It's the Best Time of the Year for Real Estate Buyers

 Every year, we post some version of the same message to buyers:  If you want to buy a house, the best time to make an offer--if you are serious and can move quickly--is between Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Sellers who really want to sell are beginning to come up against winter, and the end of the calendar and tax years.  They have begun to heat their homes, and sometimes plow their driveways.  There are fewer active buyers, and not all properties have as much curb appeal once leaves have fallen and flowers are gone.  

All of those factors taken together give buyers a last chance to buy in 2021.  The number of multiple offers have declined in most areas, yet mortgage rates are still attractive.  The choice of listings may be smaller, but more of them are actually going to be available for more than a day or two.  If house hunting has been discouraging this year, think about giving it another chance this fall.  

That means that you need to start now, at the beginning of October, so that you can be ready to go to contract in a month.  Buyers, make your lists, set your priorities, and make sure that you are prequalified.  Serious buyers are good buyers, and more likely to be decisive.  If you use that logic to your advantage, you may be spending the holidays in your new home!

Don't Count on Selling Above the Market Value

 What is it that people say about the stock market?  "Bulls get rich, bears get rich, but pigs get slaughtered".  Things are only worth what they're worth, and real estate is no different.  If a seller tries to take advantage of a tight market by overpricing, it might work, but, more times than not, it won't.  If it does work, it will usually be because multiple buyers are bidding on the same property.

Even then, reason mostly prevails, often the next morning, or when the appraisal comes in.  Although many people are either downsizing, or have saved extra money during the past 18 months, they still will be resistant to paying over the appraised value, despite what they might be putting down (which could even be the whole amount).  Even cash buyers regularly ask for appraisals, just to check that they are not "overpaying".  Although we know that that's a subjective term, and that appraisals can lag in a rising market, people still want to be validated for their business judgment.  If they think they may be getting taken advantage of, they will balk at some point.

Lately, we've been seeing a good number of homes coming back onto the market, after going under contract.  Sure, there are some bad inspections, and some mistakes about how much can be financed, but there are also cold feet, and they often relate to the aftermath of a bidding war or feeding frenzy.  Buyers get caught up in wanting to "win" the house, then wonder whether they have overpaid.

All of this is by way of saying that sellers, who have a short selling season for the next two months or so, should be wary of overpricing.  A good value will get snapped up, and will sometimes even have backup offers, but a property that looks to buyers as though it will sit for a while may do just that.  If there's no perceived risk of losing the purchase, there's no urgency.  And we all know that lack of urgency kills transactions.  Thinking too much about anything will bring out all the negative points.  So don't go there.  Price your home to sell.  Listen to your agent.  You'll thank him/her later!

School is Back in Session, and So is the Real Estate Market

 It may still be close to 100 degrees outside, but fall is on the way.  Kids are headed back to school, vacations are mostly over, and many people still think of Labor Day as the true start of a new year.  

If you are interested in selling your property, now just may be the season.  There are plenty of buyers out there, and many of them were shut out of the spring market with too much competition. Also, we've been reading about the "wedding boom" that is following the COVID pause, so more households are forming all the time.  People who have been living in pods are headed back to work, sometimes in remote locations, and change is in the air.  Listing your home now will attract all of those groups.

But don't get greedy!  The fall buying window is shorter than the one in the spring, and it isn't a good idea to try to test a high price, with the thought that you can drop it later.  Figure out your bottom line, and price to sell where you can make that number, but where it will appraise out.

Buyers should be thinking that they can take another bite at the apple, now that the rush is over.  Fall in New England is glorious, and many homes look at their best.  You just may fall in love with your forever home.  Winter is coming, and it will be so nice to be settling into a new place, just in time for the holidays.  The pandemic months gave everyone a chance to see what isolated living is like, and to get a better sense of their priorities in a home.  Now that you know, it's time to act.

We've all spent the last year and a half in a state of suspended animation, while we wait to see what the new normal will end up looking like.  While there are still no firm answers, there are clear trends, and clear preferences among buyers.  We have become more adaptable, because we've had to, and we can apply that trait to fitting ourselves into new living situations.  Learning to embrace the possible has been a key success factor lately, and it applies well to real estate.  

A Pause in the Greater New Haven Residential Market

Every day, those of us in real estate start off with notifications of new listings. In the past few weeks, those have started to include "back on market" houses, meaning that they were under contract, and had fallen through and were once again available.  In addition, we are seeing more "price reduced" tags on listings, which is an indication that sellers may have been too aggressive in their pricing, given what they had heard about the state of the market.

Real estate is like that--it seems as though progression in prices and sales numbers would move more slowly, given the size of the overall numbers, but it often seems--usually in arrears--that there was one day, or one week, when things changed.  That time doesn't always last, but the hiccup is noticeable.

What does that mean for the fall market?  Buyers who were shut out during the spring season--now is your chance!  Offers are more likely to be accepted, especially since fall and early winter sellers are likely to be more motivated.  They can be aiming for a deadline at the end of the year, leaving before winter, or just finished with summer home renovation and improvement projects.  Whatever the reason, sales may well move faster, with less backup for testing, qualifying, and closing.

Sellers, you also have another chance.  Buyers, having often taken a summer break, are back.  They usually mean business in the fall, since looking at houses in the busy days of autumn is not as often a fun activity, like browsing in a bookstore.  They know what they want.  If they have been frustrated with not getting a home in the spring, they know their limits, and they are qualified.  Don't waste your time or theirs, by testing a very high price just to see what happens.  Price realistically, even at or just below what you will accept, and get the transaction done.  Remember that the first offer is very often the best offer, and don't take an early contract as a sign that you should raise the price.  As Nike says, just do it.

Tips for Deciding Whether to Buy a House Now

 With all the activity around the country in residential sales, many buyers and potential buyers are wondering whether it's time to sit out the rush to ownership.  Even without the emotional turmoil caused by frantic bidding followed by disappointment, they are nervous about the economics of buying.  Here are some tips to consider:

1--Most importantly, what you pay every month is the key factor in deciding what you can afford.  Although home prices have risen rapidly in many price ranges, interest rates are still low.  Once you know the monthly payment associated with a given purchase, you can compare that to your total earnings.  Interest, over the life of a mortgage, makes more difference than a few thousand dollars in cost, so keep that in mind;

2--Buying at higher prices is not as risky if you plan to stay for awhile.  Americans in general are staying in their homes longer than they used to do, and most price rises even out over time.  Just as you are unlikely to buy at the very bottom of a market, you are statistically unlikely to be purchasing at the very top;

3--With that in mind, consider the likelihood of having to sell quickly for some reason.  If you are prone to be transferred often, are looking to change jobs, careers, or location, you might decide to wait.  Real estate, although it is a great investment, is illiquid, meaning that you can't just take your money out whenever you need it.  If there's a high probability that you might have to do that, you should probably wait;

4---Next think about whether you might decide to move again within the area.  If so, that's less risky, because it's fine to buy high if you are also selling high.  If all the homes go up in a region, and you are planning to remain, you will just conduct that next sell/buy at a higher price point.  You will have more equity, and you will pay more for the next property, in an inflationary scenario;

5--Inflation figures into the equation in another way.  If you have basic living expenses that will be disproportionately affected by inflation, and you do not expect your income to match the rise, then you should be more conservative.  For instance, your grocery bill and your income will likely rise or fall together, and eating out is not a requirement, so doesn't have to stay constant. Suppose, however, that you drive for a living, and gas prices take a big chunk of your monthly income--that might be a reason to worry more about inflation.  It all depends upon whether you are more or less impacted by generally higher prices;

6--We are heading into the fall bumper season for real estate. If you've been shut out in the spring market, more houses will be coming on the market right after Labor Day.  Sellers are at their most flexible in the late fall (actually, between Halloween and Thanksgiving), so you just might get a better deal soon.  That should give you hope that you can be in your new home for the new year!  Whatever you decide, we are here to help you.

Dog Days of Summer For Real Estate--Maybe Not This Year? Tips for Summer Homebuyers

 What does the term "dog days of summer" mean?  The Romans coined it to refer to a period around when Sirius, the Dog Star, rose before the Sun, and was thought to bring heat, thunderstorms, and bad luck.  This year July 23rd is the exact day when Sirius is in conjunction with the Sun, with the 40 days called "dog days" running from July 3rd to August 11th.  

Traditionally, it means a time when the weather is too hot for anything to happen.  That isn't true this year for real estate, and the dog days of summer can work to a buyer's advantage:

1--Look at homes when everyone else is on vacation. There will be less competition.

