By Jessica Micallef
No one should buy a property without attending physical house inspections: that’s the message from a Macedon Ranges real estate agent.
As regional Victoria enters the third step on the road to a “covid normal”, Macedon Ranges real estate agents can now hold private house inspections by appointment only. However metropolitan Melbourne real estate agents will to wait until at least October 26.
Keatings Real Estate managing director John Keating said all real estate agents should be allowed to resume one-on-one property inspections with potential buyers.
“The real estate environment can be controlled by the agents because we can sanitise, put on gloves and only take people one-on-one,” he said.
“And we have definite contact information with the people we are showing through.
“I think that is the perfect sensible balance to respect the health risks and also help businesses to function and operate and to start generating some activity.”
“Real estate is a huge big-ticket item and in many cases, you are taking out a loan for 20 to 25 years.”
Mr Keating said house and property inspections were a vital part of the home buying process.
“It’s all very well having Zoom meetings but in my whole life experience, I would never encourage somebody to buy a property without seeing it,” he said.
“You cannot get an accurate description as to how big the room sizes are, which way the light is coming in and what the neighbourhood is like.
“Real estate is a huge big-ticket item and in many cases, you are taking out a loan for 20 to 25 years.”
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) is calling on the state government to allow one-on-one inspections of properties to resume earlier in metropolitan Melbourne.
REIV chief executive Gil King said although online auctions were permitted, they were not occurring because people cannot see the house they want to buy.
“The Victorian market has come to a standstill with zero auctions over the weekend,” he said.
“This is about people, buyers, vendors and tenants. Allowing private inspections means that the market will be ready for revival when the time is right.”
