Viewing property safely in accordance with Covid-19 Government guidelines

The process of finding and moving into a new home will need to be different given those involved in the process will have to adapt practices and procedures to ensure that the risk of spread of coronavirus is reduced as far as possible. This will include doing more of the process online, such as virtual initial viewings; vacating your current property whilst other people are shown around; and ensuring your property is thoroughly cleaned before someone else moves in.

We encourage all parties involved to be as flexible as possible over this period and be prepared to delay moves, for example if someone becomes ill with coronavirus during the moving process or has to self-isolate. It may also become necessary to pause all home moves for a short period of time to manage the spread of the coronavirus. We will let you know if this has to happen.

The Prime Minister’s announcement on 10/05/2020 has permitted some industries to resume work, providing it is safe to do so and social distancing measures can be met. Further updates were released on 13/05/2020 specific to our industry. Please click here for the full update from UK Government on home moving during Covid-19. 

We operated a sophisticated phone and computer system pre-Covid 19 which has enabled our business services to continue uninterrupted with staff working remotely. Therefore, enquiries via portals, live web chat,  email and phone can still be booked in the usual way via our team of negotiators. You will receive both verbal and email confirmation of the appointment with details of the appointment. In the first instance you can expect to conduct a virtual viewing of the property to establish an interest. If you are interested in proceeding and likely to make an offer to buy/rent the property we will arrange an in person viewing adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Due to potential risks of handing over equipment that has been in our possession and the practicalities of passing it to you when meeting, you are responsible for providing your own PPE equipment. If attending an appointment by car, we suggest you put on any PPE before leaving the car or when you leave home for other methods of travel. Recommended PPE includes face covering of some kind, gloves and regular use of hand sanitiser. If you do not have the necessary PPE unfortunately you will not be permitted to enter the property. To avoid disappointment, please ensure you come prepared.

Under normal circumstances, our staff would greet you with a handshake but you can expect them to maintain a minimum 2m distance from you at all times. Please respect this for their safety as well as your own. Our ability to accompany you around the property for the entire viewing will largely depend on the property and its size. For larger properties, we should be able to accompany you and maintain a safe social distance but for smaller properties there may not be space to maintain this so we may need to wait outside for some of the viewing while you look around. We have asked all developers of new homes and vendors to ensure internal doors are left open to minimise your need to touch surfaces in the property. As highlighted in Q4 above, this involves you providing your own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which we suggest includes face covering, gloves and hand sanitiser. You will also need to advise us if you have/have had any symptoms of Covid-19.

We suggest you bring your own notepad & pen to jot down any questions you may have as you go which you can go through outside the property (if space allows and it is safe to do so) or over the phone later on.

We talk to all of our clients about ensuring properties are clean and well presented. With cleanliness of a more paramount priority at the moment, the developer/property owner will be responsible for ensuring the property is cleaned and sanitised more regularly and thoroughly to reduce the risk of any contamination. We also request internal doors are left open to minimse the need for you to touch surfaces and door handles. If you need to touch anything, please do so with gloves or apply your own hand sanitiser before and after. As highlighted in Q4 above, this involves you providing your own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which we suggest includes face covering, gloves and hand sanitiser. You will also need to advise us if you have/have had any symptoms of Covid-19.

In line with Government guidance, viewings are limited to the individuals within a household at pre-allocated time slots. Please do not bring members of other households to appointments as it will prevent us from being able to grant you access and lead to disappointment.   

The nature of our business means we work with a number of new homes developers across the South-East, many of whom have now resumed construction. On that basis, vacant show homes and marketing suites will be available for viewings by appointment only and can take place on the condition safety procedures are strictly obeyed. As highlighted in Q4 above, this involves you providing your own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which we suggest includes face covering, gloves and hand sanitiser. You will also need to advise us if you have/have had any symptoms of Covid-19.

With many of our sites in high demand and more staff working remotely to abide by social distancing guidelines, viewings are only at pre-allocated viewing time slots.. Therefore, to avoid disappointment, we would urge you to contact us in advance to book an appointment.

Some of our vendors are opting to carry out their own viewings to minimise the number of people entering their premises and avoid unnecessary risk. We would continue to manage your enquiries, financial qualification, current position, book appointments, handle feedback, negotiate offers etc as we usually would. There may be some questions the vendor is not in a position to answer so we suggest you take a notepad to follow up any queries with us when we contact you for feedback.

We have 3 options available for valuing your property:

1. Instant online valuation-(60% accurate) this system makes a prediction on the value of the property based on sold prices for similar properties in your area. 

2. Upload your own images (99% accurate) of the property for a more accurate valuation with one of our experts without us needing to come to see you.

3. Book a valuation direct (100% accurate) with one of our property experts to arrange a time for them to visit you at your property providing it is safe for them to do so in line with Covid-19 guidelines.