Here’s How You Can Stay Safe (and Still Sell Your Home) Under COVID-19

Moving mid-quarantine isn’t easy, but there are ways to make things safer and simpler. From keeping your home sanitary to occupying the kids while running a virtual showing, there’s a lot you’ll need to know. Here’s how you can sell your home, even during a lockdown.

Are you interested in buying or selling your home in Newport Beach? Let Balboa Realty take care of you and your home: (855) 211-1489   

Stay Safe and Keep Things Clean 

Staying at home and isolating from others may not be possible when you’re trying to sell your property. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean putting yourself or your family at risk. You should practice good hand washing, launder bedding regularly, and sanitize high-traffic areas like the kitchen and bathrooms. Wiping down doorknobs, light switches, and other high-touch spots are other smart coronavirus cleaning suggestions, especially when sprucing up post-showing.

For sellers who are hoping to wait out the coronavirus pandemic to list their homes, you have other options. For example, you can maintain an income stream by renting your house out after you move. With help from an experienced property management  team like Balboa Property Management, you can skip the hassle of acting as a landlord — and still reap the benefits of monthly rental income. 

Running Your First Virtual Tour?

Offering virtual tours and video chat showings can be a huge selling point during the shutdown. But like in-person showings, you will need to prepare ahead of time for virtual presentations.

Help the exterior of your home look fresh by ensuring that the lawn is mowed and the driveway and the home itself are clean. Pressure washing can help you whip things into shape quickly, as long as you select the right pressure for your siding versus the concrete driveway. 

Keeping up with curb appeal, deep-cleaning each room, and making necessary repairs can all help your home show well on video or in person. Of course, keeping daily clutter to a minimum so that your home can truly shine might be tough when you’re working from home. 

Especially with kids underfoot, a daily cleanup is likely a must. Consider creating a customized cleaning checklist so that key areas get attention each day. If you can keep it up until your house sells, you might carry this good habit to your new home, too. 

Then again, if it’s an option for your family to vacate the premises pre-move, it might be the perfect solution. Consider booking a short-term vacation rental near your neighborhood. If your budget allows, your home can remain vacant and show off its full potential. Meanwhile, you and the family will enjoy a clean and uncluttered vacation-like experience. 

Find Creative Ways to Keep Kids Busy 

Like most families, you likely have your kids home every day during the lockdown. However, when it comes time to host a virtual tour, you probably won’t want your little ones in the frame. To that end, having fun activities and resources on hand can go a long way toward making virtual showings less stressful. 

For example, “assigning” your kids an engaging activity like origami or queuing up an online educational resource can work wonders. You might consider setting your kids up with a tablet and headphones so they can enjoy games and activities quietly. The best sets of headphones for kids help protect little ears while making listening to their favorite shows or music fun. 

Selling your home during the coronavirus shutdown can feel daunting. But with a game plan in place, you can keep moving ahead with your plans to sell — and make the process easier, too. Of course, if you’re thinking about selling your home but need advice, contact our Balboa Realty team for an expert opinion and guidance on what steps to take next. Call Balboa Realty anytime: (855) 211-1489 

- By Shirley Martin 

Photo via Rawpixel

Published on Thursday, May 28, 2020