Allow and encourage agents and brokers to work from home as frequently as possible.

• Agents and brokers are encouraged not to report to the office if they are feeling unwell or displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (eg. cough, sore throat, fever, etc.) within the past 48 hours.

The office arrangement provides increased distance between workstations, as well as with any visiting clients.

For any meetings, participants are asked not to attend if they exhibit any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, if they have recently travelled out of the country or if they are otherwise at risk (eg. if they have been in close personal contact with someone who is exhibiting symptoms or who has recently travelled out of the country).

Be aware of objects that may puncture or damage PPE during work.

• If a puncture does occur, wash hands thoroughly according to CDC guidelines.

Frequently sanitize common areas in the office (surfaces are cleaned and wiped down every hour — for example, in reception and waiting areas). This includes high touch and high traffic areas (such as door handles, light switches, etc.).

Provide fully sterilized areas or zones designated for 'staff only.' This break room is intended for food and/or beverages.

• In this area, ensure there is limited sharing of utensils, as well as that any shared utensils are thoroughly cleaned between each use.

Provide sanitization wipes and hand sanitizer - this is located next to all doors and meeting rooms clear signage, to ensure that all clients, clerks, agents and visitors properly sanitize their hands.

Inform and encourage employees to follow, simple health protocols in the workplace — such as proper hand washing techniques, proper cough and sneeze etiquette and refraining from shaking hands or coming into close contact with others. These protocols are posted around the workplace — particularly in common areas such as washrooms and eating areas.

Leverage online tools and communication technology to continue conducting day-to-day business — especially if either party (agent, broker, client) is experiencing symptoms.

1. Virtual Showings and 3D tours: Matterport.

2. Delayed or drive by appraisals.

3. E-signing and digital transaction management: Notarize and Propy.

Clarify with the client if everyone at the site is healthy.

Provide all real estate agents with a hand sanitizer. This protocol is to be carried as a necessity.

Prior to showing an individual a property, clients are screened for symptoms and the standard recommendations for self-isolation are followed if the client can be classified as high-risk.

• Recommendations from the CDC can be found here outlining the global response to COVID-19.

• Before arriving to the site, all individuals will complete a self screen by answering the questions mentioned here. It is important to note that self-reporting provides limited assurance, as individuals can be asymptomatic.

Sanitize all doors and handles prior to entry and exit of the property.

Ensure a 1 hour buffer time between physical showings to allow for cleaning.

Avoid physical contact and proximity between real estate agents and visitors to the property and, whenever unavoidable, ensure that 6 feet of distance is maintained between all party members.

Use parties to use personal protective wear: gloves, face mask, and shoe coverings while on the property.

Scatter showings and arrivals to be spaced out by (recommended 1 hour window).

Send satisfaction surveys to the client post-appointments around service and adherence to COVIDsafe measures to ensure that all proper standards were met.

Conduct post-property showing discussions over video conferencing or phone. These can be scheduled via phone or online booking systems.

Record all parties who have previously entered the property to confirm their symptom free nature.

Leverage online tools and communication technology to continue conducting day-to-day business — especially if either party (agent, broker, client) is experiencing symptoms.

Use of virtual Showings and 3D tours: Matterport

• Virtual tour companies are able to visit your properties and provide an entire view of the property. This provides your clients with a great opportunity to view all details of the property without having to risk their health for visiting many properties. Importantly, a realtor can expose their clients to a greater amount of virtual tours compared to in-person ones because of logistical restrictions. Thus, providing more showing opportunities to clientele and an increased chance for you as the realtor to convert.

Use of e-signing and digital transaction management: Notarize, Propy, Docusign and Hellosign.

• Avoid having to complete in person signings with tools including Docusign and Hellosign. These softwares allow official documents (i.e., buyers agreements) to be signed remotely via mobile or desktop; ensuring all parties safety and social distancing practices are adhered to.

Use social media to communicate with customers.

• Social media is a free outlet that allows you to spread your awareness of yourself and your services to the world and your marketplace. Real estate companies and agents should be heavily invested in Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. By constantly uploading new properties they are representing, real estate market stats, and their everyday life to these channels; you in turn create more awareness of yourself. By using Instagram hashtags, creating Facebook posts, and involving yourself in online communities; you become more discoverable for potential buyers and sellers.

Use of video conference to negotiate.

• FaceTime, Zoom, Whatsapp Video, are now the norm to negotiate the fine details of the contract once both parties have reached that phase of the process. The typically in person experience is now moved online, where face-to-face human interaction with buyer and seller are still upheld during this final stage of the deal.