There's No Place Like Home

As each of us navigates this unprecedented and unsettling course this spring, the global healthcare crisis has highlighted what many of us already know, “There’s no place like home.” Dorothy’s realization is especially clear locally in Coastal Delaware - especially during a pandemic. We feel a strong sense of community from our dedicated frontline healthcare professionals and first responders, to the grocery store teams at markets like Lloyd’s IGA, to the teachers adapting and working from home, to the restaurants, businesses, and wide array of ceaseless City services. We are fortunate to live here, within our remarkable community and with so many neighbors rising to help each other.

Every facet of our town has pulled together to keep us safe, healthy, and running remarkably well during this time - even though we have spent more time than ever at home. And as we feel that life is standing still in many ways as we wait to “get back to normal,” many people keep moving forward with buying and selling homes. After all, this time of year is historically one of the busiest for preparing new listings and welcoming home buyers to our area with community tours and home showings. 

While this year is unique, to say the least, the real estate industry has adapted to help people keep their plans to move. Each local brokerage has been keeping up with evolving laws and guidance concerning safe practices amid Covid19 concerns. 

Real estate companies have been able to provide largely uninterrupted service to our clients even with the scaling back of staffing in our physical offices. Real estate transactions are still happening electronically, too. Here are a few ways we are keeping people moving:

• Websites are open 24/7 for online searches
• Many real estate companies include virtual tours 
• Some in-person showings are still possible, with permission from sellers
• “FaceTime” showings are often possible to provide a live tour
• E-signature programs provide the ability to execute forms electronically
• Email is a standard component, of course
• Old-school phone calls still get the job done! 

In general, while we are limiting direct social interaction, we have still listed several homes and written several contracts each week throughout April. 

Understandably, some sellers have put plans to list on hold for logistical reasons or out of a belief that they should wait until later in the summer when everything is open. 

In actuality, if you are one of the many people who planned to list your home this spring, now is still a great time. Buyers have more time than ever to browse homes online, and your home will stand out! If you are a buyer, for the same reason, your choices for beach homes will steadily increase this spring. 

Either way, if you’d planned to be a seller or a buyer this spring, contact us to explore your options. We are home, too, and ready to give you even more personalized service. Also, you will be better positioned to spring into action once we do (and we will!) ultimately get back to the beach!