
Even in today’s strong sellers’ market, there are homeowners who are choosing not to sell due to ongoing concerns around the health crisis, financial uncertainty, and life in general. According to Zillow, here are the top three reasons homeowners who are thinking of selling sometime in the next three years are not putting their houses on the market right now:
- 34% - Life is too uncertain right now
- 31% - Financial uncertainty
- 25% - COVID-19 health concerns
Real estate agents are doing two things very well to make selling your house possible:
1. Agents Are Implementing Technology in the Process
While abiding by state and local regulations as a top priority, real estate agents are making sales happen safely and effectively by leveraging key pieces of technology. Agents know exactly what today’s buyers and sellers need and how to put the necessary digital steps in place. For example, agents have capitalized on the technology buyers find most helpful when deciding on a new home:- Virtual tours
- Accurate and detailed listing information
- Detailed neighborhood information
- High-quality listing photos
- Agent-led video chats
2. Agents Are Facilitating Safe and Effective In-Person Showings
After leveraging technology, if you have serious buyers who still want to see your house in person, agents are following the guidelines set by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and utilizing safe ways to proceed. Here are a few of them, understanding again that the agent’s top priority is always to follow state and local restrictions first:- Limiting in-person activity
- Requiring guests to wash their hands or use an alcohol-based sanitizer
- Removing shoes or covering them with booties
- Following CDC guidance on social distancing and wearing face coverings
As Jeff Tucker, Senior Economist for Zillow notes:
“Homeowners who feel life is uncertain right now may think they can still get a strong price if they delay selling until they have more clarity. The catch is that waiting to sell may raise the cost of a trade-up. This fall's record low mortgage rates, which make a trade-up more affordable on a monthly basis, are not guaranteed to last.”