Covid 19

Washington State will reinstate the mask requirement for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, in indoor settings. 

This means that brokers, clients, and industry partners (e.g. appraisers, inspectors, photographers, etc.) must wear masks for listing appointments, showings, inspections, walk-throughs, open houses, and other indoor interactions. Real estate firms must require masks at their offices for all individuals, clients, brokers, and staff, regardless of vaccination status.

Washington state announced a full reopening on June 30th, 2021. Most restrictions have now been lifted however anyone visiting open houses or real estate offices may still be asked to wear face coverings. 

As brokers, we are not wearing face coverings unless the seller has asked for them or if our clients prefer us to. 

See below for the detail from the NWMLS

Washington State will lift the majority of restrictions imposed on businesses, including those restrictions affecting the real estate industry. However, certain face-covering requirements still apply to real estate firms and sellers may impose their own requirements for those visiting a property. As always, brokers should be respectful of others and continue to follow recommended health guidelines.

What are the required protocols for in-person activities at a property (previews, showings, inspections, walk-throughs, open houses, etc)? 

Brokers and their clients must adhere to any requirements or restrictions imposed by the seller of a property, including required appointments, mandatory face coverings, capacity limitations, or other instructions. 

The entire state will enter a new third phase of the Roadmap.  In Phase 3, the following changes will apply to the real estate industry:

• Capacity for real estate offices, including guests, is limited to 50% or lower.  Appointments are not required for clients to visit real estate offices.  Remote meetings with clients are encouraged.
  This is a change from 25% capacity and required appointments for clients to visit real estate offices.
• In-person brokerage activities at the property (showings, inspections, etc.) are permitted by appointment with no more than ten (10) people on-site, in addition to the broker, with face coverings, strict social distancing, and proper sanitation measures.
  This is a change from five people on-site, in addition to the broker.

On Thursday, March 11th, Governor Inslee announced that the state's Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery plan will be transitioning from a regional approach to a county-by-county evaluation process. Effective Monday, March 22nd, the entire state will enter Phase 3. Real estate industry-specific information is scheduled to be released by the Governor's office in the coming days. 

All regions and counties in Washington are now in Phase 2. Limited, in-person open houses are permitted in Phase 2. For in-person open houses, brokers must ensure that no more than ten (10) people are on-site, including the broker, and that all other required protocols are followed (face coverings, social distancing, sanitation, etc.).

As a reminder, all other in-person activities such as previews or showings must be by appointment, and a total of no more than five (5) people, in addition to the broker, are permitted at the property at any one time, and those people adhere to strict social distancing guidelines.

On November 15, 2020, in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, Governor Inslee announced new restrictions that affect the real estate industry.  The restrictions, effective Monday night at 11:59 pm, include the following:

• In-person open houses are not permitted.
• Real estate offices must be closed to the general public and occupancy must be limited to 25% of maximum capacity.

These new restrictions are effective through December 14th.  Please note that brokers must continue to follow the below protocols for any in-person activity (showings, inspections, walk-throughs, etc.)

• In-person activities must be by appointment only;
• Face coverings are required to be worn at all times by real estate brokers, their clients, and industry partners (e.g. appraisers, inspectors, photographers, stagers, etc.). Brokers may not provide services to any client who does not wear a face-covering;
• No more than five (5) people, in addition to the broker, maybe on-site at any one time;

Those persons must strictly follow social distancing guidelines by remaining at least six feet apart at all times. 

The Governor announced that limited open houses are now permitted in Phase 1.5, Phase 2, and Phase 3 counties.

In order to hold an open house, the firm and broker must take measures to ensure that occupancy is restricted to the gathering size permitted by the current county phase and all other required protocols are followed (face coverings, social distancing, sanitation, etc.)  

For Phase 1.5 and Phase 2 counties - no more than five (5) people, in addition to the broker, maybe in the property at any one time.  For Phase 3 counties - no more than ten (10) people, in addition to the broker, maybe in the property at any one time.

There has been a change to the protocols for Phase 2 counties.  In-person activities including showings, inspections, appraisals, and final walk-throughs may now include up to five (5) persons (including the broker).  The prior Phase 2 restrictions limited the number of persons on site to three (3) persons (including the broker).  Open houses are still not permitted in Phase 2 counties.  

The other protocols for in-person activities must continue to be followed in all counties, including:

• In-person activities must be by appointment only;
• Face coverings are required to be worn at all times by real estate brokers, their clients, and industry partners (e.g. appraisers, inspectors, photographers, stagers, etc.). Brokers may not provide services to any client who does not wear a face-covering; and
• The persons on-site must strictly follow social distancing guidelines by remaining at least six feet apart at all times.

There are no changes to Real Estate Activity following governor Inslee's announcement on 5/1/2020. Activities below are already permitted in "Stage 1". Stage 2 will allow Commercial real estate and maybe more flexibility on controlled open houses. 

What are the required protocols for any permitted in-person activity?

The protocols that must be followed for permitted in-person activities include:

• In-person activities must be by appointment only;
• No more than two people, including the broker, maybe at the property at any one time; and
• Those two persons must strictly follow social distancing guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) by remaining at least six feet apart at all times.

NWMLS’s Rules provide that a broker may not leave the third party unattended in a property. Accordingly, brokers must only bring one person at a time into the property.

What in-person real estate brokerage services are now permissible?

Provided the above protocols are followed for any permitted in-person activity, real estate brokers may:

• Conduct listing presentations, take photos, and create virtual tours for new listings;
• Facilitate the signing of contract documents;
• Preview and show listings by appointment only;
• Facilitate inspections, appraisals, buyer “walk-throughs,” and key delivery; and

Real estate brokers may not conduct any business outside of their home (with the exception of the above-noted activities) or Hold an open house.