Listing inventory is at record lows both around the country and in our local area, and buyer demand is coming back as the country eases restrictions, so it’s a great time to sell if you have been considering putting your home on the market.
With the pandemic and the knowledge that the less interaction/exposure you have to the virus, the less likely you are to contract it, listing your home does come with some extra steps to staying safe.
In addition to requiring that buyers and their agents wear masks, you can also provide disposable gloves and booties, along with disinfectant wipes at your entry door.
But, to be safe, sellers should wipe down all high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, tables, remotes, banisters, toilets, sinks and faucets after each showing.
Contact time is another key aspect of surface sanitizing.
Disinfectants vary on how long it takes before you should wipe it off after spraying.
For instance, you want to leave a bleach solution on the surface for 10 minutes before wiping it off. And, the brand Microban, which offers 24-hour continual bacteria growth resistance, says to let its product stand for 60 seconds.
The EPA has these guidelines when choosing a disinfectant:
• Check that your product is EPA-approved. Find the EPA registration number on the product. Then, check to see if it is on EPA’s list of approved disinfectants at: epa.gov/listn.
• Follow the product’s directions. Check “use sites” and “surface types” to see where you can use the product.
• Find the contact time in the directions. The surface should remain wet the whole time to ensure the product is effective.
• For disposable gloves, discard them after each time you clean. For reusable gloves, dedicate a pair to disinfecting covid-19. Wash your hands after removing the gloves.
Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
