Thoughts on Mask Mandates and Real Estate

Most mask mandates in Ontario have been lifted. And in real estate, open houses are already permitted. The world, it seems, is opening up again. We received an email last week telling us that masks would no longer be required in the office, and the grocery store these days contains more freedom fighters than fruit pickers. So what’s a realtor to do?

Well, we’ll continue to wear masks for all our meetings with clients. And unless a seller specifically orders otherwise, we’ll require them of visitors to any of our listings too. We look forward to being able to do away with that rule, but we’re not at all sure we’re there yet. After all, we’re talking about a constant parade of talkative, unscreened strangers making their way through a seller’s home (and once in a while coughing lustily into the cutlery drawer for good measure).

We feel a particular responsibility to all the tenants dragged into the selling process. Their involvement is understandably begrudging, and often ends up with them having to move. Showings are a serious imposition, and we’d like to avoid, as much as possible, adding to the uncertainty in their lives, and the misery. It only seems fair.