Dear state and local government officials:

Thank you for your round-the-clock efforts during this difficult and unprecedented time, as the world faces the pandemic outbreak of the novel coronavirus, to keep the public safe and manage the disruption to people’s lives and the economy.

As you consider implementing ‘stay-at-home’ orders, I urge you to include the services necessary to complete real estate transactions as essential services.

RE/MAX strongly supports the adoption of social distancing measures designed to slow the spread of the virus. I have urged RE/MAX real estate agents at the local, small businesses that are our franchisees not to conduct open houses during this time and to minimize in-person interactions as much as possible. Thanks to the advancements in technology, many steps in the home buying and selling process already have become virtual. In the cases of vacant properties, individual private showings can be accomplished consistent with social distancing practices. The same is generally true of home inspections. Closing transactions and recording of deeds and mortgages, however, generally requires a settlement services agent to meet with the seller, buyer and/or borrower to execute documents. In short, a relatively few steps in the process of buying or selling a residence require a very minimal degree of in-person interaction or exchange of documents.

Given this, it is important not to disrupt completely the lives of buyers and sellers with transactions in progress, and this important sector of the economy. If pending transactions are disrupted, the economic effects of the current crisis can multiply through lost down payments, breach of sale contracts, or even being out of a home between a sale and a purchase or the inability to move into a newly purchased home. This impact can be avoided if these essential services are allowed to continue. In addition, we can further virtualize the real estate transaction by legitimizing remote, electronic notarizations, in the states that do not already allow them.

The housing sector can help lead the nation’s economic recovery. I join in the request of our local, independent RE/MAX franchisee in urging you, in the strongest terms, to include real estate transactions, including their ancillary and supporting services (mortgage, title, appraisals, inspections, moving) in the list of Essential Services with limited exceptions to any stay-at-home order issued.

Sincerely,

Adam Contos

RE/MAX Chief Executive Officer

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: When you feel you’re at the end of the rope, tie a knot and hold on.