WARRNAMBOOL Real Estate agents are preparing to revert to stage three restrictions with one preparing for online auctions.
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Under the restrictions, property inspections need to be done via appointments and auctions can be held online.
Ray White Warrnambool partner Fergus Torpy said the second time around would be somewhat better.
Mr Torpy said auctions scheduled for later this month may move online and another could be done via a private sale.
"We know what we're in for, to an extent," he said. "Last time around we didn't have any auctions.
"The ones that we do have scheduled, a combination of them have had to amend to a private sale and a couple might be going down an online auction path which will be conducted through Ray White corporate in Melbourne. We can still take inspections by appointment. Last time, obviously, it was a bit tricky because it was adjusting to an unknown. Whereas this time around we sort of know what we can and can't do and we probably felt last time it raised a few questions for a couple of weeks but then people sort of got on with what they wanted to do."
Mr Torpy anticipated people would continue to buy and sell properties despite the COVID-19 restrictions.
Stockdale and Leggo director Matt Northeast said he was hoping to get clarification from a government announcement on Wednesday night on the stage three restrictions. "At this stage we are not exactly clear on what we can and cannot do," he said.
"Having said that, in order to protect our clients, staff and tradespeople, we are taking the approach that we will only conduct inspections by appointment only and as we have throughout the COVID crisis ensure that every prospective purchaser is recorded, confirming that they are feeling well, santisied and check that they are not from a stage four lockdown area. Obviously if our vendors or tenants do not feel comfortable allowing an inspection to take place then we can arrange for a digital inspection at the subject property. For the next six weeks there will be no open days nor onsite auctions."
He said the office would be closed with staff working from home. "The stage three lockdown is very similar to April, so all our staff are accustomed to working from home," he said.
Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said metro real estate agents would be harder hit with stage four restrictions compared with a return to stage three restrictions in the regions. She said the government needed to provide clarity to real estate agents.
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