Following the current safety guidelines, agents can also prepare residential properties to be ready to move in or undertake any activities to make the property or land ready for sale.
The Route Map published on 21 May showed the Scottish Government is carefully and gradually lifting lockdown restrictions with criteria to be met to progress through it. They are preparing guidance for everyone to adhere to, which will include information on safe house moves and viewings for both vendors and agents. The Scottish Government has a clear message that this isn’t legislation, and to prevent it from becoming so it must be followed.
Opening to the pubic
The public will be able to visit estate and letting agent’s offices, so preparing offices, staff, and procedures to be ready to open can now happen whilst following the latest safety guidelines.
There are lots of things that need to be done to prepare offices and considering how to allow the pubic in, either by appointment only or one or two people at a time needs to be considered. Keeping records of anyone who has visited the office or viewed properties should form part of a risk assessment in order to feed into the Government’s track and trace process. Whilst Phase Two outlines some relaxation of measures for outdoor activities, which businesses can open, and details around public transport, those still in the shielding group should carry on with additional steps until at least 31 July which agents should be aware of.
