An Open Letter to Our Clients, Photographers and the Real Estate Photography Industry Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

What PlanOmatic is doing, and asking of the real estate industry, in order to maintain a safe working environment for our clients, their clients and photographers across the industry and for (virtual) open houses and showings to continue.

Dear Real Estate Industry Professionals,

Home has a whole new meaning for us. Home is now our office, home is our school, our restaurant and our gym. Most importantly home is our shelter. In the real estate industry, homes are our business. Today, our duty is to make sure that homes continue to be safe for us and those that are leasing, renting, buying and selling them. It’s important for us, the boots on the ground, to keep the industry and our people safe. But most importantly, it’s our responsibility to #flattenthecurve for the health and safety of those who have fallen ill and for those who are working in our healthcare facilities. It’s our responsibility as a society to do what we can to eradicate this horrible virus. At PlanOmatic, we believe we can do all of this, and that the show must go on. There are ways we can minimize impact and slow the spread of the Coronavirus by practicing social distancing and staying hyper-hygienic in our work environments.

Here are ways real estate agents, homeowners, renters, sellers, workers and photographers can practice good public health to stymie community transmission of the virus without causing unnecessary repression to the industry.

Avoid handshakes and hugs

As real estate professionals and workers, greeting someone without a firm handshake (or hugs for some) might feel wrong, but for now, we must show love, compassion and professionalism in other ways. When you meet someone onsite, resist the urge to shake hands and opt for a wave instead. I can assure you that people will be very appreciative of your effort to keep them healthy.

Avoid close contact at the appointment

Try to keep a safe distance from one another if your listing cannot be vacant for appointments. The CDC recommends keeping a distance of 6 feet from one another.

Less (people) is more

We are encouraging our clients and their sellers and renters to avoid in-person contact altogether. Most of the time, there is no need for our photographers to meet with people onsite. They are trained to capture the home’s best qualities without onsite direction. A vacant home is the safest way to have your listing photographed. Ask your renters or sellers to take some time away from their home for the duration of the appointment. Professional real estate photographers are very accustomed to letting themselves in via lockbox. If you absolutely must be onsite, keeping the photographer, the resident and yourself in separate spaces minimizes risk.

Utilize technology as an alternative

Technology is our friend in a world where physical interaction is on pause. Market your home online with photography, interactive floor plans, 3-D walkthroughs, video or other virtual tour software to minimize in-person showings in order to reserve them for serious potential buyers. Schedule video calls instead of open houses. Take advantage of self-showing technology and lockboxes so that potential renters and buyers can check out your listings while reducing human contact.

Ask visitors to wash or sanitize their hands when they arrive and before they leave

Everyone is paying special attention to hand hygiene, especially those who work in other’s homes. It’s ok to ask visitors to wash or sanitize upon arrival and it’s always important to wash or sanitize on the way out. If you are stationed at the listing, wash in between meeting people. Having hand sanitizer, hand soap and a sign asking folks to wash is encouraged and will make others feel safer upon arrival. It’s recommended to avoid eating onsite and to do your best to keep your hands away from your face. We are instructing our photographers to carry ample supplies of hand sanitizer and hand wash with them at all times in case they arrive at a vacant home or a home where supplies may not be available.

Wear gloves if you plan on touching items in the home

Real estate photographers are usually open to making small adjustments to a home to stage a better shot. Unfortunately, this sometimes means coming in contact with hard to disinfect surfaces like carpet, drapes, pillows and towels. If onsite workers need to move items around in the home, they should be wearing gloves. We are asking our photographers to carry gloves if the need arises and are asking our clients to keep homes stocked as well.

If you’re showing symptoms, let us know so we can reschedule your appointment

We have instructed our photographers to contact us immediately if they are showing any symptoms. We are asking our clients to please do the same. If you aren't well and need to cancel, we will waive our fees and get you rescheduled at a later date. It’s simply not worth the risk.

Pay special consideration to high risk individuals

If your homeowners, renters, buyers or sellers are in a high risk group, consider temporarily marketing your listing with exterior photos only to reduce exposure in their home. If an interior shoot must happen, consider asking your clients to leave the home for their appointment. Long walks are safe.

Avoid handling photographers’ equipment

Over the past year we have rolled out an onsite photo review and selection process which allows you get the shots you want quickly. Unfortunately, we are going to have to put onsite photo review on hold. Please avoid asking our photographers to “see that last shot” or to review the photos during and after the shoot is complete. We also request that you do not ask our photographers to handle their equipment as that can cause unnecessary exposure.

Smile, say hi and stay positive

Smiling and saying hello when people least expect it has proven to be one of the best ways to elevate spirits in a time when it’s hard to be positive. We all get the news. We all hear when things shut down. Let’s utilize our limited time together to lift each other up.

This is temporary. We will recover. We will recover smarter, stronger and happier than ever. Yes, it will take time. Yes, things will change forever, some for the good and some not so great, but in the end I believe that great tragedies CAN make us stronger and bring us closer together. A football, Coach Morris, from Ann Arbor Huron High School once said “pain is the weakness leaving the body!”. Well, I’m not going to sugar coat it. I’m in pain. Watching and hearing about people, businesses and entire industries falling to their knees due to this pandemic has been one of the most numbing and sobering experiences of my life. The best we can do is help each other. Be there for one another and listen to each other. Practice social comforting and distancing at the same time. Find out how you can help. If you’re more fortunate than others and the impact isn’t (hasn't) hit you as hard, see where you can help, even if it’s just being another ear to hear from others or a virtual shoulder for people to lean on. If you're able, be a strong voice of hope and positivity. You never know how profound of an impact you can have by listening to others and staying positive.

Sincerely, 

Kori Covrigaru

CEO at PlanOmatic