When media outlets first started reporting on a virus called COVID-19, nobody imagined it would have such a profound effect on how we’d live day to day in the coming months. Yet here we are, in unprecedented times, making changes to adapt at alarming rates.
Brett Freeman, the Director of Noel Jones Ringwood reports, ‘we have seen huge changes in our industry across the past few weeks, and we’ve had to react rapidly to alter our method of doing business. The majority of our staff are now working remotely, and we’ve made a number of investments in new technologies to ensure we can service our clients at an optimal level. Like many organisations, we have now turned to Zoom for conducting meetings, and we can now sign agreements digitally for both rentals and sales. Ironically, this has sped up our normal process’.
One thing has remained unchanged, however, and that is that good homes in sought after locations are still being hotly contested. Michael Hill, Senior Sales Consultant at Noel Jones Wantirna said their office has recently experienced several whirlwind campaigns. ‘We listed two properties in quick succession in Wantirna South; one at 26 Tintern Crescent, the other at 6 Monastery Close. They were both sold in a matter of 10 and 12 days respectively, from their first opens to the time the contracts were signed. Each had multiple written offers, and we still have buyers desperate to find similar houses within the same area. My advice to those who are considering selling is not to hold off. There are motivated buyers out there needing to purchase in the next 30-60 days. Cash rates are at a historical low, which is good for buyers, and stock levels are also low, which puts sellers in an exceptional position’.
As an agency, Noel Jones is adhering to the guidelines set by the government, with a stringent observance around social distancing. In following these guidelines traditional open inspections and auctions have been removed from the sales process however Noel Jones has implemented home tours by appointment and auctions held by video link if that’s the sellers preferred method of sale. Now more than ever, vendors are being encouraged to invest in videos and virtual tours of their properties to be included in the sales marketing campaign.
All of these changes also align perfectly with the launch of REA’s new feature ‘Digital Inspections’ which allows agents to use videos to showcase listings to potential buyers. Brett Freeman, summed up the sentiments of the wider Noel Jones team commenting that ‘the health and well-being of our buyers and sellers is paramount. Nobody knows how long these measures will be in place but we will continue to evolve our processes and procedures with the assurance of servicing the community in the manner they’ve become accustomed to’. For more information contact your local Noel Jones expert today.
