Yael Geffen, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International, suggests the following which will protect both agents and clients without putting a damper on business as usual.
◆ Plan ahead to feel more in control. Be prepared for disruptions and meeting or event cancellations, school closures and have contingency plans in place.
◆Carry your own sanitiser at all times. As sanitiser stocks are low at the moment, keep wet wipes handy and consider making your own. Two effective options are diluting Clean Green with water in a small bottle that easily fits in a handbag or school case and another cheap and easy alternative is diluted vinegar in a spray bottle.
◆Avoid physical contact. This is easier said than done as there is no better way to convey our sincere pleasure when greeting new clients or congratulating them on a great deal than with a hearty handshake. To many of us it would seem rude, but remember that at the moment refraining from doing so actually conveys respect.
◆Show day etiquette. Show days are key to our business, so don’t just cancel them. Have a bottle of waterless hand sanitiser at the entrance with a notice requesting that all visitors use it. And rather than forego the information gained from clients signing show day registers, supply cheap pens or pencils that they can take with them after signing.
◆No, it’s not rude to ask personal questions. If you are meeting a client whom you know travels abroad regularly, you may ask them about their recent trips, and particularly if they’ve been to areas identified as having an increased risk of coronavirus.
◆Drive solo – If you typically drive your clients to viewing, rather go in separate cars and meet them at the property.