Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Clarifies Face Cloth/Mask Requirements for Brokers

The Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline has received several questions surrounding the requirement for brokers to wear face cloths/masks on a property or in their office per the Governor’s announcement about more counties being eligible to apply for Phase 2 variance. Annie Fitzsimmons clarifies:

Q:  Please confirm that I am understanding the Governor’s guidelines with respect to face masks. My county is currently in phase 1 and I can still only meet with 1 other person in a home at once. Previously, a mask was not required, but as a result of greater flexibility in phase 2 counties, we who are still in phase 1 counties must now wear a mask when we are showing property? Starting when?

A:  Specifically, the Governor’s directive requires brokers to wear “cloth face coverings.” Certainly, traditional face masks satisfy this requirement but likewise, any cloth face covering will suffice. Broker could utilize a bandana or a scarf, for example, if a mask is not readily available.

With respect to the face covering requirement for brokers selling in phase 1 counties, the Governor’s office believes that the more people who wear face coverings, the greater the likelihood that spread of the virus will slow. As the state begins to open for business, there will necessarily be many more people coming and going and interacting. County lines are not barriers and people from phase 2 counties will certainly travel into phase 1 counties. With that, everyone in every county will be more exposed to viruses carried by any person who is out and about, anywhere in the state. As a precautionary tool, the CDC is now urging the wearing of face coverings to help shield the sharing of airborne droplets from one person to another. Because of that, the Governor’s protocols for the RE industry now ask all brokers who interact with the public, including in phase 1 counties, to wear face coverings.

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Washington REALTORS® Releases Real Estate Guidance for Phase 2

Governor Inslee announced that ten additional Washington Counties have been approved to apply for Phase 2 recovery status. Additional counties will be considered by the administration to apply when their infection rates per thousand residents meet the threshold set by the Governors recovery plan. Counties must also demonstrate the health care capacity and tracing ability to qualify.

The counties now approved for Phase 2 must comply with the regulations and protocols set forth by the Governor to protect public safety.

Washington REALTORS® has revised the COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions to assist you in applying those regulations to your day-to-day business. Please discard previous copies of your FAQs for this revision.

Leadership and your Government Affairs team have worked very hard to earn these modifications, please continue to demonstrate compliance with the regulations so we can expand Phase 2 eligible counties.

Phase 1 counties (gray) status has not changed and business practices have not changed from previous weeks—including Benton and Franklin counties. When infections rates go down and other requirements are met, they too can apply for Phase 2.

Recap of modifications for Phase 2 include:

  • Real estate firms may open their offices in a limited fashion;
  • Commercial brokers can engage in the same in-person services as residential brokers;
  • Three persons (as opposed to two persons) are allowed on site for permitted in-person real estate activities for both residential and commercial brokerage (for both improved and unimproved property); and
  • Sign installers may install real estate signs.

For both Phase 1 and Phase 2 in-person real estate activities, real estate brokers and industry partners (e.g. appraisers, inspectors, photographers, stagers, etc.) must wear cloth face coverings and should encourage clients and customers to do the same.

Public and broker open houses and similar invitations to view a property without an appointment are not permitted in Phase 1 or Phase 2. Only previews and showings by appointment are allowed.

Brokers must adhere to the “phase” protocols for the county where the property is located, regardless of the location of the broker’s office or home. Brokers conducting real estate activities in a Phase 1 county, must continue to abide by the Phase 1 protocols, which include only allowing two persons in a property, including the broker, at one time.

Click here for the Governor’s Memo: Phase 2 Real Estate Requirements document.

Click here for the Governor’s Phase 2 Real Estate COVID-19 Requirements document.

Please read the updated FAQ below.

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Leading Through Crisis: Free Webinar Series for PACMLS Members

Members, is this pandemic bogging you down with stress, anxiety and uncertainty? What will tomorrow bring? How can you get ahead today? How can you keep a positive outlook when you are facing so many unprecedented obstacles? We know what you are going through and we want to help you find your groove again!

We are offering a FREE training opportunity to all PACMLS members, consisting of four, one-hour sessions offered over four consecutive weeks and hosted by Jan McDonald of the John Maxwell Team!

Join us for this webinar series and learn:

  • Practical ways to maneuver through times of difficulty and adversity
  • How to effectively battle distractions during times of crisis and stress
  • How to adopt successful thinking habits to think your way through any crisis

LESSON 1: DEFINE A CRISIS

  • May 26th @ 4PM
  • May 27th @ 9AM
  • May 28th @ 3PM

LESSON 2: BATTLE DISTRACTIONS

  • June 1st @ 4PM
  • June 3rd @ 9AM
  • June 4th @ 3PM

LESSON 3: CHARACTER IN CRISIS

  • June 8th @ 4PM
  • June 10th @ 9AM
  • June 11th @ 3PM

LESSON 4: LEADING IN CRISIS

  • June 15th @ 4PM
  • June 17th @ 9AM
  • June 18th @ 3PM

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

NOTE: Once registered, you will receive an e-mail confirmation. Please reply to that e-mail confirmation with the days and times you would like to attend.

Jan McDonald cares about people and their future growth and success. Her 13 years of experience as a CEO have made her an excellent match for the leadership, vision and strategic planning required for the companies and individuals she serves.

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