With news of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) dominating daily headlines, we are closely monitoring the situation for both our staff and members.

The situation is continually evolving, and individuals as well as those responsible for others need to stay informed and make decisions based on information from reliable sources, such as the Australian Government Department of Health and Western Australian Department of Health.  
 
For your businesses, it is important to be prepared. While we cannot give you specific advice, we encourage you to take precautionary and proportionate measures which are reasonable for your specific circumstances. 

Practicing high levels of hygiene is widely considered by health experts to be one of the keys to disease prevention and management. Some steps to consider include: 
 
For owners and principals: 

• Provide hand-washing facilities that are clean, properly stocked and in good working order; 

• Provide alcohol-based hand sanitiser, disinfectants, disposable hypoallergenic tissues and cleaning supplies; 
  

• Promote good hygiene practices such as displaying posters on handwashing and respiratory hygiene; 

• Keep the workplace clean and hygienic by regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces such as door handles, counter tops and workstations; 

• Supply staff working off-site at open homes or attending external meetings with travel-sized bottles of hand sanitiser and gloves; 

• Encourage any staff who are sick to remain at home until they’re fully recovered; 

• Isolate any staff who become ill in the workplace. Arrange for the staff member to be sent home and advise them to seek medical advice; 

• Discourage any staff member who may be considered vulnerable and/or is suffering from illness attending open-homes, inspections, client meetings and other activities that involve client interaction including: 

• Pregnant women; 

• Elderly people with underlying health conditions; 

• People with compromised immune systems; 

• People with serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer. 

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water and/or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser and disinfectants on surfaces; 

• Cover their nose and mouth with a disposable hypoallergenic tissue or flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing, disposing off tissues immediately after use and either washing their hands or applying hand sanitiser; 

• Avoid close contact with anyone who has cold or flu-like symptoms; and, 

• Remain home if feeling unwell. 

For staff (out of office): 

Please refer to Property inspections and COVID-19 for more detailed information about how to deal with home inspections during this time.

• For agents with private showings, follow up the day before a showing to ensure clients are not unwell or if there’s been any illness recently in the family; 

• Wear gloves before touching objects, furniture and fixtures within the home, especially high-touch surfaces such as door handles, tap handles, table/desktops and window fittings; 

• Request clients attending open homes and inspections to avoid touching all fixtures, fitting and furniture within the home and instead ask the on-site agent or property manager to demonstrate the functionality of any devices if required; 

• Provide alcohol-based hand sanitiser and request all clients use it; 
  

• Provide and advise the use of disinfectants to owners at the end of an open-home; 

• Minimise physical contact with clients or owners where possible; 

• Reduce documentation handling where practical or consider using tablets for sign-ins; 

• Consider including a budget for cleaning/hygiene services as part of your packages for sales and rentals; and, 

• Reassure clients and owners that you’re simply following best-practice precautionary measures. 
  

Consider using technology to substitute face to face interaction where feasible. Agent tools for online offer, acceptance and contract execution such as RESO are available. You may call Rachel Coulter on 0447 675 958 or Chelsea Dwyer on 0488 002 539 if you would like to learn more. 

For more information, please view the WA Department of Health’s frequently asked questions about Coronavirus (COVID-19) factsheet. 
 
In the meantime, here are some useful links providing information on the disease and how you can protect yourselves: 

• World Health Organization (WHO) | How to protect yourself against Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

• Australian Government Department of Health | Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert 

• WA Department of Health | Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

Rest assured that we are here to support you and will provide you with updated information for the WA real estate industry should the latest advice and information from the WA Government change.