The Ministry of Housing has announced that from 13 May 2020 estate agents can reopen offices and people who wish to move home can now do so. Stringent Covid-19 guidelines and protocols have been agreed between the Government and industry bodies to ensure that key activities, such as valuations and property viewings can happen safely and without risking the health of clients, their families, or our employees. 
 

Our offices will be reopening this week and will be operating on an appointment only basis, with physical viewings and valuations resuming when our clients feel comfortable in doing so. This is the case across both our sales and lettings departments. Please contact branch directors of individual offices directly to arrange appointments. All details can be found here. 

As a Group, each of our branches will be strictly following Government’s guidelines, which includes operating using an appointment only system, enforcing social distancing of two metres both within our offices and whilst in client properties, rigorous hand sanitizing and cleaning regimes and the use of responsibly sourced personal protective equipment where possible. 

Ahead of any meetings at our offices or physical viewings or valuations at a property, a member of the Jackson-Stops team will confirm the necessary guidelines that must be adhered to, which includes checking the health of all parties. Our agents will also provide all necessary documents via digital methods ahead of any viewings or valuations. Anyone seeking to buy or rent a house must be prepared to acknowledge the best practice we are committed to adopting and the individual demands of our clients in viewing people’s homes.

Our branches will continue to liaise with clients via telephone and videos calls, as well as showing prospective buyers and tenants around homes via virtual tours, where appropriate, to avoid any unnecessary time in contact with clients. We continue to look after our staff and employees and take these steps cautiously to ensure we do not compromise the health of our clients and the people we come into contact with as we applaud the valiant work of the NHS and Key Workers.

Over the lockdown period, our branches have seen a strong appetite from potential buyers and tenants with viewing lists for some properties reaching double digits. In many cases the enquiries our network is receiving to move now have never been stronger or as sincere. We hope to start working together to ensure these can resume safely, ahead of the predicted rise in demand over the months to come. 

Our teams are ready and prepared to assist existing and future clients. We have developed rigorous procedures in line with Government guidance and industry best practice. If you are looking to arrange a viewing or valuation or would like to speak to us more generally about the property market, please do get in touch with your local branch and our teams will be very happy to assist.

To read the full list of Government guidelines for home moving, please click here