Let’s face it, COVID-19 has affected everything about how we live our lives. Working from home, not being able to see our friends, and home schooling has meant that our worlds have been turned upside down in recent times. But what about the property market? Has the Coronavirus meant that we can no longer move to a new house, or list our current property on the market?

During the past year, there have been alterations to the process as companies have been doing everything they can to adhere to government guidelines and ensure maximum safety for sellers and prospective buyers, every step of the way. Here at St Helens Law, we thought we would share some more information with you in case you are considering buying or selling a property during a COVID-19 world.

Buying a property during the pandemic

With the current pandemic, many of us have faced restrictions on living our lives as normal. Ultimately, this has translated into the world of conveyancing, where purchasing a property you’ve had your eye on for a while might have to wait a little longer yet. Travel bans in the UK – due to Coronavirus – have meant that your plans to move and make a brand new start have to be put on hold for the moment.

Your estate agent might ask you to delay your move, as advice from the Government has stated that this should be done once the current local isolation measures for your new location are no longer in effect.

At the moment, surveyors are being instructed to not perform physical property valuations due to the current climate. In most cases, mortgage lenders are carrying out AVMs (Automated Valuation Models) which use a computer to automatically value a property using a variety of variables including property data, recent similar sales and property listings. During the pandemic, this has proven useful for buyers who are still looking to move.

It is worth getting in touch with an expert team of solicitors such as the ones from St Helens Law. We are on hand to give you all the up to date information you need to be best positioned to purchase the property of your dreams.

What about selling up?

The truth is, you can still sell your property even during the current climate. However, the pandemic has meant that there has been a number of expected changes in the way that the process is conducted…

Ever since the first lockdown was introduced in March 2020, the guidelines have changed multiple times –flitting between national and local lockdowns, as well as tiered systems. This has meant that the best possible method for selling your house has had to be adapted depending on the current guidelines. During national lockdown measures, it is recommended that viewings of properties should be delayed – at least until current guidelines state that it is safe to do so.

In lower tier areas and across the nation last summer, it was possible to conduct physical viewings and valuations, as long as all COVID-19 protocols were adhered to. This includes social distancing; the opening of all internal doors and no surfaces being touched when possible to help control the spread of the virus.

As with most of our day to day lives during the pandemic, the majority of the process is now completed online. Zoom meetings have come into the glossary of terms in the field of conveyancing too, with this form of communication becoming a safer way to move proceedings along.

As ever, you should look to get the up to date advice from a professional team of experts, like us at St Helens Law. We will be able to give you the current guidelines regarding selling property in detail, so you are well placed to get the best possible, legally correct deal despite the current climate.

Get in touch with St Helens Law

To contact our conveyancing lawyers in St Helens about how best to go about buying or selling a property today, simply give us a call on 01744 742360 or contact us by email at info@sthelenslaw.co.uk. You can also fill out our online enquiry form and request a FREE 30 minute consultation with a member of our friendly team.