The industry is doing what it can to help contain the spread of COVID-19
Prince Edward Island’s foremost broker organization has implemented a blanket ban on open houses and in-person meetings, despite the industry being deemed an essential service by the provincial government.
Greg Lipton, president of the PEI Real Estate Association, called on agents to conduct home showings only at currently unoccupied properties, should the need to do so arise.
“We don’t want to [see] someone spreading COVID-19 just because they felt like they needed to see a house,” Lipton told CBC News. “It’s really a matter of ‘how many risks do you want to take with the virus?’”
“We are an essential service. And that’s for people that could end up homeless. They’ve already sold their home, and they need to buy another home,” he added. “But we still can’t allow people to go into occupied homes.”
With real estate professionals’ earnings definitely taking a significant hit this year, Lipton encouraged association members to find whatever additional sources of funding they can.
“I think that [agents] should be applying for any kind of government relief money, because we don’t know how long this is going to last,” he noted. “It’s tough for everyone right now.”
