As we all know, these are unprecedented times for many people. The outbreak of COVID-19, commonly called by its virus classification of ‘coronavirus’, has caused many industries to adapt and shift their business practices to meet the new government regulations on social distancing, isolation and closures – and the housing market is no exception.
Those looking to move, purchase a house or even exchange contracts can feel understandably uncertain about the parameters of what is allowed and what is not possible during this confusing time of change.
If you are looking to sell or purchase a new property, now is the perfect time to get in touch with us at Buying Agent Partnership. Our property buying agents can make sure you have access to properties before anyone else does, helping you to have a smooth move and transition between properties when things settle down. Additionally, our property finding agents have scoured all the latest government updates and asked our experts for their advice for those trying to sell, buy, or simply move house in this time of coronavirus: we’ve brought you our top tips below!
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Speak to your solicitor
Depending on where you are in the process of finding a new property, one of the first things you need to do is to get in touch with your legal representative. If you are trying to buy or sell a property, your legal team will have the latest government advice on how to proceed under the circumstances. If you are renting, of course, you won’t have a solicitor, but it is essential to get in touch with your landlord, or rental or lettings agency to discuss the issues at hand. The strong advice at present to all movers during coronavirus is that, if all parties are agreeable, it is best to postpone a move or purchase. The reasons for this are simply to avoid unnecessary potential exposure to the virus by the varied and frequent social interaction often involved in moving home. To ascertain if this is possible, it is key for all those moving house to first speak to the other parties, landlords or homeowners involved.
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Stay up-to-date with government advice
The current latest advice from the government on moving house or buying properties during the coronavirus outbreak is that currently: ‘There is no need to pull out of transactions, but we all need to ensure we are following guidance to stay at home and away from others at all times’. Of course, advice is constantly changing, and it is by far the best practice to ensure that you are abreast of all the latest developments, which can be found on the government’s own website.
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Continue to obey social distancing measures
As the government has advised, there is not yet any reason that transactions need to be halted. However, we appreciate the difficulty of viewing a property or moving house as normal whilst keeping social distancing measures (stipulating no unnecessary contact and a minimum 2-metre distance between people) in place! Official advice stipulates that, should all parties agree to it, then a delay of the move is of course advisable. However, if this is not found to be possible, there is not currently a government prohibition of a move taking place and this can still go ahead. The official position is simply that, if the move is unable to be rearranged, that: ‘people must follow advice on staying away from others to minimise the spread of the virus’ – simply ensuring the requisite distance is kept and necessary measures taken.
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Be proactive
If you are one of the many people still hoping to find a buyer for your home and feeling unsure about the current circumstances, now is the perfect time to start home improvements! If you are hoping to put your house on the market soon, our experts at Buying Agent Partnership recommend that you use this time to both work on fulfilling your property’s potential for increased profits as well as collecting the information that you will need to provide to potential purchasers. For more information and advice on what you can do to improve your home, why not read our latest blog: ‘How Will COVID-19 Affect Me Selling My House?’
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Seek expert advice
The best thing to bear in mind during this period of uncertainty is that as the nature of the crisis changes each day, so does the official advice. Buying Agent Partnership is able to continue assisting our current and prospective clients with each stage of the property process, from seeking out possible property matches online to communicating with all other parties involved. If you know that you want to move when things settle down, now is the perfect time to get in touch with us at Buying Agent Partnership to begin the process. Through Buying Agent Partnership, we can ensure that you are made aware of new property becoming available, before anyone else. Though this is a complex time, properties can still be found online, sales can still be completed, and a visit to your dream home can still be secured – simply get in touch with us at Buying Agent Partnership to see how we can help you.
