Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association Mandates Against Open Houses During COVID-19 Outbreak

Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association Mandates Against Open Houses During COVID-19 Outbreak

Saskatchewan REALTORS® are taking every action possible to protect public safety in-light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Most notably, the Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association (SRA) has made the decision not to support all open houses until further notice, effective immediately. The SRA has taken the unprecedented step to mandate a “no open house” rule for all members in the province. We recognize the economic impact this may have but feel an ethical responsibility to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19.

“There has been a great deal of discussion about what we as an association can do to support the global efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Our industry is largely based on relationships. We’ve had to shift from making in-person connections to utilizing technology and tools wherever possible,” says SRA Chairperson Tim Otitoju. “Is it convenient? No. Is it necessary? We think yes, absolutely. We all have to make sacrifices during these difficult times and do whatever we can to get back to normal. If that means a change in how we do business, it’s a worth-while trade-off for the health and well-being of our community, our clients, our families and ourselves.”

The SRA Service Centres in both Saskatoon and Regina will be closed effective Monday, March 23, with all staff working remotely to continue to support Saskatchewan’s REALTORS®.

“It was a difficult decision, to close our offices to the members and the public,” says Jason Yochim, SRA Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful that we had much of the necessary technology in place to make remote operations an option. We’ve been able to continue support for our members in much the same capacity as before these changes related to COVID-19 came into effect.”

“Now is a great time to remind the public that many online resources still remain for those shopping for real estate,” he adds. “REALTORS® are a tech-savvy group, and they are accustomed to communicating and sharing their knowledge with clients digitally. They still have access to all the tools used in every-day real estate transactions and can direct clients to virtual tours and other alternatives that still allow us to stay safe. Thankfully this technology enables consumers to continue to shop for and market their properties with little disruption. Consumers are still able to buy and sell property in-spite of social distancing requirements.”

2020-03-20T13:41:08-06:00March 20th, 2020|