Estate Agents re-opening

[Deleted User]

Lover_of_Lycra said:

Isn't the main issue for home buyers at the moment that surveys aren't being carried out so if the lender can't get its valuation done it's not going to lend.  I realise that not everyone requires a mortgage to buy but the majority of lenders do.  I wouldn't buy a property off the back of a video viewing either.

Mortgage valuations are still being done using the desktop valuation model (i.e. online). However physical surveys such as Homebuyer's reports and structural surveys are not allowed at present.

shinytop

Comms69 said:

shinytop said:

Densol said:

Comms69 said:

alexscoines said:

They're not doing any viewings - that's what I meant

Yes but if no-one told them to close, no-one is going to tell them to 'open' or do viewings - is what i mean

Moving house is still an acceptable exemption. as is working when not able to from home. So the law allows viewings. In effect it's vendors who arent - basically - and therefore it will be sporadic for the next 12 months or so. (and then the market will flood with properties and you can see what that means with a simple supply and demand formula) 

I disagree. Moving when you have to is acceptable. Viewings do not come into that exemption. 

I agree with your disagreement, the advice says you should only move house if you have to.  It would be going against that advice to do anything to do with the house buying or renting process that involved anyone leaving home, except moving yourself and your possessions  following exchange of contracts, end of a tenancy or similar and even then only if you can't come to an agreement to delay.

I also think socially-distanced viewings and moves is relatively easy to achieve and may be allowed sooner rather than later.  It's in everyone's interests to get the housing market moving again.  

The advice is not the law. What politicians say on the news, is not the law. What the police say, is not the law. The law is written and is freely available. (and social distancing is also, not the law...)

I didn't say that it was the law and I wasn't referring to what politicians said on the news.  I said it was government advice and was referring to this helpfully-titled UK government website 
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak
I think for most people that's more helpful than an Act of Parliament. If people want to ignore the advice then that's their choice and they may or may not end up breaking the law.  I'm not going to though. 

Thrugelmir

Like all office based organisations. Social distancing will be the challenge. Reorganising the office layout. Enforcing health and safety challenges. Operating on an appointment basis maybe an option. Our ability to move around freely is going to be severely curtailed for some time. There's no possibility of a light switch being flicked and all returning to normal.

[Deleted User]

Comms69 said:

shinytop said:

Densol said:

Comms69 said:

alexscoines said:

They're not doing any viewings - that's what I meant

Yes but if no-one told them to close, no-one is going to tell them to 'open' or do viewings - is what i mean

Moving house is still an acceptable exemption. as is working when not able to from home. So the law allows viewings. In effect it's vendors who arent - basically - and therefore it will be sporadic for the next 12 months or so. (and then the market will flood with properties and you can see what that means with a simple supply and demand formula) 

I disagree. Moving when you have to is acceptable. Viewings do not come into that exemption. 

I agree with your disagreement, the advice says you should only move house if you have to.  It would be going against that advice to do anything to do with the house buying or renting process that involved anyone leaving home, except moving yourself and your possessions  following exchange of contracts, end of a tenancy or similar and even then only if you can't come to an agreement to delay.

I also think socially-distanced viewings and moves is relatively easy to achieve and may be allowed sooner rather than later.  It's in everyone's interests to get the housing market moving again.  

The advice is not the law. What politicians say on the news, is not the law. What the police say, is not the law. The law is written and is freely available. (and social distancing is also, not the law...)

What are you talking about ? Of course it is the law and here is the legislation 

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/contents/made

Marvel1

I would never put in offer from video viewing, I don't even buy clothes online, seeing them online and seeing them physically is different (for me).

PasturesNew

Few could buy a house from a video.  You need to pop round and have a look, bit of a poke.  There are a few exceptions.  But, with a viewing, you do have to get inside at some point... so then you're potentially walking into an infected zone - and it's nigh on impossible to stay 2m away from the agent unless you're buying a mansion. 

Where I live though, the houses I can afford are mostly quite grim and grotty ... so I'm not rushing to pick up the phone in any case. 

davidmcn

PasturesNew said:

and it's nigh on impossible to stay 2m away from the agent

It's not actually necessary for them to be breathing down your neck.

Comms69

Densol said:

Comms69 said:

shinytop said:

Densol said:

Comms69 said:

alexscoines said:

They're not doing any viewings - that's what I meant

Yes but if no-one told them to close, no-one is going to tell them to 'open' or do viewings - is what i mean

Moving house is still an acceptable exemption. as is working when not able to from home. So the law allows viewings. In effect it's vendors who arent - basically - and therefore it will be sporadic for the next 12 months or so. (and then the market will flood with properties and you can see what that means with a simple supply and demand formula) 

I disagree. Moving when you have to is acceptable. Viewings do not come into that exemption. 

I agree with your disagreement, the advice says you should only move house if you have to.  It would be going against that advice to do anything to do with the house buying or renting process that involved anyone leaving home, except moving yourself and your possessions  following exchange of contracts, end of a tenancy or similar and even then only if you can't come to an agreement to delay.

I also think socially-distanced viewings and moves is relatively easy to achieve and may be allowed sooner rather than later.  It's in everyone's interests to get the housing market moving again.  

The advice is not the law. What politicians say on the news, is not the law. What the police say, is not the law. The law is written and is freely available. (and social distancing is also, not the law...)

What are you talking about ? Of course it is the law and here is the legislation 

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/contents/made

I know. I've read it...

No-where in the law is there social distancing mentioned, not once. What you hear on the news, in press conferences and briefings, is not the law. - i failt to see what's unclear about that. 

Bossypants

davidmcn said:

PasturesNew said:

and it's nigh on impossible to stay 2m away from the agent

It's not actually necessary for them to be breathing down your neck.

Exactly. Especially where the house is empty, it's perfectly possible for the EA to just follow along a good bit behind while the viewer explores.

Mickygg

I think it will be more down to buyers and sellers appetite for business as usual. Many people even when lockdown ends are still going to be unsure and scared of this virus.

As soon as lockdown ends you will see estate agents back to full swing, they have to to save their jobs and businesses, but I’m not sure you’ll have the general public back into house buying and selling form until they are confident this virus is fully under control and there is little to no chance of catching it and spreading it. That won’t be any time soon. Especially houses that have elderly or young children, how many people currently can say they are comfortable having people wander round their houses or will be comfortable in just a couple of weeks? I for one would need to dettol the whole house afterwards, but that could be just me and my OCD.

People that have to or need to buy or sell would of course be more likely to go full swing but those that don’t need to move but would quite like an extra or less bedroom may stick for quite a while yet. I know I would.