COVID-19 and Real Estate Guidelines

19 June 2020

Hi!  Vermont’s Governor Scott followed through with loosening the reins just a bit more; today’s changes are highlighted in red, below.  

We’re still experiencing a very low real estate inventory level in Windham County, so please do consider putting your property onto the market; this is a very active time, and properties are moving quickly.  Let us help you with pricing and getting your property ready to market, if you’re interested – this is what we do.

Real estate rules updates

New Hampshire hasn’t changed their real estate rules:

• Meetings between brokers/agents and clients (or prospective clients) cannot take place at real estate brokerages’ physical offices but may take place with social distancing or remotely by phone, video or other electronic means.
• Showings of homes or other properties may take place by appointment and with appropriate social distancing measures.
• Gloves and masks are required for all showings.
• Real estate closings can continue, either through remote means or with social distancing for any in-person transactions.
• Property inspections and appraisals may continue with appropriate social distancing.

 

Vermont has new rules, as of June 15:

• Vermont real estate professionals are now able to show properties, attend inspections, appraisals, and closings.  We can now meet with and show properties to our customers and clients, up to 25 people total at one time, with strict 6’ physical distancing.  Sequential showings must be 30 minutes apart from each other.  
• Open Houses are now permitted, for up to 25 people total at one time and with strict 6’ physical distancing.   
• It is mandatory that we all maintain physical distancing of 6’, wear non-medical cloth face coverings (bandanna, scarf, or non-medical mask, etc.) over nose and mouth when in the presence of others and that we avoid touching surfaces unless necessary. 
• Vermont real estate professionals are required to work remotely whenever possible. 
• Out-of-state visitors from non-quarantine counties are now allowed to visit Vermont freely.  These counties are identified on this updated map, which gets updated weekly.  Visitors from quarantine counties must self-quarantine in Vermont for 14 days, and may get tested after 7 days of self-quarantine – if they test negative, they may then travel about freely.  
• Travelers from a quarantine county arriving to Vermont in a personal vehicle, may complete either a 14-day quarantine or a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative test in their home state and enter Vermont without further quarantine restrictions.
• If the out-of-state visitor has entered into a fully-signed and accepted Purchase and Sales Contract or Rental Lease Agreement for a specific property, an agent or individual may accommodate a viewing of that property if the buyer/renter has not completed their quarantine under limited circumstances:
  • The buyer/renter has entered into a legal Purchase and Sale Contract or Rental Lease Agreement for the specific address they plan to visit; AND
  • The buyer/renter travels directly to and from the property and can do so without any NONESSENTIAL stops along the way; AND
  • The buyer/renter travels via their own personal motor vehicle and is able to travel round trip to and from the Vermont property in the same day (no overnight stay in Vermont); AND
  • The buyer/renter certifies they have not experienced symptoms associated with COVID-19 including and have not been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days and has satisfactorily completed the required COVID-19 Certificate of Compliance.
• Travelers are advised to register with Sara Alert upon arrival to Vermont to get two weeks of daily reminders to check for common symptoms of COVID-19.
• Consumers are required to fill out the mandatory Certificate of Compliance.  
• Real Estate agents must maintain a log of customers and their contact information for 30 days in the event contact tracing is required by the Health Department.

 

Please email us about properties at Sales@BerkleyVeller.com, leave a message at 802-254-6400, contact any of our agents.   We’re ready to show listings, talk about putting your property on the market, answer your questions, send you information, photos, and videos.  We’re looking forward to helping with your real estate needs!  Work with the experts!

 

Sincerely,    

Tami Berkley Purcell