It seems that despite the pandemic, a majority of people who have previously attended open houses within the past year are still willing to do it again, the latest survey says.
According to the bi-weekly survey data from the National Association of Realtors, 65 percent of May 20 survey respondents are willing to attend an open house or tour a home for sale without hesitation. That number is up from 56 percent of respondents in the May 6 survey.
The real estate industry is showing signs of progress, NAR President and broker at Malta & Co. Inc., Vince Malta said. He furthered that the association is embracing how homeownership is adapting and the unique paths that the homeowners are taking to realize their dream.
The desire of prospective buyers to own their dream home remains strong. So the guidance, professionalism, and expertise that realtors provide are more important now more than ever, he concluded.
The survey conducted by the research firm Engagious also revealed that approximately half of the buyers - 47 percent, and sellers - 53 percent said that is much more important now than before to rely upon real estate professional in looking for or selling a home.
Meanwhile, 54 percent of buyers and 62 percent of sellers said that real estate agent's guidance is especially valued, particularly during the pandemic. Also, 59 percent of buyers and 58 percent of sellers agree that buying and selling real estate is an essential service.
Read also: Median Listing Prices Nearing Pre-COVID Levels, Latest Report Says
Another key highlight mentioned in the NAR report is that 51 percent of buyers said that real estate agents could help home buyers glean more valuable information from the online listings than what buyers could discover on their own.
The suggested key action items for realtors include actively helping buyers and sellers get more out of online. And that involved pairing virtual tours with written home improvement information, including a tour of the neighborhood, and actively engaging in the online home search process.
Agents are also to limit the number of visitors at one time, stock up on sanitizers and wipes, talk to clients instead of texting or emailing them, and understand that buyers or sellers can be litigation-prone. And more importantly, real estate professionals should never forget their value to the buyers and sellers.
As for those who are not ready to attend an open house, the Back To Normal Barometer survey by Engagious revealed, the conditions that would make them feel safe enough to do it again include the approval of COVID-19 vaccine - 47 percent - and the local health department's assurances that it would already be safe to tour houses.
The two critical things about these assurances, according to Engagious president, Rich Thau, are a certification that the area has been properly sanitized and that the certification comes from a local authority.
Also, 55 of the buyers agree that virtual tours are great for initially vetting the homes they are considering to buy. That number dropped a bit when respondents were asked if they consider a virtual tour as an acceptable substitute for an actual visit of the home.
The "Meeting the Needs of Buyers and Sellers During and After the Pandemic" survey aims to collect information regarding consumer attitudes about working with people in the real estate industry during the coronavirus pandemic.
