewer? They should be ready to make an offer (if only!) and are we certain they are of good character & trustworthy as we can’t really be in the same room? We obviously try to ascertain as much as possible about customers and will enhance this with a risk assessment of each interaction, but this will never be 100% accurate.
I will endeavour to conduct all viewings as I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to a member of staff due to the current situation.
I really want to get back to selling properties; but safely!
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Hi Yorkshire,
My employer has pretty much the same view point as you. Yes, as agents we are all keen to get on with things and start earning money again, but not without making sure it is entirely safe to do so.
We are taking a slower approach than others to “opening” again and, at present will just continue in the same way we have these past however many days/weeks/years it has been. Everything we have For Sale/To Let is available online, with video tours, 360 tours are coming in the next week and anyone wishing to view will be invited to take a video tour first and check the property out from the outside. We will do our best to confirm they are ready to make an offer, before conducting any physical viewings, especially on properties that are not currently vacant and that is how we are going to continue for now.
PPE is on it’s way and when we feel that it is safe to do so, we will open the office again… assuming the death rate and infection rate are continuing to fall.
Good luck with everything and stay safe
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You’re seriously going to hand all that business to your competition?
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Wait and see how much business there is. I’m not convinced that many want strangers in their homes.
As to losing business to your competitors …. lemmings comes to mind and I for one am not prepared to have my customers and business going over a cliff because others are more interested in making money. I will decide when the time is right, not my competitors!
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Agreed – plus, what’s the point in making commission if you may never get the opportunity to spend it.
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So I can do physical viewings, property inspections, etc with strangers but I can’t see my own family or meet up with friends. As usual, there is no joined up thinking, just a knee jerk reaction following pressure from various organisations. I had thought Boris had more about him – obviously not. So, who do I sue if I now contract Covid-19 following the hasty rush back to work?
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I initially thought the same – why can’t I visit my friends and families homes but can visit stranger? Upon reflection, I do think it will be much easier to stick to social distancing measures in a strangers home than in a family members home. I think many people would be too lax with people they know – it would be just too tempting to give them a hug.
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Its true.
Its very difficult to judge. Allowing Valuations etc will have to be done with correct safety precautions in place. If they are not in place an employer will be breaking the law.
Going to visit family their will be nothing to stop people doing as they like with no precautions. Also if the government allowed you to visit family the whole population would do so. The whole population are not suddenly going to aks for viewings / valuations so its a controlled measure.
Again, at first glance it seems crazy but i can see the rationale.
Oh and also, Stamp Duty 🙂
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Can I come and do a survey at your house, I’ve been to many others already. Two days later I phone you to tell you that one of the homes I went to has gone down with Covid-19.
Just a thought.
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Like going to the Supermarket? …….where does it start, where does it end?
Stay at Home forever?
Life …..& Death goes on.
Next stats will be those that went undiagnosed and died as a result of the emphasis and fear of the “Stay Away” Message to non-Covid potential patients…. it’s a never ending cycle.
Let’s see the lessons learned and what needs done for the future. Wallowing in the present isn’t productive on so many levels.
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We may find ourselves busy catching up for a few weeks. After that buyers and renters will only move if it is crucial. No one in their right mind will want to view property while covid is around.
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Guess you’ve been sending the wife to the supermarket then? Why are estate agents so much more scared than NHS staff?
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BIG BIG difference and a silly comment to make.
Maybe you can answer this one, as we have all been in lockdown and the virus is gone within 14 days, how is it spreading all around the country? What is the common fact for transmission?
NHS staff are heros and working in the most contaminated place in the world i.e. hospitals. Do NHS staff go to the supermarket?
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The most welcome piece of news this morning is that the government has approved an antibody test developed by Roche. This means you will be able to test whether or not you have had COVID-19. Whilst if you have, immunity is not certain, there is a very high chance you will be far less susceptible to contracting the disease. If not we are in deep deep trouble.
What we need now is this test to become widely available at a low cost….perhaps it could be subsidised by the government. I am not sure whether the test is ‘on the spot’ or has to be submitted to a laboratory for analysis, but I think it is a mammoth step forwards. Anyone proving to have the necessary range of antibodies should be able to get on with their life with far less fear.
We still desperately need the vaccine for the 90% of the population still susceptible to this nasty disease.
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It seems as if the government has decided the second peak is needed for them to kick start the new normal…
Which industry meets the most amount of random strangers, at random places on a daily basis! Estate Agents would be a perfect catalyst.
