For a decade now, we’ve been getting a significant amount of business from out-of-town buyers. During the Nashville boom, people were moving here from both coasts and major market cities like Chicago, San Diego, and Denver. Showing property for absent buyers presented some obvious challenges, and we started doing remote showings via FaceTime or recorded showings the buyer could view at their convenience. If the buyer found the property appealing after my detailed walkthrough, we would offer on it and then use the inspection period to have the buyer view it in person. As with any inspection contingency, the buyer was free to walk away from the deal for any reason, so this worked well for us, and we had very few deals fall apart after that walkthrough.
It occurs to me that we can offer that same service to our in-town clients who might be hesitant to view properties during COVID-19. While viewings are generally safe (homeowners are absent, we wear masks and gloves, and observe social distancing guidelines), some people are naturally hesitant to risk their health on casual home shopping. We’d be happy to help.
My wife is fond of JFK’s quote “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger–but recognize the opportunity.”
Buyers have more leverage right now than they’ve seen in the Nashville market in more than a decade. Because fewer buyers are previewing homes, there are fewer competitive offers, and buyers are in a stronger negotiating position (though this certainly varies by price point and location). If you’d like to explore your options from the safety of your own home, we have developed a process of going from offer to close remotely. The only time you’d need to leave your home would be during the walkthrough of the property during the inspection process and again right before close. If that sounds interesting, I’d love to speak with you more about it. Give me a call and let’s get started planning your home search today!
