REIA's president Adrian Kelly didn't mince words when he recently released an announcement urging real estate agents to do business differently in a Coronavirus world. 

"On Sunday night, the Prime Minister made it very clear that all Australians should immediately cease unnecessary travel and cease all unnecessary social interaction in order to limit the spread of the Coronavirus," said Mr Kelly.

"With this in mind, the Real Estate Institute of Australia is now calling on all real estate agents across Australia to make significant changes to the way they conduct their business particularly in relation to house inspections and the conduct of public auctions.

"Past practice with open homes and public auctions needs to cease. 

"We need to take the Covid-19 Virus seriously."

Mr Kelly said the deliberate organising of a gathering of people by a real estate agent flies in the face of the directives of the Prime Minister.

"To continue to arrange unmodified public open homes and auctions is clearly irresponsible," said Mr Kelly. 

"Whilst we obviously recognise the impact to trading this will have, it is important that the entire industry pulls together and supports the Government in their efforts at this time to limit the spread of Covid-19."

Mr Kelly said one on one private inspections by appointment must become the norm coupled with the appropriate safeguards as recommended by health authorities.

He added in regard to public auctions, these can still occur via telephone bidding or by using one of the many online auction platforms available.

"We need to show some initiative and resourcefulness at this time," said Mr Kelly. 

"As an industry, we are all in this predicament together and the sooner we all do what needs to be done, the sooner we can return to a more normal real estate market."
 
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