Governor's Orders

March 29, 2020

NO IN-PERSON SHOWINGS.

The ongoing debate amid the COVID-19 pandemic is whether real estate should be classified as life sustaining. Under the order by Gov. Tom Wolf, all non-life sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania were asked to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. on March 19 to slow the spread of COVID-19. Hospitals, pharmacies, grocery stores, medical facilities, government services and banking/financial services were deemed life sustaining in this crisis and are able to continue to operate. Real estate services were not categorized as life sustaining.

“During this crisis, the governor’s order is clear that Realtors® can only do business if they can conduct it from their home. That means you shouldn’t be leaving your house to do any type of business activities. You can, however, contact clients via telephone or electronically.

"You could still take listings and offers, but you can’t go through a house –even if it’s vacant– to take photos or a video,” said PAR President William Festa. “If you’ve got someone who wants to tour homes you cannot do that as that’s not life sustaining in today’s pandemic environment per the governor’s order.”