We all know smaller brands will do pretty much anything when it comes to making money, some even worked during lockdown, what’s stopping them going full steam ahead now without any-type of preparation?
What’s stopping bosses putting even more pressuring their staff to come in now despite doing nothing more than supplying sanatizer, mask, gloves?
Feels like the Goverment is simply a set of stupid school boys acting under pressure from house builders and developers.
Sales: what’s the point, can you actually do a survey – successfully, will the mortgage company still be as open to lending, would the sitting tenant allow access? can you even give them notice to leave! Too many unanswered questions.
We all had time wasters and dreamers before, prepare yourself for the new type the 2.0 version, wanting to see stuff just to get out of the house and update Instagram pics, wanting to offer £200k less because there’s a virus about!
Seriously annoyed
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Do you seriously think people are going to arrange viewings just so they can take selfies to post on Instagram?
Just qualify buyers before wasting your time with them. Surely you do that anyway, otherwise you’re just wasting your own time and money.
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Shaun77 give me a call and qualify me, I’ll tell you I’m very serious, have been active for months, am a full cash buyer, ready to pull the trigger? Point is most buyers are simply going to tell you what you want to hear. Instagram was simply an exaggeration, When selling million pound apartments with view’s they always want pic’s and videos. Call them back and there AWOL. There are too many time wasters and dreamers about, this would give them an excuse.
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This virus is here to stay and there may never be a vaccine so what do we do just never go back to work or open shop. House sales have a huge impact on the economy generating income not only for agents and solicitors but diy chains, furniture and soft furnishing shops, plumbers, bathroom/kitchen suppliers fitter, carpet shops and fitters, garden centres and gardeners, electricians, removals and probably other sectors I just can’t think of at the moment. When doing valuations and viewings just take a common sense approach its not that hard to stay safe. Isn’t it obvious why business can open but you cant visit family and friends, if you cant see the distinction you might as well go and live in a cave.
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Morrisons, Aldi, Costcutter, garage staff, how are these employees able to function right from the start of covid and yet I can’t meet a fraction of the public that they do in an environment I control?
Get a grip.
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Utter madness. People are being told you can only meet 1 family member from outside your household outside as long as you observe social distancing, but now we are told to go back to work, to visit people’s houses and show strangers around them? Lets face it, we’ve all been on valuations where we’ve brought little visitors away with us, met vendors who were obviously unwell or taken people to a viewing who’ve had questionable hygeine practices yet we are supposed to believe it’s safe to carry on? Be honest, there is nothing like our industry to bring out the worst in people. Anybody who doesn’t believe that vendors/viewers are going to lie about symptoms in order to get what they want is obviously deluded. FFS on Monday it was being reported that a company was issuing it’s staff with ****** hazmat suits! And last week they were still arguing about lack of PPE ofr the health services.
The only half sensible bit in the guidelines was that we should only accept people into the office only by appointment.
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Setting aside the disjointed Government approach, confusing re-start message and changeable instructions…..
We are going to have to ease the economy back into life. For sure, a consistent approach, rigorous implementation and constant risk assessment will be at the forefront of every public facing interaction we have.
It may be daunting, it will be easy to find reasons why not to do ……however, the idea that we can get to a stage that it will be perfectly safe in our “New Normal”? ……if that can be achieved ……why do millions of us catch the cold each year, and in the last “bad cold virus year” – 2016 I believe, we had circa 26,000 extra deaths because of the severity.
I genuinely appreciate the different views and fears however, we need to take some responsibility for moving the process forward.
Every time I take my motorcycle out its an increased opportunity to die – medical staff nickname bikers “Organ Donors” – its my responsibility to minimise the risk of me being severely injured or killed – 40 plus years of riding and I’m still here.
We can re-start. We can ease Our Industry back-in. It won’t be easy but it was never going to be.
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The dilemma of getting back to work hasn’t been missed by anyone and there is no simple answer. What is now being pursued is the risk is lower (not no risk) and anyone who dies now is a casualty of war! Wars are not won within 7 weeks and so much effort has been put into 3 month strategy ….. why abandone it so quickly ….. money is more important than lives! Germany is starting to go back into lock-down because it looked good on paper to come out but those stupid minority of the public didn’t follow the advice and a second wave is happening to those that thought it was safe to get out and about.
The risk of you riding a bike is your risk. Don’t ride and no risk!
Covid-19 is all about contaminating another person who dies. Big difference.
