It seems every day brings new challenges regarding COVID-19. 

The #1 most important thing to us is the health and wellness of our family, friends, agents, clients, and community.  Our #1 priority is doing our part to avoid unknowingly spreading COVID-19. 

Here are a few things Pennant Real Estate is doing to keep our community safe...

1. Working Remotely

Our agents are working remotely from home with little disruption. We are following the social distancing order. We implemented a digital, paperless work style years ago. All documentation will be presented and signed electronically. This is now becoming a necessity and we are very thankful to be able to have this capability for ourselves and our clients. 

We can conduct meetings via video and conference calls as necessary for our buyers and sellers. We are also available via text and email.  We are encouraging all in-person seller consultations to be postponed but will allow our agents to make that call on a case by case basis. 

2. Listings and showings

As always, we want our seller's listings to get plenty of attention and exposure, so while there is so much attention and distraction with COVID-19, we are working with our new sellers individually to assess whether or not we should list now or wait to list once things have calmed down a little so as to not miss out on new listing activity. We are also taking into consideration whether or not the home is occupied. 

Video tours in place of in-person showings can be implemented. We can also require stricter showings instructions in regards to germs, such as shoe covers, limiting showing times, and limiting the number of people in each showing group. Again, working with each seller individually to create a plan that works best for them will be imperative. 

We are working on marketing plans for all of our active listings to launch once things have calmed. 

3. Buyers

We are continuing to conduct aggressive home searches for our active buyers and sending housing options via email. 

As always, we are only setting up showings for buyers who are pre-approved with a lender and able to secure financing for a home. In this time, we are limiting showings to immediate buyers only, those who are looking to write a contract in 30 days or less. Our agents are also working with buyers to carefully vet potential homes more carefully prior to scheduling a showing. This means carefully reviewing all information provided on MLS, any walk-through videos provided by the listing agent, and driving the neighborhoods before scheduling any showings. This will allow us to limit the properties we enter to only those the buyer is seriously interested in. 

The agents are Pennant Real Estate can also do virtual showings to buyers with permission from the sellers so that only they enter the home. We want to offer as many options as possible to reduce the exposure and spread of this virus to our clients and community. 

4. Inspections, repairs, and walk-throughs

Other than listing consultations and showings, there are several other times in the buying and selling process where several people are needed to enter the home. We also have working solutions for these instances as well. Our office has a very reputable list of vendors that we work with often. With consent from both the buyers and sellers, the inspector and technicians for any needed repairs can go by themselves to the home to complete the work. A FaceTime or conference call can be done at the end to discuss everything and answer any questions. All documentation and payments can be done electronically. 

Our agents can provide virtual final walk-throughs as well to help minimize the frequency and amount of people entering the home. 

5. The current state of the Real Estate Market

We are happy to report that despite COVID-19, we are currently negotiating several offers and still responding to inquiries on our listings. If you would like to read our latest update for Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas, click here, for the February 2020 market update. If you would like a detailed update specifically for your home, our agents are happy to help. 

Again, our top concern is the health and wellness of our family, friends, agents, clients, and community. We are continuing to monitor the effects of COVID-19 and will continue to make adjustments that are in the best interest of everyone involved. 

6. More than just Real Estate

 If you or someone you know is in need of anything, please let us know how we can help. In times like these, our community needs to come together for each other despite differences and affiliation. As many of our agents are working from home, that oftentimes means our cars as well. We are happy to pick up groceries, supplies or medications for those unable to do so. There are many in our community that is unable to provide meals to their children, safely get to the store, or even have the resources to print out color sheets for their now homeschooled children. Pennant Real Estate wants to be here for our community for more than just real estate, so if there is a need or a way we can help, please let us know! 

Thank you for your business and continued trust. 

We will get through this together. Prayers for peace and calm during this time. 

Stay strong and stay home!

The Pennant Real Estate Office

Heart of a Champion, Soul of a Servant, Real Estate Professionals putting the Client first.