What a difference a year makes! Just last week, we passed the one-year mark since COVID-19 officially became a global pandemic. Schools went to remote learning. Companies sent their workers home, either on furlough or to work remotely when possible. Normally crowded events like the Tulsa 5K went virtual. New phrases like “social distancing” and “zoom room” became part of the nomenclature. How we bought homes changed, too. Now that vaccinations appear to shine a light at the end of the tunnel, what home buying practices will stay after COVID-19 and what old practices will be gone for good?
Home Buying After COVID-19
Jam-Packed Open Houses
The days of packed open houses are over. At the beginning of the pandemic, the governor put the kibosh on open houses altogether. After a while, they allowed appointment-only viewing. Some real estate agents acted as the buyers’ eyes and ears. Home buying after COVID-19 looks like these practices will continue. Truth be told, serious buyers easily got lost among the crowd in a large open house. With a one-on-one appointment, the seller’s agent devotes all of their time and energy on one the buyer. Don’t get me wrong. We’ll still see some open houses. But they will be much more subdued than they were before the pandemic.
Virtual Home Tours
When buyers were not allowed to go into Tulsa homes, the real estate industry had to figure out how to bring Tulsa homes to the buyers. We saw a huge increase in virtual home tours. Real estate agents physically walked through the property while Facetiming or Skyping with their clients. Sellers’ agents created a video walkthrough that they added to their marketing materials. And many real estate companies included 3-D virtual tours with their online listings. This allowed buyers to see the Tulsa home more completely than a 2-D photograph ever could. This technology will continue as part of the home buying process well after COVID-19. And it will only improve from here on out.
Closing Remotely
Finally, home sale closings have forever been changed. In the past, buyers and sellers would meet at one location (either the title company or the real estate office) to sign the final paperwork and hand the keys over. COVID-19 again forced the real estate industry to make a few changes. Drive-up signings became the norm. A masked, gloved-up runner brought paperwork to you and you signed these papers while sitting outside the office in your car. Then, the runner brought the paperwork back inside. Even notaries went remote in Tulsa as of January 1st, 2020 (as long as the notary is physically in Oklahoma at the time of signing). These practices seem to be here to stay.
When you are ready to search for your next Tulsa home, let me be your guide. Contact me at (918) 852-5036 or via email to set up an appointment. I look forward to working with you.
Lori Cain, REALTOR®, Serving Midtown and the greater Tulsa, OK area. Call 918-852-5036.
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