When cold and flu season approaches, real estate agents should take extra precautions to protect themselves and their clients from getting sick. With a steady flow of potential buyers coming in and out of an open house all day, there is a high potential for germs to spread.
How Can I Make an Open House Safe?
There are a few things you can do to minimize the spread of the cold and flu at your open house. The best way to let your potential buyers know what to expect is to place a sign outside of the house with the rules you request they follow. Otherwise, clean the house thoroughly before and after your showing, and you won't have to worry about anything besides selling the house.
1. Wear a Mask
Both the flu and cold viruses primarily spread through water droplets that leave the body when coughing, sneezing, or even just breathing. Wearing a face mask can help prevent these viruses from spreading. While some types of masks work better than others, the average mask will give you a six-fold reduction to cold or flu exposure.
Place a box of masks at the entryway of your open house, and ask your guests if they can please wear one to help protect the health of everyone in the house.
2. Use Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is another excellent tool to have at your disposal for a home showing. The CDC recommends a hand sanitizer that contains between 60-95% alcohol. Anything lower than that, and it might not kill the germs or viruses. Place a bottle of hand sanitizer next to your box of masks so your clients can take care of both when they first enter the house. You can also offer latex gloves in case the clients want to safely touch anything.
3. Clean High-Touch Surfaces
Even though you and your clients use sanitizer and wear masks, it is possible that germs and viruses were already on high-touch surfaces. The CDC states that the flu can survive on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours, so be sure to wipe down anything your clients may touch like countertops, doorknobs, and faucets.
You can use most household disinfectants, or even plain old vinegar will do the trick. If the house still has a family living in it, you should always disinfect everything after the showing is over as well to protect their health.
4. Distance Your Clients
Another way to protect the cold and flu from spreading between your clients is to limit the number of people allowed in the house at the same time. This depends on the house size, of course. If it is a large house, you may allow a few groups in at the same time, but if it is a smaller space, try limiting it to one group per floor.
5. Try a Virtual Showing
A unique way to avoid having people in the house in the first place is to do a virtual open house. Advertise what day, time, and platform you are going to be doing your showing on. All you need is a device capable of doing a high-quality live stream. You can answer any of your client's questions while going from room to room showing off the house.
Stop the Spread of the Cold and Flu
If you follow all of these precautions, you will reduce the likelihood of you or your clients getting sick at your open house. You just have to try your hardest at making sure your clients follow the rules you set. Sign up for a continuing education course at Aceable to keep your license active and to learn the latest tips to help you sell houses.