Real Estate & The Flu - Swine or Otherwise...

The other day while out on caravan, I had a dry throat and coughed.  People cringed even though I did cough into my sleeve (never my hand).  

A few houses later, the dust in the home tickled my nose too much and unfortunately, on our way out the door the dust combined with the pollen in the air was too much - and I sneezed.  People ran.  Well, just joking - nobody ran but my friend Linda ducked and said "You better not have swine flu!"

It's the latest scare on the scene and it has lots of people concerned.

Some home sellers are nervous about having many strangers view their homes - with all the talk of swine flu going around, it's reasonable to be a little scared, especially if someone in the household is suffering from a weakened immune system and is at risk of becoming very ill.

It's not really possible to pre-screen buyers for the flu - I can see the list of questions:

• How much do you have for a downpayment?
• What is your credit score? Are you preapproved?
• When would you like to move?
• Have you been to Mexico lately?
• Have you started sneezing or sniffling?

The problem is, there are all kinds of bugs floating around that could be just as devastating to an at-risk person.  People can be contagious and not even know it, so asking them if they're sick before letting them see the house will probably not be very helpful. 

Short of taking your home off the market, there is always going to be the risk that someone may come into your home, touch the doorknobs, and leave behind germs.

I suggest having a container of Lysol or Clorox wipes handy - and after a showing, wipe down every possible surface someone may have touched - most likely all the door knobs, cabinet and drawer pulls, the counter top, the bathroom fixtures.  It will not eliminate all of the germs - and supposedly, the flu germs do not survive on surfaces very long anyway - but it will help.

This would be a great time to declutter and eliminate a bunch of knick knacks - less surfaces for people to touch and less surfaces for sellers to clean afterward.  Not to mention, the lack of clutter makes your home appear more attractive to buyers...

I for one plan on carrying a bottle of hand sanitizer with me everywhere.  I will not be touching many surfaces in homes I show - just to be safe.  I will be sanitizing my hands often - and you're welcome to share - just let me squirt it into your palm.

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Poconos. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.

Pike & Wayne County PA Real Estate - Real Estate and the Flu, Swine or Otherwise... ©Copyright 2009 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved.