Home Inspections and Covid19

[John Moses]

Dear Neighbors, Colleagues, and Friends:

In the last month, we’ve seen our communities and our world change so profoundly that it often feels surreal. To that end, I hope that this letter finds you and your families healthy in the face of this crisis.

As a certified home inspector, my focus is always on safety—and it is even more of a priority today. Not just the safety of a structure, but also of my clients and colleagues. As of this writing, I am still performing home inspections and will continue to as long as local and federal authorities allow it, as long as other branches of the real estate industry remain functioning, and as long as I feel it is safe to do so. For that reason, I have updated the precautions and practices I have established to help prevent the spread of germs and prioritize the health and wellness of everyone involved.

Protection

• I will wear a mask and gloves to each inspection. I encourage all attendees to do the same.
• In the coming weeks, I am expecting a shipment of masks and latex gloves and will provide them to clients as a courtesy while supplies last. If you do not have a mask for our appointment, please let me know and I will do what I can to supply one until the shipment arrives.
• I will continue to wear a mask and supply them for clients as long as the CDC recommends it for use when traveling in public.

Prevention

• I will spray or wipe every surface that I touch using an approved disinfectant such as Lysol or Clorox.
• After each inspection, I will disinfect all of my tools using an approved cleaner.

Limiting Contact

• I am asking that all inspections be limited to essential attendees; two home buyers and the buyer’s agent.
• I am encouraging anyone over 60 years of age and other vulnerable members of the community to stay home.
• Throughout the inspection, I am following guidelines for social distancing, including maintaining at least 6-feet of space between each person and no physical contact (including handshakes).
• Staying outdoors either on the front or back lawn, balcony or other open air space is encouraged after main concerns have been addressed.
• Though I will disinfect surfaces that I touch, home sellers are encouraged to clean or hire a cleaning service after the inspection, especially if they are in a high-risk demographic.

Communication

• Under the best of circumstances, buying a home is stressful. For a first-time homebuyer the current climate may feel incredibly hard. I am happy to schedule additional calls to walk through the process with them at any point and do my best to ease their minds.
• Understanding that parents often play a role in the first-time home buying process and that their input is incredibly valuable, I am happy to schedule a Zoom or FaceTime call to answer their questions.
• I will answer any questions before or after the inspection, particularly with those who do not feel comfortable attending, via a Zoom conference or FaceTime call, and share any images I have from the inspection to review my notes.
• I ask that any real estate agents or attendees who are feeling sick contact me to reschedule, even if it is the day—or hour—of the inspection.

This will be my operating procedure at least through July, 2020, or until local and federal authorities consider the virus under control.

These are unprecedented times, and we are all doing our best to take care of ourselves, our families, and each other. Better days lay ahead, and if there is one thing that this crisis has taught us it is that our strength as a community comes when we stand together—even at 6 feet apart.

Stay safe.

John Moses

[Brian Martin]

This post was very well thought out and does a great job reaffirming your desire to keep clients safe during this COVID crisis.  As a newbie to real estate, I can only imagine (and read news articles) about how social distancing is delaying potential sellers from listing home during the spring rush. Hopefully taking proactive steps such as posting here and listing details on your website will have a positive impact on your business once New Jersey starts to open back up.