2--Use the slow season to speed up the mortgage process.  Due to overlapping time off, many organizations experience slowdowns for normal timelines.  You can prevent this by dogging--pun intended--those who need to act.

3--Book inspectors, contractors, and others, who may be working, but not as frenetically as in June.

4--Take advantage of late sunsets to get appointments after work, or after the normal workdays of others.

5--Have a schedule for packing and moving that takes advantages of summer Fridays and long weekends, which might otherwise get frittered away.

6--Put shorter timeframes on contracts, so that signatures don't get delayed, and other offers don't appear.

7--Think about fall, which is right around the corner, and getting into your new home before the weather turns cold.  You will feel the heat less that way!

Current Absorption Rates (Single-Family Residential Homes)

Explanation of absorption rate: The rate at which available homes are sold in a specific real estate market during a given time period. If you look at the number for New Haven you can say “If market conditions do not change and if no new listings come on the market it will take 2.8 months for the current inventory to sell at the current pace of the market. A balanced market’s absorption rate is typically between 5-7 months”.

Buy or Renovate? Tips for Deciding

 We all saw the tremendous amount of renovation that went on during the pandemic, as people hunkered down to work, play, and live with extended family in their homes.  Now that restrictions are lifting, the market is so hot that some cannot find new houses to buy.  They may consider renovation instead, although raw materials have skyrocketed and there is a shortage of labor with a backlog of jobs.  What should a person do?

The answer is, as always, it depends.  The first thing to consider is how long you plan to stay in your current home. If you plan to stay a long time, you should spend that money you saved from the vacations you didn't take last year, because you will be enjoying the fruits of your labor for some time to come.  If, on the other hand, you are thinking of retirement and relocation, your horizon is much shorter.

 Along with that calculation, you should think more about the purpose and scope of the work you would do in a renovation--is it mainly for yourselves, or would it improve the resale value of your property?  If so, what percentage of what you spend would be recaptured in a sale?  The usual answers can be found in numerous charts available online, but the general principle is that quick fixes and cosmetic repairs recover total value, while more elaborate or specialized changes bring back less from future buyers.  If your household, for instance, is composed of people all over six feet tall, and your renovation involves putting all of  your kitchen counters up to a height you find comfortable, a new owner would probably figure that he or she had to replace them with lower ones.  If you add a bath downstairs, or a patio to the back of the house, those would be considered safe to count on recovering. Painting and landscaping are almost always smart to do.

Will the pandemic permanently change buyer preferences?  It's hard to say.  Outdoor space may get a big lift, home offices will be much more common, but should that bedroom become a gym?  That's less clear. Tastes do change over time. There are also generational issues to take into account.  Your choices may not resonate with a young family, or your decorating ideas may differ from theirs.  The latter can more easily be fixed, although they will affect how the house shows, when the time comes to sell, if they are extensive.

So, each person's conclusion may be different, but certain steps make sense.  Think about time left in a house, personalization of the work to be done, family needs and desires, and cost of renovation vs. cost of moving.  And then call your Realtor for his/her opinion--we answer these questions every day!

Current Absorption Rates

 

Explanation of absorption rate: The rate at which available homes are sold in a specific real estate market during a given time period. If you look at the number for Branford you can say “If market conditions do not change and if no new listings come on the market it will take 2.0 months for the current inventory to sell at the current pace of the market. A balanced market’s absorption rate is typically between 5-7 months”.

Tips For Making Your Multiple Offer Stick

As has been reported in all kinds of media, there is somewhat of a feeding frenzy going on with real estate in Connecticut.  Some of it is outmigration from NY, some is outmigration from cities to suburbs, some is pandemic-related need for more space indoors and out, and some has to do with interest rates and deferred spending.  The result is chaos, as people try to purchase properties that are receiving multiple offers within days of going onto the market, many over the asking price. If you are an interested buyer, how do you help get your offer to the top of the pile?  Here are some suggestions:

1. Eliminate as many contingencies as possible.  Having no mortgage contingency doesn't mean that you can't get a mortgage, just that the sale isn't tentative until you have financing approval.  Other contingencies that you can be flexible on--closing date, inspection requests, or other approvals--should be taken out of an offer, if possible;

2. Don't wait to respond.  Once sellers are engaged in the process, you want them to move quickly to pick you.  In order to aid in that, you should sign or counter as soon as you can;

3.  Consider writing a letter. Say what you like about the house, what you can imagine doing there (raising a family comes to mind), give reasons for the sellers to choose you.  Tug at their heartstrings;

