Coronavirus and the MLS
We’ve entered a business as possible environment with Coronavirus and we are here to help you navigate through this time to help reduce the impact to our local Real Estate Industry.
To help our members, Space Coast Association of Realtors® is taking the following steps until the state of emergency for Brevard county is lifted:
During this period:
Showings for Active Listings
We are relaxing showing requirements for Active listings. In-person/onsite showings of properties will not be required at this time.
You must note in the Agent Remarks should the seller(s) not allow in-person/onsite showings.
Open Houses Disabled in FlexMLS
The necessary restrictions in response to COVID-19 make traditional open houses difficult if not impossible. To follow CDC guidelines and to help flatten the curve we have disabled Open Houses in FlexMLS. The Florida Surgeon General has personally reached out to Florida Realtors and has anecdotal reports of open houses with more than 10 attendees which is against CDC recommendations for safe social distancing. Florida Realtors is in constant communication with the Governor urging him to strongly consider Real Estate as an essential business. In order for this to occur we need to adhere to the CDC recommendations and limit personal exposure.
Virtual Open Houses Enabled in FlexMLS
During this peroid of rapid change and uncertainty we have made the pivot and enabled Virtual Open Houses in FlexMLS. This will greatly reduce the risk of in-person open houses and give our members the tools needed for virtual success.
Virtual Open Houses explained:
A virtual open house can be scheduled for a specific day and time-frame just like you do an in-person one, with the exception being that you will include a link to a service like Zoom, Skype, GotoMeeting, Google Meet, etc., for the location of the Open House. Realtors can still hold Virtual Open Houses without even being at the property simply by holding Q&A sessions for those interested in the property and presenting the existing media they have such as photos, virtual tours, or videos.
The point of the Virtual Open House is to create that person-to-person engagement, even if you can’t be physically together or even at the property.
Click here to view how to schedule a virtual open house in FlexMLS
Virtual Tours and Showings
To provide additional showing options for your customers and their agents that may be uncomfortable with in-person/onsite showings we suggest using virtual/online showings and virtual tours. In person virtual showings by the Buyers Agent would still require a showing appointment. You can set this up in your showingtime account. See below for more information.
You must note in the Agent Remarks if the seller(s) will only allow virtual showings.
Virtual Tours explained:
A virtual tour is where the listing agent uploads a prerecorded tour of the property. There is no interaction with any person being show, live or electronically. Virtual tours include but are not limited to photos, video walk-throughs, 360/VR views, and interactive floor plans. Virtual Tours must be unbranded per the MLS Rules Section 1.20 Virutal Tours
Virtual Showings explained:
A virtual showing is when the listing agent or seller uses audio/visual technology (i.e., FaceTime, Zoom) to conduct a real-time interactive or directed showing of the property. A virtual showing allows for interaction between the REALTOR® and the buyer and may require the REALTOR® be physically present in the property to be shown. Virtual showings still require an appointment and can be done with your Showingtime account.
Click here to view how to set up Virtual Showings in Showingtime
Authorization for pictures/videos by a buyer’s agent:
The buyer’s agent should obtain authorization from the seller to take photos or videos of a home.
To support the ability of agents to engage in social distanced showings, a listing agent may provide in the agent remarks a blanket authorization for a buyers’ agent to take photos and videos of the home. You can include something like the following in the agent remarks:
Seller provides authorization to all cooperating participants/subscribers to take photos/videos of the home during a scheduled, unaccompanied showing.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Extension Addendum to Contract
Florida Realtors released a new contract extension addendum that allows for time periods and dates to be extended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have any questions regarding the COVID-19 Extension Addendum please contact the Florida Realtors Legal Hotline at 407-438-1409 from 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.
FlexMLS Virtual Training
Stay up-to-date with FlexMLS by watching the many webinars and “coffee break” quick tips while we are practicing social distancing.
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