Covid-19 is invisible, has no borders, its a killer for someone. People shouldn’t rush into it is the right time now to relax just because they want or need to make money.
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…and that’s democracy woodentop ……free speech, opinion etc.
We all die of something, as my 86yr old Mother happily imparts on a regular basis.
We can’t stay at home ..in fear …..forever.
On motorcycling woodentop? ……by riding I need to factor in the thoughtless, non-observant, careless, dangerous car drivers on each and every trip I make ….ie I have to allow for other drivers potential errors ….or do I sit at home in fear??!
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I’m not sitting at home in fear, you should see what I used to do for a living and high risk sports (in my younger days).
For me and many I speak to, have the same opinion .. we know one day we have to get back into work but we have not reached the line where it is right to do so, to put staff and others at risk which is still high. Death is final for some and shouldn’t be cast aside so quickly. Business can be rebuilt even if it will be painful. We are rushing to early back to work in England while other parts have not peaked and all based on one assumption …. people will be sensible while this virus has been confirmed by all Governments will continue to circulate. Give me a break, people couldn’t be sensible when there were restrictions and is probably the reason why it didn’t die out within the first few weeks.
We are going back too early, the very fist opportunity based on statistics. We never implemented the correct controls at the beginning, half hearted compliance by far too many during lockdown and today has opened the flood gates. You cannot get a single expert (let alone politician) to confirm if face masks actually work or there will be no more deaths.
As one person put it to me, if you fart through two layers of clothing, do you really believe a scarf is going to stop the micro virus!
For me and many others the argument has not been made to cross the line at this time.
Stay at home, Protect Staff and Customers, Save Lives.
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When is that “line” woodentop? ……what constitutes safe? ……for You, Me …..or anyone else?
No argument at all, merely one has to agree that there is no consensus ……because people have already reacted to the Government Advice, in England.
In Scotland we await the terms of whatever “Green Light” is announced ……however, I know that the longer it goes on, the more “compliance creep” emerges and it is simply not possible to manage millions of people for a pro-longed period. That’s the unspoken “balancing act”. If enough people rebel because their definition of “the price paid by staying at home” is too much ……society begins to crack.
Credit due to the overwhelming number of people across the U.K. who have complied to date. An overwhelming demonstration that “common sense” is very much alive and well ……and that bodes well for the steps we have to take in restarting “life” in whatever forms it takes.
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Having your head still in the lions mouth (don’t worry it won’t bite) or standing in front of it in a cage. That is risk management.
You miss my point, other parts of the country are still at catch-up. The only logical reason for this is to make money and restrict the recession that is happening. Yes we need to get back to work as soon as possible, who doesn’t understand that. But many do not consider this week is it. Should have waited till the end of the month, where everyone can play their part and not rushed at the first opportunity based on England.
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We’re you wrong to be a riskier individual in your younger days? Should that Liberty be granted to younger people today? After all, the risk of infection to death is as low 0.01% for those under 65 in healthy condition. it’s certainly admirable to care for others that are at risk, so take every precaution to protect them. What of the 15-20k that die of flu per year in the UK? Who’s heart goes out to them? What about the other 20mil people that have died in the world this yea of other causes (some preventable). Businesses can of course be rebuilt, but what if all those left without jobs who are waiting for that magical day when business runs at full capacity? On statistics, let’s not forget why the government chose to lockdown…Models that predicted hundreds of thousands of deaths. You know, the same team behind the bird flu death prediction of 2mil (grand total 270) or swine flu of 65,000 (grand total 392). I’m not criticising your opinion to be more cautious, I personally agree with it! I just don’t Think you should expect others to be as risk averse whilst also being stuck at home earning less/nothing. There are people in Less privileged positions that have concerns that may be more immediate than a virus that has a low chance of killing them.
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Being a risk taker in my younger days was my choice and my sole consequences. You are now saying a persons risk is another persons penalty and that is acceptable! All I am hearing is excuses to argue going back to work, too early. UK is around 10% Covid-19 deaths worldwide and we are under 1% of the worlds population.
As for predictions they got this one right: UK 33,614 and Worldwide 298,000 dead
Time will tell if we get a resurgence (as in Germany with far better management than we have demonstarted by government and population) but remember Boris & Co were warning that a second wave would be far more damaging to the economy or put another way if you still don’t get it.
Stay shut for 9 weeks (not the 7 weeks that has just happend) allowing the other UK nations to catch-up. Then evaluate. UK planning was all based on end of June (furlough now an extra 3 months)
or 7 weeks now, plus two or three weeks watching it spike and bring in shutting down for another 3 months, as it showed that 7 weeks wasn’t enough!!!!!
