Brokerage Tools for COVID Safety

After the legal seminar this week, we have fielded brokerage inquiries about COVID guidelines.  Three three every broker should have:
  1. Here is the Governor’s checklist for office safety protocols that must be followed to ensure compliance if any agents or clients are entering office space. You must also post the Mandatory Safety Standards Poster at the office as well.
  2. The office space checklist might be helpful for cleaning and training requirements all offices have as well.
  3. NAR’s Sample Preparedness Plan for handling emerging situations in an office.

Please note, below are basic rules that are currently in place – they might become more restrictive based on a recent surge in cases.  We know that today (11/12/20) the Pittsfield schools have been shut down until 12/7 because of a COVID spike among both students and teachers.

    • All those not living together must maintain at least 6′ social distance both inside and outside.
    • All must wear face-coverings in all public places, even where they are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. (real estate showings and open houses would be considered public places)  At no time shall there be gatherings of more than 10 people inside a dwelling.
    • All those entering MA, including returning residents, are required to complete the MA Travel Form prior to arrival, unless entering from a low-risk state.  All must either quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to arrival.
    • The new ‘Stay At Home Advisory’ instructs residents to stay home between 10 PM and 5 AM, unless working in an essential capacity. www.mass.gov/stayhome.
    • All agents and their brokers should maintain detailed contact records – agent, client and customer meetings (with contact phone numbers) so that the broker can provide tracing data if someone that has come in contact with their office have tested positive for COVID. For cooperative showings, you should maintain the name of the agent, their number and the initials or first name of their buyer client so that they can make appropriate contact or give the name and number to the tracer)
    • Adopt office policies for what to do if someone tests positive, exhibits symptoms or issues arise with clients or tenants felling ill.  NAR has produced a fantastic resource for you to use about the reporting steps (might have to edit for smaller firms, but it’s a great starting point) Sample Preparedness Plan

Review NAR’s reopening checklist and adopt as your own.  Are you safe having agents in your office? Clients? Walk-ins? Please don’t forget that in a typical day, real estate agents have a huge circle of people they come into contact with.  A broker’s attention to detail and demand for compliance ensures the safety of the agents, your clients, family members and all those we encounter!