Selling your house? Looking to buy? Here's what to expect from the marketplace during the coronavirus pandemic

Nov. 27--Home shopping, showing, open houses and other routines of the housing market, which went digital as the coronavirus was unfolding months ago, then went hybrid as case numbers moderated and virus weariness set in, are heading back online as COVID-19 cases explode.

Some real estate agents and home shoppers who relaxed social distancing and other precautions as the months of the pandemic ground on are tightening back up. Face masks and sanitizer are tools of the trade. Others said this week they were continuing with in-person open houses and other meetings -- carefully, and with a mind to meeting clients' demands.

Agents' approaches to business now run the range. Below are excerpts from interviews with several real estate agents in the Oklahoma City area.

Pandemic in focus

--Sarah Bytyqi, founder, Verbode Group, 415 N Broadway, No. 101.

The COVID pandemic has really come into full focus now that our community at large is spending more time inside with the change in weather patterns. We saw a time during the summer where it felt like cases were manageable and we were doing a good job of social distancing and loosened our concerns somewhat. The last two weeks have been eye opening, and it feels like we are right back where we started but worse.

Our team is working remotely 100% of the time now in an effort to do our part to slow the spread. We are leaning on technology to help us accomplish our real estate goals, but we are still participating in open houses where we require masks and hand sanitizer and limiting the foot traffic at any certain time. Virtual open houses are still a large focus and I think they will continue to be well into 2021.

My thinking is much more serious as more and more people I know are becoming exposed. It just feels closer to home and I think everyone is paying close attention. ... I think that we are in for a long road ahead with the focus on public health and I honestly don't know if we will ever go back to the normal that we all once knew. It's my prediction that we will continue to see mask requirements and social distancing normals well into the next few years.

'I had it'

--Kara Cavallo, agent, Keller Williams Realty Mulinix, 3421 W Rock Creek Road, Suite 110, Norman.

My experience is that in June-July people began getting out more and weren't so worried about COVID. Many people wouldn't wear their masks. (I had it. It was very bad and scary.) I would continue wearing my mask while showing homes and offer masks to those who didn't have them. Many would say they didn't need them. Over the last few weeks, with the rise in cases, people are beginning to pay more attention.

They are entering open houses with masks on rather than me having to ask them to wear a mask (no shaking hands, still). I listed a home this week. For the first time since May, I was asked "What about COVID? What measures do you take to help ... to protect us or the buyers from COVID?" I told them I couldn't say temperatures would be taken. (They asked.) I did tell them I would leave a box of masks and a box of gloves for Realtors and their buyers to wear. ...

We added in the listing agreement that the home may not be shown without previously providing a pre-approval letter. This will limit visitors who aren't really serious. In regards to me working with buyers, I am going back to more Zoom and FaceTime buyer consultations. I ask clients to pick their top five 5 homes. Due to the high amount of COVID, you don't want to be in more homes than you really need to be right now.

'Take this seriously'

--Amanda Kirkpatrick-Lawler, broker-owner, Metro Mark Realtors, 6501 Avondale Drive, Suite B, Nichols Hills.

Real estate sales and showing activity skyrocketed during early summer once the COVID restrictions started to lift. This summer and early fall was busier than expected. Now as COVID cases are on the rise, we are encouraging agents to take precautions, wear masks, and discuss with sellers their showing preferences.

Some agents continue to host open houses if requested. Hand sanitizer and extra masks are near the front door and are required for attendees. We discourage open houses if the home is occupied but continue to allow them if a seller and agent agree that it's important to market the property.

We all need to take this seriously and play our part in keeping the people in our community safe. Sellers are starting to be more cautious now. Active buyers are still looking but showings have slowed down in the past few weeks, likely because of COVID, the ice storm, and the election period. ...

I think there is more understanding now than there was in the spring when we were perhaps overly precautious with the COVID numbers so low. We all did the best we could with the knowledge that we had.

No paper flyers

--Clayton Hensley, agent, Porch & Gable Real Estate, 13100 Colony Pointe Blvd., Suite 109, Piedmont.

I have been holding open houses in person since July and have not had any issues. I require that anyone who comes in wears a mask and I have some hand sanitizer available if they would like to use it.

The one change that I have implemented myself is the use of a QR code instead of a flyer handout. This has helped set some people's mind at ease since I am not handing them a piece of paper and they are still available to see the information on the house. I am looking into making some other changes but not sure exactly what those will be yet.

Leery sellers

--Michelle Massie, agent, Allied Inc. Realtors, 3636 NW 63, Suite A.

Almost everyone wears a mask now and practices social distancing when looking at homes. Some homeowners require specific instructions before potential buyers look at their home. For example, sanitize at door, no shoes, no touching anything inside the home, etc. I haven't had anyone get upset at any of the precautions asked of them.

I still hold in-person open houses, but just sold a new Ripple Creek Home to some people moving from California via FaceTime. We are getting a lot of people moving here from out of state who are leaning on technology to see the homes and get their offer in.

It kind of comes in waves. I think right now with the cases being so high and schools going back to virtual, people are becoming more leery and cautious about being out in public. I think last weekend 100% of the people who came through my open house had masks on. We always have hand sanitizer available and practice social distancing.

'Sight unseen'

--Whitney McNair, agent, eXp Realty, 101 Park Ave., Suite 1300.

I'm still conducting many of my listing appointments via Zoom, although I'm doing some of them in person.

On my listings I'm leaving the showing rules up to the sellers on how strict. Some are requiring pre-approval letters before showings, and some aren't. We are asking all parties that enter to wear masks, take off shoes, and use sanitizer. Some sellers are more concerned than others.

I'm not doing open houses in person as I'm not comfortable with it. I am still leaning on technology. I have military that need to buy homes sight unseen and I utilize 3D video tours to do that.

I always do wear a mask in any appointment. I want buyers or sellers with concerns to feel comfortable. I am a stickler because I have family members who are older that I'm around. My clients don't mind.

The hardest thing about COVID has been the workload with keeping precautions in mind. My advice to buyers and sellers is to pick a great local lender who can close on time and to thank those who are helping them. We have had to work harder than ever for our clients this year and have met a lot of challenges.

Prefer in-person

--Chad Koury, principal-managing broker, Solas Real Estate, 224 E Main St.

We are continuing to take the same precautions as before and staying up to date on the current recommended guidelines. We have begun a new program to integrate adding videos and 3D tours to all listings. We hope to have this fully integrated next month.

We are still holding open houses in person in addition to our virtual tours. We have found that when provided a safe opportunity, Oklahomans still prefer to do things in person. We provide masks and hand sanitizer for all who need them and make sure the house is sanitized before and after.

Online works OK. There is still something about being physically in a space that virtual tours can never replicate. But we are excited about the potential adaptive reuse of these digital tools that were forged during this time. Even after we have a vaccine for COVID-19, we are excited to now have systems in place to better help those relocating from out of state or even for families that have their dream home come on the market while on vacation or out of town.

Now that we know a lot more about the virus and the survival rates have shown to hold steady, it doesn't make me as anxious. Still need to be clean, careful and caring, however, it doesn't keep me up at night.

Real Estate Editor Richard Mize edits The Oklahoman's Real Estate section, and covers housing, construction, commercial real estate, and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. Please support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a subscription at http://oklahoman.com/subscribe today.

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