Buyer Protocol for House Showings During Pandemic

House hunting during a pandemic? We get that the timing of your house purchase may not always be convenient.  Here’s our protocol for buyers to keep everyone safe and do our part to help #FlattenTheCurve.

Steps to buying a house in a World Pandemic

1. Complete a “fully underwritten” pre-approval process with a lender (Call us if you need some recommendations!) or obtain proof of liquid cash funds.
   • Most sellers/listing agents are requiring a pre-approval letter or proof of liquid cash funds prior to scheduling an in-person showing of a home.
2. View all virtual listing tools such as:
   • 3-D virtual tour.
   • Video.
   • Live stream virtual open house.
   • Photo slideshow.
   • Floor plan sketch.
   • Map.
3. Do a drive-by of the property, and tour the neighborhood and nearby community amenities.
4. Now call us to schedule an in-person showing. We will bring:
   • Gloves, hand sanitizer, and booties for you. We are asking that buyer clients please wear masks for in-person showings. We will be wearing masks too. Many people have sewn their own masks, or make an easy mask out of a cotton t-shirt and a paper towel. (See our HouseLovePDX Instagram account for a photo of Kari sporting that snazzy option!)
   • We are following the national mandates of no more than two people in the home at one time, and maintaining the social distance requirements of no less than six feet apart.
5. Be prepared to write an offer “subject to interior inspection.”
   • That means you write an offer first, then go see the house in person when/if your offer is accepted. This practice has become more common for owner-occupied homes especially with at-risk or medically fragile owners.
6. Offer accepted? Hurray! Here’s what to expect:
   • Expect your home inspection “wrap-up” to be done via technology. Most home inspectors will only inspect homes alone. They will generally FaceTime with you to discuss the findings of the inspection. We can make arrangements to get you in the home after the inspection so you can do a walk-through of the home with the findings in mind.
   • Expect there to be hurdles and delays. Lending guidelines are changing rapidly, which may mean some bobbing and weaving. Humor, flexibility and empathy all are important in this market to make it to closing!
   • Expect a LOT of Zoom calls with Erika and/or Kari! It really helps to see people’s faces – even on a screen.
7. Closing!! Watch this video to see how we’re getting keys to buyers these days:
   

   View this post on Instagram

   Still finding HouseLove even in a pandemic. Here’s some joyful NoPo key throwing for our first time home buyer Kath!! This market isn’t for everyone, but if you can swing it like Kath, it’s the first buyer leverage market we’ve had in a really really long time! Truly our favorite part of this job! #keythrowing #houselovepdx #karianderika #portlandrealestate #portlandrealtor #bestportlandrealtor #livingroomrealty #firsttimehomebuyers #firsthome #houselove

   A post shared by HouseLovePDX (@houselovepdx) on Apr 3, 2020 at 4:55pm PDT

Erika George & Kari McGee

Broker-Esquire | Principal Broker | Seniors Real Estate Specialists | OR

Meet cousins Erika George and Kari McGee - the highly skilled HouseLovePDX Team at Living Room Realty in Portland, OR. 

Broker Erika George brings to the table 20 years of experience as an attorney specializing in construction and contracts, and 10 incredible years of real estate success stories.  Principal Broker Kari McGee is an 11-year Portland Monthly 5-Star Realtor®  with almost 20 years of real estate experience under her belt. As Seniors Real Estate Specialists (SRES®) we love to put our superpowers to work to help all kinds of folks transition to new chapters with compassion, expert guidance, and a customized plan.

Here are our Top Five Favorite Things to do for you:

1.  Ask you questions (lots of questions!) and actually listen to your answers. 2.  Show out-of-area Buyers all the fun neighborhoods and important spots that make the Portland Metro area special. 3.  Crack you and ourselves up with funny photos and random moments of hilarity that pop up in a day of touring homes or after a long day of listing preparation chores! 4.  Negotiate and advocate strenuously for you and your goals. 5.  Celebrate the many (big and small) milestones in a real estate sale or purchase. 6.  Watch your life grow and change after the sale closes, and be there for you when you need us. ps - oh how we adore your "look at what we did to this house" photos!  And lunch. We also adore lunching with you.  (Yes, we know, that's two in one and we're already at six...). 7.  Make "Top-Five" lists that always have more than 5 top-fives.  Just goes to show you how much we love to exceed your expectations! We would be honored to help guide you through your changing real estate needs in Portland Oregon. CONTACT Erika George and Kari McGee 503.349.5449 | 971.322.6612 Team@HouseLovePDX.com www.houselovepdx.com  

Read More

• T: 503-349-5449
• F: 503-961-8224
• Team@HouseLovePDX.com