4.  Get all of your checks and approvals in on time.  Dragging the process out, especially when there are viable backup offers, is dangerous.  Remember, to you this may be about you, but to the sellers, it's about them and their timeline;

5.  Avoid trying to renegotiate.  If you go high with an early and enthusiastic offer, don't try to get some of it back during the inspection process.  This is not just an investment, or an arms-length negotiation--it's where you plan to live, and you should let that emotion rule, within reason;

6. Don't sweat the small stuff.  Arguing over the fireplace set or the pool equipment may turn the sellers off, and hurt you down the line;

7. And here's our cardinal rule: Offer the amount you would be sorry to hear that someone else paid for the home.  Forget about what you told the agent your top price was, or what you think you can get with some bargaining.  Pay what the property is worth to you, and don't rethink it, as long as you can afford it.  You will save more with a lower interest rate than you will lose in a few thousand dollars toward the sales price.

Happy hunting!

For Real Estate in Greater New Haven, March is the New June

 For the past couple of years at least, March has been the biggest sales month for our New Haven office.  Yale University, Yale New Haven Health System, and other educational institutions have the greatest impact on this result.  Academic and medical positions usually begin on July 1st, and the offers for those jobs typically start coming at the beginning of the calendar year.

Every year, we say that we need to try to get listings on the  market sooner.  And, every year, we end up with buyers who don't have enough property to view when they come to search.  Some of that is due to weather, which can cause deferral of repairs and improvements that many sellers make before putting a home on the market.  Some of it is the just the normal slippage of chores that don't get done when they should, or jobs that take longer than expected.

A big part, however, is that people think of May as the time to list, and June and July as the time for closings.  We need to be clear that the sales season is now year round, and that early spring is the best opportunity for a seller to list, in our opinion.  In the way that the first offer is usually the best offer, an early buyer is often the most motivated.  Spring brings lookers, and nice Sundays are great for open houses, but those who need to be settled by July want to get the move done early.

One of the best things about that for sellers is that there will be more product to choose from when they have sold their current homes, since many people still wait to list, for all the reasons stated.  This year is shaping up to be a great year for real estate, but that doesn't always mean that all buyers and sellers will be happy.  Time is of the essence, and product is needed to sell before buyers can buy. 

Let's get this show on the road!  List now, and reap the rewards.

February is the New May

Agents have known for many years now that, at least in Greater New Haven, May is not the best time to list.  That comes much earlier-- probably in February--because of the number of colleges and hospitals in the area.  Most job offers in those institutions are for years beginning on July 1st, and the offers come very early in the calendar year.  Once people decide to move, they begin looking at real estate.

Every year, no matter what we do, there is a shortage of listings to show to transferees during the winter months.  We try to get listings on the market sooner, but the "old" pattern of thinking that buyers want to buy in May and move before the start of school for their children in the fall is still stuck in the minds of sellers.  First of all, many buyers don't have children in school.  Even when they do, it is not uncommon for one parent to stay behind until the end of the school year, meaning that the purchase can come anytime in the moving process.  Now, with many school systems teaching remotely, some families can move whenever they find the right house.

Sometimes buyers find their dream home more quickly than they expect.  Our prices are still low enough that they may buy with a bridge loan, and sell in their previous location later.  Tax considerations also play into the timing of moves, and early in the year may seem safer to some.

Many buyers are local.  They don't have to move during a school vacation, and they have been looking all along, if we look at statistics on internet browsing.  Our hits go up in December, so it's clear that prospective buyers aren't waiting until spring to check out the market.  Now, in particular, with supply in general so limited, buyers will move more quickly to secure a home if it seems as though it works for them.  They have a better chance of doing so spring fever hasn't hit.

Sellers should also consider how their houses will stack up in the market.  Listing early, when choices are fewer, will give them a much greater advantage, especially if there is something about the house that might not move it to the top of a bigger choice list.  With more of the looking done remotely, even the argument that it's harder to show a home in bad weather becomes less compelling.

Once again, we are sounding the alarm early.  If you want to sell, list now!  If you want to buy, don't let those early listings pass you by!  If you want to both sell and buy, give yourself the longest possible season in which to do so, by starting early!  You won't be sorry.  

