by Emma Mitchell 
Though people are now free to move home in England, estate agents and homeowners alike will need to adapt to new processes and procedures. If you are planning to buy or sell a house during this period, here are some of the changes you can expect.
1. More virtual viewings
In order to minimise the risk of coronavirus spreading, the government has advised that initial viewings should be conducted virtually wherever possible. At Chimneypots, we’d be happy to help you with this. No open house viewing should take place.
If a viewing does need to take place in person, the current owners are recommended to vacate the property for the duration. If the current owners or household planning a viewing are exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19, the physical viewing should be postponed.
2. More extensive cleaning measures
The government advises that following an in-person viewing, sellers should ensure that all surfaces, especially door handles, are thoroughly cleaned. Equally, potential buyers should bring their own hand sanitiser if possible and refrain from touching surfaces. Good ventilation is also suggested, so opening windows and doors is also beneficial. When it comes to selling your home, a thorough deep clean is recommended before the next residents move in.
3. Moving to a new house
Government guidelines recommend that you contact a removals company plenty of time in advance of your move and should undertake as much packing as possible yourself. Where possible, clean and disinfect any object that you know will be handled by a removal team. When removal workers are in your home or new home, keep 2 metres away at all times.
At Chimneypot estate agents, we are doing all we can to help our clients during these uncertain times. If you require further guidance on buying or selling your home during this pandemic, please contact our team on 01489 584298.
