I am sure you have
been inundated with messages from associations and companies of all kinds
with information about doing or not doing business. Here is what I
believe to be the current status of business and personal living since the
governor's statewide Stay Home order as interpreted by KAR's Governmental
Affairs Director, Mark Tomb:
1. Everyone is directed to stay home unless
performing an essential activity
2. The Governor's order specifically includes
real estate service as an essential activity
3. The Governor's order supersedes all county
orders addressing this subject
4. The Governor's order goes into effect at
midnight tonight and remains in effect until midnight Sunday, April 19th.
What does this mean for us? Of course, we need to abide by our
Governor's order, but the specifics of what we do need to be guided by
common sense, keeping the safety of our company and our customers and
clients uppermost. Subject to further input from you and our
management team, here are some operating procedures to guide us:
1. Staff will continue to work from home through
at least April 26. Although the Governor's order expires April 19, we
will then still be subject after that time to the Shawnee County and
Douglas County orders that do not expire until April 26.
2. We will conduct no broker open houses nor
public open houses until May 2nd. While I'm guessing the orders of
the Governor and County Health departments have a good chance of being
extended, May 2 is what I think would be the best case scenario.
3. We should inquire of all sellers and buyers if
they or anyone with whom they have been in contact is under a 14-day
quarantine period. If so, we should not be in contact with them, nor
allow buyer prospects in their homes, nor allow them in other people's
homes.
4. SOCIAL DISTANCING AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WITH
HEALTH PEOPLE.
5. No meetings with more than 5 people.
6. You may come to the office for necessary
materials, pick up mail and other deliveries, and meet with clients (no
children please). Please wash your hands when you come in. If
you are coming to use computers, copiers or fax machine, please disinfect
the equipment you use and the work area you use with the cleaning solutions
at hand. Please do not use the conference areas if you do not have a
client with you.
7. Please prepare a video tour of each listing so
that prospects can review it before they request a physical tour. Physical
tours only with the informed consent of the owner, and only by parties who
have not been exposed to a quarantined individual. Owner must
disinfect doorknobs, leave all lights on, and disinfect after. You
and buyer prospects must wear disposable gloves, and disinfect after you
leave.
8. You may enter homes under those same
conditions to video tour or Facebook live tour for a buyer prospect.
I am reviewing several samples of buyer and seller checklists to outline
these procedures in brochures that will protect our clients and
ourselves. I have never seen a time when our industry has shared so
much information and best practices. That will be the purpose of our
Tuesday morning Zoom Partners' Meeting.
More to follow, I'm sure. Be safe,
Bryon
Bryon R. Schlosser
President and General Counsel
785.267.8646
(Direct)
785.969.2214 (Cell)
866.595.6073 (Fax)
bryon@cbkansas.com
We never send
wire instructions by email!
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