Pay Attention to Where We Are in the Real Estate Cycle

People make money in real estate in all kinds of market conditions, but they don’t make it evenly across all parts of a cycle.  It does matter when you buy and sell.  Some of that is luck, but some is a matter of seizing the opportunity when it presents itself.  Today’s New York Times had a chart of the twenty top metro areas in the country for price appreciation in housing during 2020.  Bridgeport was first, and New Haven was eleventh.  We know that supply and demand were not in sync, and we know that people were leaving NYC to find more space in Connecticut.  We also know that mortgage rates are very, very low at present, and that other markets around the country have already experienced large price increases in recent years, during which period we lagged behind and saw no increases.  Finally,  we know that moving to smaller cities is a current trend.  In fact, the same edition of the NYT featured a large article about techies fleeing San Francisco for Austin.  We are not as big as Austin, but we are also located in between two other major cities, New York and Boston in our case.

What do you deduce when you read the above paragraph?  One possible choice is that you decide that now is a good time to buy, especially where prices have not risen to the highest levels supportable.  Bingo!  Those who ride a market up, and we are still headed up, we believe, see large gains in the early years of ownership.  Although you could also read the above to mean that you should buy anywhere, which is probably also true, there is more to gain in our region, since we began with such depressed prices.  Some of you may remember when those relocating for work got sticker shock when they got to Connecticut, even in our area.  Now many buyers have to spend extra, if they want to roll over all the equity they had in a previous home elsewhere.  It stands to reason that there should be plenty of gain left for those who jump into the market soon.

As the stock market reacts to Biden’s proposals for economic stimuli, think about real estate as well.  Americans in 2020 paid down a great deal of credit card debt, because they weren’t going out and spending money.  Why not use those better credit ratings, and savings, to buy your dream home now?  If you are a seller, there is no reason not to sell now, since you will be buying in the same type of market.  You will be getting the same gains on a new home.  Those who have been meaning to downsize should look to do so now.  Spend these last few weeks or months before the vaccine decluttering and making plans to move.  You will be glad you did!

Current Absorption Rates

Explanation of absorption rate: The rate at which available homes are sold in a specific real estate market during a given time period. If you look at the number for New Haven you can say “If market conditions do not change and if no new listings come on the market it will take 1.4 months for the current inventory to sell at the current pace of the market. A balanced market’s absorption rate is typically between 5-7 months”.

 

Current Absorption Rates

Explanation of absorption rate: The rate at which available homes are sold in a specific real estate market during a given time period. If you look at the number for Madison you can say “If market conditions do not change and if no new listings come on the market it will take 3.3 months for the current inventory to sell at the current pace of the market. A balanced market’s absorption rate is typically between 5 - 7 months.”

 

Multiple Offers

I just got off the phone with a disappointed buyer, who thought he had bought a property, and just learned that a higher offer came along before it was signed, and he lost out.  These situations vary, in that some sellers continue to work with the first offer, some let everyone rebid, and some set a firm deadline to decide and sign. What is the same is that there is always at least one unhappy person, who didn't get a property.  In this case, it had been less than 24 hours, but sometimes it can go on for several days or even more.  

There are ways to prevent disappointment.  First of all, don't hesitate.  If you see a great property, make an offer quickly.  Try to make the offer as clean as possible--assume that, in this market, there may be other contenders.  Don't put in contingencies that you can live without having.  Match the seller's dates where you can.  We see so often that people insist on things, and then don't get the property, after which they say that they would have given in.  

I always tell people to make the offer that they would be unhappy to hear that someone else got the property by making.  If you are going to say later that you would have gone higher, then do it upfront.  If you have other access to cash, to make a better offer, don't wait to pull that out.  Go all in.  When listings are in short supply, and they are in Connecticut, that's called a seller's market.  If you are the buyer, that means that you are not driving the bus.  Accept that and act accordingly.  You can even consider writing a letter about why you would be the perfect buyer, and how much you love the home.  It has been known to do the trick on occasion, and it can't hurt.

Don't offer what you can't afford, because you are wasting everyone's time, including your own, but be realistic.  Your parents, or other sources of advice, probably bought their first homes when interest rates were very high, and they may not be accurate on the cost of money now.  Be sure to get preapproved, so that you can react quickly if necessary.  If there is a counteroffer, be prepared to answer almost immediately.  You need to know your top price, just the way you would if you were bidding for art at an auction.

And, if you still don't get the property after following the advice above, don't waste time on regrets.  You did your best, and it is what it is.  Move on, and find the home of your dreams next time.

