Private home inspections are already underway less than a day after coronavirus restrictions were lifted from Melbourne’s property market.
The floodgates have opened for buyers and sellers desperate to restart their property plans, after the ban on one-on-one inspections ended at 11.59pm Sunday — about a month earlier than anticipated.
Prospective buyers and tenants are permitted to travel more than 5km from their homes to inspect properties. But Melbourne residents cannot travel to regional Victoria for this purpose.
Home sellers can now also employ photographers, videographers, stylists and other ancillary services for marketing purposes, according to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Property Mavens director Miriam Sandkuhler said she had already walked through homes for sale this morning for clients.
“There are people who have sold that are desperate to buy, and sellers who have bought their next property and are desperate to sell,” Ms Sandkuhler said.
“Enabling real estate agents to get back to doing their job makes a phenomenal difference to them.”
She said agents were working through waiting lists of buyers who had inquired about properties during lockdown.
“I know an agent who has to ring back 120 different buyers and co-ordinate access to a property,” Ms Sandkuhler said.
“Inspections are going to be 15 minutes long, so an agent can only get four groups through every hour.
“It’s going to take up some time and agents will be working on both Saturdays and Sundays to get people through homes.”
One agent is permitted to guide one prospective purchaser or tenant, along with their household or intimate partner, through residential properties and display homes via 15-minute private appointments, according to the DHHS.
Auctions can still only be conducted online, with on-site sales set to resume as part of the next step on the government’s road map for reopening.
This is due to kick in from October 26, if Melbourne records fewer than five daily cases over the two weeks prior.
Private inspections were originally not meant to restart until that date as well.
Real Estate Institute of Victoria chief executive Gil King was set to meet with state government officials on Monday and hoped to clarify whether commercial properties could also be inspected.
The peak industry body welcomed easing of some restrictions, with president Leah Calnan stating they were “recognition the real estate profession can be trusted to conduct inspections in a safe and responsible manner”.
Harcourts Judd White director Dexter Prack said his office would quickly list about 32 properties for sale in wake of the changes.
“Today, we’ve already got five private inspection appointments … and overnight, I had 18 inquiries for a home I listed last week,” Mr Prack said.
“As soon as the news came out, people just started their plans immediately. It’s a massive relief to buyers, sellers and tenants.”
The agency had also scheduled eight online auctions starting from October 17, but Mr Prack said many properties could sell before then.
Ray White Victoria and Tasmania chief Stephen Dullens said for thousands of people “experiencing significant hardship” across metropolitan Melbourne, the announcement was nothing short of a lifeline.
“This outcome recognises the genuine needs of Victorians to transact, while also keeping the safety of the community as the highest priority,” Mr Dullens said.
“Shelter is a basic human need. Many people simply have no choice but to move for various reasons and do not have the luxury of waiting for restrictions to ease.
“This will provide a light at the end of the tunnel for so many.”
The last step on the road map — to apply from when the state has no new cases for two weeks — will allow real estate to operate more freely with “safety measures and record keeping”.
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