Total will not be less than 22/23 weeks all for the risk of not waiting 2 more weeks.
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What of the impact your younger risk-taking had on your family if it meant your demise? Your friends? Would that not exert a penalty upon them?
I’m certainly not saying risk = penalty. What of the risk taking of the other person (those of higher risk)? Can that person not judge for themselves to be even more careful knowing others are free to live their lives again?
Curious statistic you raise on UK proportion of deaths. Hong Kong as 7mil + pop yet only 4 deaths and haven’t lockdown. Why are they managing this better?
Your assertion on the UK death prediction is way off. Early predictions from ICL (Mr Ferguson himself) scared the government and the media with 510,000 predicted to die. This is not me saying the current loss of life is any easier to take, just that the prediction was incorrect (at this point).
Let’s take your current position of keeping everyone under lockdown. Should people still be going to the shops? Isn’t that still helping the spread? What of our NHS heroes that are going to work then returning home? How about our brave Royal Mail and parcel delvery services that are selflessly servicing the country whilst we’re all at home? Should we lock it all down? Reductio ad absurdum.
Do you think eradication is a possible outcome? Let’s say we explore your position of locking down for a 9 week period (or however long you meant), what of people entering the country? Shipments/imports (as there still isn’t firm confirmation on surface contamination)?
On furlough, how long do you think the government and ultimately the tax payers should foot the bill paying for yours and my salary (and the other 7mil+ and rising)?
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1. At least they didn’t die.
2. You are playing with peoples lives = Death. Its final!
3. Because they just like South Korea and New Zealand went about it correctly, not pandering to the likes of you to keep working/moving around and spreading the virus until it was entrenched into our society. AND you still want to do that with 3 other home nations not ready to join the party. When they are ready, not you or I will then make the decision. This talk of years sat at home … stupid comments.
4. You were championing failed claims over previous diseases. Covid-19 are not failed claims 298,000 dead and rising!!!!!!
5. Silly comments, we are talking about you and me and all those that are in lock-down. If you bothered to read my posts it all refers to “NOT NOW”, not never and subject to the other home nations catch up and they do not agree with you! Wait till the end of this month and see if the other nations have caught up … not next year. Covid-19 does not stop at the borders.
6. As GPL put it that is risk management or shall we say necessity when it comes to imports. You and me going around other peoples homes is something on another scale. The only eradication is a vaccine.
7. Government has set to increase Furlough to end of September … ask them why!!!!
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They might not have died, but a cost nonetheless.
Are you not relying on other people to deliver goods to your house? To transport those goods, to manufacture those goods. What of the medical workers? Are none of their deaths final? Shall we all be welded into our homes (as happened in some areas of Wuhan)?
Please bear in mind that I’m not the one here requesting that anyone is compelled to stay at home. I’m merely saying there should be an understanding for those that aren’t able/willing to. There is no request to pander to my fears or anxieties. Freedom of choice gives you and I the option to stay at home, you should not be free to take that choice from others. Yes, New Zealand had a strict lockdown, but I’m assuming from your comment that you don’t know how Asian territories like Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan etc managed the crisis.. Here’s a hint, they did continue to work/move around. They were just a lot smarter about how they managed movement (and also less willing to surrender theirs and their fellow mans liberties).
You seem to have misinterpreted my comment. I’m not championing any claims, merely pointing out that all (including Covid ones) have been wide of the mark. The 510,000 was the prediction for GB only.
Not sure I understand how my comment was ‘silly’. It does seem from your response that you didn’t get my point.
If you believe that a vaccine will eradicate this virus then do you think we should lockdown until we have said vaccine? Or is there a point at which we are willing to put lives at risk? What’s the amount of deaths that are acceptable? 100 per day? 10 per day? 1 per day?
The government certaily has made that decision but I was curious as to what your opinion of that was. You’ve interesting views on the other topics, I was hoping you could enlighten me on this one.
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Anyone like to give NHS staff a list of agents too scared to visit a property accompanied by one person?
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Thought for the day ….
“The virus does not move, people move the virus. People continue to die from its hidden presence…. it could be your turn next”.
Stay safe people.
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Just use your common sense people!!!
Ask the right questions prior to a val or viewing! Assess if the situation if safe or not!!
Wear the right PPE!
Keep your distance!!
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Do what you know to be right and you wont go far wrong. Dont worry about winning the “reopening race”.
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