Over the past 18 months, whenever we’ve had to wear masks and observe other COVID-related restrictions and guidelines, our team happily obliged in the name of keeping our team members and our clients safe, as well as wanting to do what’s right for the community as a whole. We’ve been blessed throughout the pandemic to have clients who didn’t balk at those safety requirements.
As cases rise and our state/local governments issue new requirements and recommendations, we will continue to follow them for the same reasons listed above.
But there’s another reason we’d like you to know about.
If your Washington state real estate agent is asking you to wear a mask during a showing, even if you’re vaccinated, this is why:
“Effective Monday, August 23rd, 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. As always, brokers should be respectful of others and continue to follow all recommended health guidelines.
In addition, brokers and their clients must adhere to any additional requirements or restrictions imposed by the seller of a property, including required appointments, capacity limitations, or other instructions. Listing brokers should detail any requirements in the listing and post signs at the property regarding any specific instructions.
Real estate firms may continue to open their offices at 100% capacity, provided that firms comply with the mask requirement and all other recommended health guidelines.”
With that in mind, please don’t get upset when your agent asks you to wear a mask. We need to abide by the rules of our industry since we are a licensed-by-the-state occupation. If we allow our clients to not wear masks, or if we don’t wear them ourselves, the penalties are pretty severe.
Thanks to all of our past, current, and future clients for understanding.
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