Reopening Connecticut Real Estate

We don't have to actually reopen Connecticut real estate.  Due to our protected status as an essential industry, we have been allowed to operate all along.  Although we have decided to reopen our offices slowly and carefully, with no walk-in clients for now, and limited office hours, we have kept selling throughout the pandemic period.  Our showings have lessened, there are no public open houses, and most of our activity is done remotely, but demand has been strong.

Especially in New Haven, where people who already had job offers for this summer and fall are looking, there is much more demand than supply.  Due in part to some of the neighborhoods and their open spaces and larger lots, density has not been the issue that it has been in larger cities.  Convenience and closeness are ruling the day, and we can sell whatever we can list in the parts of New Haven near Yale.  

The suburbs are also popular, especially with younger families, and buyers of second homes.  The latter group is driving up the average sales prices.  Again, we can sell what we can list.  It's hard to think about moving in the early stages of a lockdown, but people are figuring it out, and are ready to go when they can.  The mild winter also helped. Prices are strong, due to limited supply.

 Now that more restrictions are being lifted, we expect to see an added month (or two or three) added onto the spring market.  Closings can happen quickly, if everyone is motivated to do so. If you are one of the sellers who thought that no one would buy now, it's not too late to list!  

Current Absorption Rates

Current Absorption Rates (Single-Family Residential Homes)

Explanation of absorption rate: The rate at which available homes are sold in a specific real estate market during a given time period. If you look at the number for Bethany you can say “If market conditions do not change and if no new listings come on the market it will take 4.8 months for the current inventory to sell at the current pace of the market. A balanced market’s absorption rate is typically between 5 - 7 months.”

 

 

Letter to Our Clients

Colleagues and Friends:

As many have said, these are extraordinary times. As you know, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has issued an Executive Order asking many businesses and organizations to suspend operations, while we battle the Coronavirus outbreak that has disrupted our health and our lives.

As of now, real estate services are exempt from the order to close due to the fact that for some people, moving may be a necessity even in this stressful environment. Some businesses critically need more space to provide for increased demand in certain industries. There are many in our community right now who are in the middle of a real estate transaction, or who find themselves needing to purchase or sell a property due to changes in their jobs or their families.

While we remain available to those who need us during this time, the Governor's order was put in place for a reason, and we are doing everything we can to respect and honor it. That means that at Pearce Real Estate, our primary concern is for the health, safety, and welfare of everyone in our community that is affected, in whatever way, by the current crisis. So, while we are still able to serve you, we will be strongly recommending doing so virtually. When in-person contact is required, we will be sure to do so safely and appropriately to respect the circumstances.

During this time, we feel one of our primary responsibilities is to listen; whether it's about a specific housing need you may have, or just about how this situation is affecting you and your family. Even if you’re not someone who needs to move right now, you may have questions. Please know that we are here to help you make the best possible decisions for your specific situation and help you safely through the process.

We will continue to communicate information we believe to be important to you as circumstances evolve. In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for the trust you have placed in us, and we intend to do everything we can to live up to it.

Together we'll get through this.

Barbara L. Pearce

CEO & Chair
Pearce Real Estate

Business Not as Usual

We certainly understand that not all sellers will choose to allow buyers to view their properties.  However, for those who are eager to sell, and who can work with us to keep everyone as safe as possible during this difficult time, there are actions we can all take to make the process as sterile as we can. I want to thank my real estate friends in Nashville, for passing along this checklist as a guide to sellers, and as information for buyers to understand before going into a home for sale.  

Seller Baskets include: 

Hand wipes

Bottle of counter cleaner or counter wipes

Respiratory blend essential oil for the seller to use

Shoe covers 

Gloves 

Ribbon

Signage for home

Signage posted in home and listing instructions are as follows:

• Please do not touch countertops or open drawers. 
• Please leave lights as you found them.  Do not touch switchplates. 
• Please do not use toilets. (include ribbon in seller basket to tie around toilet seats) 
• Please wipe hands before and after touring. Gloves are also here for your use but please still do not touch countertops or drawers. 
• Please wipe door handle upon leaving. And take your dirty wipes, shoe covers and gloves with you.
• Shoe covers can be used as a temporary face mask if you wish.   

Thank you for respecting this home.

****In addition, remind your sellers to wipe down countertops and all door handles to every room after every showing