Dexter’s COVID 19 Policy

Keeping Everyone Safe

Introduction

Dexter Realty remains dedicated to the health and safety of our staff, realtors, and clients. We continue to maintain appropriate safety measures such as the use of masks, signing in upon arrival, and the sanitization of high touch areas.

Dexter Realty COVID-19 Policies and Procedures

As we work through the current COVID-19 Pandemic, we require all staff and Dexter agents follow these policies. They will be posted at both offices. Any questions in regards to them should be directed towards management.

Two key items need to be understood in dealing with COVID-19:

The risk of person-to-person transmission is increased the closer you come to other people, the amount of time you spend near them, and the number of people you come near. Physical distancing measures help mitigate this risk.

The risk of surface transmission is increased when many people contact the same surface, and when those contacts happen in short intervals of time. Effective cleaning and hygiene practices help mitigate this risk.

With these two points in mind, our policies will reflect this.

  • While the offices are open to access, please ensure that when you are accessing the offices it is for the purpose of work and it is limited to the amount of time required to complete any tasks. At this time the offices are not for social gatherings or just lingering at the office and killing time out of the house. Time spent in either office needs to be as limited as possible. The policies apply whether the office is open or closed.
  • Familiarize yourself with all public health guidelines as they pertain to COVID-19 including WorkSafe BC guidelines – www.worksafebc.com/en/covid-19/covid-19-prevention and www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions
  • BC Financial Services Authority, BCREA and the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver send out regular communications regarding COVID-19. Please read through these and follow all recommendations and procedures outlined in them. Seek clarification with management if needed.

Protocols when Entering the Office (Realtors and Clients)

  • When entering the office, please immediately wash your hands or use sanitizer at the entrance.
  • Please sign in on the Contract Tracing Sign-In Sheet, provided by reception
  • Please do not enter showing if you are experiencing any illness, especially flu-like symptoms.
  • Please do not enter if you have been traveling outside Canada within the last 14 days while unvaccinated.

Protocols While Present in the Office(Realtors and Clients)

  • It is highly recommended to wear a medical or non-medical mask when you enter the office and as you move throughout the office. If you are working in close proximity to someone else or in closed quarters, you are required to follow the Public Health Guidelines.
  • Strict social distancing must be maintained as per the public health guidelines – minimum 6 feet / 2 meters apart. This is a requirement.
  • Do not sit directly beside someone – it may mean sitting at another desk other than your own to accomplish this.
  • Do not sit side by side at computer stations. Maintain a minimum of 6 feet / 2 meters apart all times.
  • Do not stand in and block any traffic locations and please wait for someone to clear a hallway before proceeding.
  • Conveyance offices will be off limits and inaccessible during office hours. Please email Laura, Lilly, Angela or Helena with any questions or information and for submitting all documents.
  • Do not keep copies of FINTRAC documents. Once emailed to reception or conveyance, please shred or place in a secure shredding bin.
  • Engagement with reception must be done within the area of the plexiglass shields. Please email any documents to reception or conveyance to prevent potential infections.
  • Sanitary wipes are available at both offices, please use them to clean any areas where you have been sitting and any equipment you have used. According the WorkSafe BC, photocopiers should be wiped down after each person uses it.
  • Client meetings need to be coordinated ahead of time and booked at each office. There will be specific limits for individuals in each meeting room which will be posted and communicated when booked. Please speak with a manager should you have any requests for more than the allowable time to arrange for alternative options.
  • All persons in attendance must be asked whether they have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days or has felt ill. Keep a record of all those who attended and they will be asked to sign in at entry.
  • Do not line up at photocopiers or reception. Ensure you maintain physical distancing of 6 feet / 2 meters at all times. Please thoroughly clean the keypad, touchscreen or controls of any equipment you use while at the office.
  • If you feel ill while at the office, please leave the office and notify a manager and ensure you have a safe way home with limited contact. You should wear a mask until you are able to self-isolate. If you notice anyone in the office that appears to be ill, please speak with management immediately so we can assess the situation and advise accordingly.
  • If you fall within any of the situations below, you cannot come to the office under any circumstances. Should you need anything from the office, please contact reception or a manager to arrange for assistance.
  • Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, congestion and painful swallowing, must self-isolate at home according to Public Health Office guidelines: www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/if-you-have-covid-19
  • Anyone under the direction of public health to self-isolate must follow those instructions.

Showing Protocols

  • Whenever possible, you should continue to correspond with clients and potential buyers through email, telephone, or video/teleconference. Use technology to draft and execute any written service agreements, or standard forms including electronic signatures for documents.
  • Offer virtual viewings or virtual open houses where possible. Virtual viewings offer an effective means to narrowing down the number of properties to show; thereby limiting meeting potential buyers in person and reducing the risk of cross contamination. Virtual showings should not replace viewing the home where the buyer is making a purchasing decision.
  • Provide potential buyers with online access to property documents including strata documents, market research, community development documents, etc.

Prior to Showing

  • Open Houses while permitted at this time should be conducted by appointment only.
  • The Dexter Covid Notice for Showings document will be posted in the Associated Documents for all listings for all listings entered.
  • If a virtual viewing is not possible or practical, establish and communicate with all parties, real estate professionals, viewers, and current occupants, how the showing will be conducted within Public Health Organization Guidelines. Signs instructing for physical distancing shall be posted at the property.
  • Consider limiting the number of people in the property, and maintain one set of buyers at a time when viewing the property. Any additional buyers viewing the property should be instructed to wait in their vehicles or away from the property, properly distanced from any other buyers.
  • Please ensure you have consulted the provincial health authorities and made yourself aware of the current risks in regards to COVID-19
  • Consider not driving clients to an appointment in your vehicle. All parties should go in separate vehicles if possible or have all parties wear a mask. Ensure you have sanitizer in your vehicle for before and after showings.

During Showing

  • Please do not enter showing if you are experiencing any illness, especially flu-like symptoms.
  • Please do not enter if you have been traveling outside Canada within the last 14 days while unvaccinated.
  • Please ask that any buyers viewing a property do not touch anything in the house, and make sure that they ask if they need any assistance.
  • If the property is occupied, ask the Seller to turn on all lights and open all closets and areas that the buyer may want to look at. If not possible, it is recommended to wear gloves if you are doing it.
  • Have hand sanitizer and sanitary wipes on hand at the property for any showings. Keep some extra masks and gloves available in case a buyer does not have their own with them.
  • Buyers viewing a property should not use the bathroom in the property.
  • Consider staying in one part of the property to allow other parties to move through without limiting distancing and review any potential points of intersection that can occur.
  • Ensure all entering the property wear a proper mask at all times and maintain a 6 foot physical distance from others at all times.
  • Keep a list of all agents that view the property with clients, and where there are no other agents, the names of the buyers and their contact information and when they viewed the property.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and want nothing more than for everyone to stay safe.

The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the REBGV, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the REBGV, the FVREB or the CADREB.