Yes, you CAN still go house-hunting
There has been a fair bit of uncertainty this week since the Government announced a return to Stage 3 restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, and the property market has been one of the areas where questions were being raised.
Here at Barry Plant Thomastown we had a number of calls from people asking about the rules on inspecting properties, whether for sale or for rent, now that the social distancing rules have been tightened.
The fact is that even a few Melbourne real estate agents were left confused following the announcement of a return to Stage 3 restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, (but not the rest of regional Victoria). Questions were being asked regarding how this would impact on people wanting to buy or rent in both the restricted and unrestricted areas, let alone travelling from one zone to another in the process.
The good news for anyone looking to move house at the moment is that the REIV contacted the State Government this week and received confirmation that a person living in a restricted area can attend a private inspection of a home in a non-restricted area, whilst a person from regional Victoria is also entitled to travel into the metropolitan area to attend a private inspection of a home.
Of course, as well we all now know, a resident of metropolitan Melbourne cannot attend an open house or an on-site auction. They can, however, participate in an online auction.
I can also confirm that if you have already purchased a property or signed a new lease, you are still allowed to move to a new home during the lockdown, even if it involves travelling into a different region.
As the CEO of the Barry Plant group pointed out this week, the return to private inspections on property is very much familiar ground for those of us who have been in real estate for a long time. Indeed, I have spoken to several buyers recently who told me that they love being able to inspect properties without other buyers in the property. So it’s really a matter of minor adjustments rather than a major change.
Remember, if you need help in finding the right property to purchase or lease, or maybe if you simply need some experienced advice on deciding whether renovating your existing home is a better choice than selling, you can contact the team at Barry Plant Thomastown at any time on 9466 3233.
We look forward to being of assistance.
Best wishes,
Con Constantinou
Barry Plant Thomastown