The Estate Agency Affairs Board of South Africa has published a set of guidelines to inform stakeholders on how to do safe business within the industry, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Agents are encouraged to conduct virtual tours of properties and also tend to the signature of Deeds of Sale and other documents on an electronic basis, where possible. Physical viewing of a property should be done in line with current Covid-19 regulations, with not more than two clients at a time and should also be completed swiftly as possible.
Regarding interactions with clients, the guidelines include the following:
· All potential clients must have received all the safety protocol information prior to a viewing and must agree to adhere to these protocols at all times.
· Estate Agents may not travel with clients in the same vehicle to view the property.
· Clients, who refuse to sanitise their hands prior to entering a property for viewing, should not be granted access to the property.
· Estate Agents and potential clients are to ensure that where possible there is no touching of any surface or object in the property.
· Estate Agents must confirm that they have observed their clients and are satisfied that they are not displaying any symptoms associated with COVID-19 including coughing, a sore throat, red eyes, shortness of breath and weakness.
The guidelines will be updated regularly in line with any legislative change.
The complete document is available on the EAAB’s website (www.eaab.org.za).
Article by Ettiene Stone.