Back to business unusual
Last week, for the first time in a while, I had some balls in the air. Specifically, I have three balls in the air as opposed to my normal, pandemic-related balls, which— in case you are curious— are (in order of importance):
finding food
overseeing remote learning
puzzling
learning how to play The Spirit of Radio on guitar
getting in 10K steps per day
New York might be closed, but I’m working! Sort of.
Needless to say, last Monday was pretty exciting because I showered and put on some work clothes and went to meet my photographer, Steve, who was the first colleague I have seen in person in a long time. While we social distanced, he photographed my new listing and we chatted about how he is getting more work these days but that April— usually his busiest month—had been his slowest. Indeed, my experience was the same.
The executive order from the governor says that while real estate is considered an essential business, we are not permitted to do any kind of in-person interactions. This means that an agent is unable to host a private showing or even to unlock a door. Everything must be virtual. Agents who are caught are fined $2,000. Many of these reports of underground showings are being made by neighbors who don’t want random people wandering in their buildings. And I get that. Honestly, I wouldn’t want that either. There is a legend circulating the real estate world right now, meaning I doubt it’s actually true but it makes for a great story: an agent showed up to a closing to collect his commission check, and he was fined $10,000 ($2,000 for everyone who was there).
Getting a contract signed is a little complicated. I am working with a buyer who has been in negotiations for weeks and weeks. He actually saw the apartment pre-covid but a host of reasons precluded us from being in contract. The latest hold-up? Covid clauses being added to contracts. They are a real thing. And based on my experiences, they are freaking everyone out. As if we need more freak outs right now.
Showing my listing but I’m all by myself. I give virtual tours. I ask customers: would you like to “meet” outside and we can ride the elevator up together? Yes, I literally say that. Everyone laughs. Then I facetime them and apologize that the first time they are laying eyes on me I have a mask over my face. I promise them, I’ll take it off when we are upstairs. They inevitably say: oh, do what makes you feel comfortable. I thank them for being so flexible. But the truth is that it’s all still uncomfortable right now, showing an apartment on a phone.
Working with buyers. I have some lovely new buyers but I haven’t ever met them in person. It’s not too different to cultivate a relationship with people on the phone and video. We went on some virtual tours of apartments together, and it’s just like before, except I am sitting in my pajamas.
And while I’m doing that, the sun is shining outside, and my son is busy socializing with his friends in a Minecraft world they created together. And guess what they are doing?
Building houses.
I miss being out in the world. Luckily I have my little garden to fuss over. At least there’s one domain I can interact with.
