On July 7, 2020, real estate boards and associations across the province, together with the Real Estate Council of BC, removed their joint recommendation that real estate agents refrain from holding open houses, a recommendation that had been in place since the middle of March 2020.

This decision was made in consultation with WorkSafe BC and came with new safety guidelines for Realtors to follow.

The open house guidelines outline the steps that Realtors must follow to ensure necessary physical distancing, hygiene, and other safety practices are maintained.

If you attend an open house this summer, you can expect to see:

• A visitor log for contact tracing
• Handwashing stations
• Direction on the use of personal protection equipment, like face masks
• Restrictions on the number of people allowed into the home at one time
• Rules requiring that you not touch anything inside the home
• Signage outlining the physical distancing and other safety requirements

If you’re a seller looking to hold an open house, or a buyer looking to attend one, contact your Realtor. If you are not yet working with a Realtor, I’d be more than happy to refer you to one. If you are in the market to purchase a home within the next few months, we also recommend getting pre-approved for a mortgage so that you know how much you can afford based on your affordability. Our pre-approvals are guaranteed for up to 120 days.