Brice and Crystal moved to DC for 2 years just so that they could up their salaries and finally afford to buy a house in Portland. Our first conversation took place over the phone as they were finishing packing and preparing for their flight home to Portland. They expressed how excited they were to finally get to tour homes in person after spending the last year scouring listings on the internet, and that there was on in particular that really caught their eye that they wanted to look at once they arrived in Portland. That’s when I had to tell them that everything they thought about how their first home buying experience was going to be would be completely different, because with COVID-19 and the brand new Stay at Home orders our working policies had shifted completely and we couldn’t tour homes like it was any old Saturday.
We did successfully win a multiple offer situation, negotiate repairs and close on an amazing home in Overlook that is a 5 minute bike ride from their best friends house, all without ever meeting in person (which to be honest did feel a little strange). We “walked through” the home using a 3-D tour and did a condensed version of a my unofficial Portland Homes 101 talk, and then talked for hours about the house before they eventually decided it was the one and they wanted to write. By then it had turned in to a multiple offer situation and we had to act quickly, and I spent hours talking to the sellers’ agent convincing her this was there house and the sellers just needed to say, “Yes.” There are times when the race is tight and you really have to hustle and sell yourself as an agent to get the deal done to the co-op agent, as well as sell your buyers as the ones destined to inherit the home. And in a time of uncertainty this was the winning component of their offer. So even though buying a home during a pandemic is a complete new experience for all involved, we are all able to evolve and still make the right move at the end of the day.
BUYING A HOME VIRTUALLY
Take a 3-D tour with your agent. There is a lot you can learn about the house on a 3-D walkthrough that does not show up on the photos. An experienced agent will be able to walk you through and help you decipher the house.
Talk it out over coffee (but on the phone). This doesn’t change much, you are still going to want to talk through all the pros and cons with your agent, only you get to do it from the comfort of your own home.
Electronic Signatures. Thank goodness for programs like Docusign. Â We’ve been using them for years now, no wet signatures needed and everyone gets a copy of all the documents.
More talking. Most REALTORSÂŽ these days can build report and do multiple transactions together without ever meeting in person. We negotiate and navigate the transaction all through phone and email.
Solo inspections. All inspectors do their work solo, and either email the results or FaceTime with the buyer to review the findings. It doesn’t allow a buyer to take a second look at the property, but they still get to learn all the flaws of the home.
Notary signing. The lenders require a wet signature for loan docs so in this case a notary can come to you for signing.
Keys while social distancing. Your agent can toss you keys on the front lawn, or set them on the porch (perhaps with some Costco size sanitizing wipes, being the latest trend in house warming gifts). Basically there are options.
Congratulations Brice and Crystal!
