COVID-19 FAQ: Important Information For Property buyers & Sellers

The current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic means that there is, understandably, a lot of uncertainty surrounding the property market just now. We thought it would be useful to answer some of the most common questions that we have been asked by buyers and sellers and explain how Warners can help based on your own circumstances.

• Is Warners still open for business?
• What is happening in the property market just now?
• I want to get a valuation carried out for my property. Can Warners help?
• I want to sell my property but it isn’t on the market yet. Is this possible?
• My property is currently on the market with another agent but I can’t contact with them. Can I transfer my sale to Warners?
• My property is currently under offer. Will I be able to conclude missives?
• Can you note interest or make an offer on a property?
• I had an offer accepted for a property but I can’t speak to my current solicitor. What can I do?

Is Warners still open for business?
Yes. Our staff are working from home wherever possible so, whilst our branches are not currently open to the public, you can still reach us by phone on 0131 662 4747 or by email at property@warnersllp.com and we’ll be happy to help.

What is happening in the property market just now?
There are still buyers out there looking for a new home but as you would expect, activity has dropped significantly since the middle of March. That said, over the last two weeks Warners has received over 400 enquiries from buyers.

Traditional, physical viewings of properties for sale are no longer possible in most cases so Warners is offering virtual viewings over FaceTime, WhatsApp and Zoom wherever possible to allow buyers to view the properties that we are marketing. Just this week we agreed offers on four properties with buyers who had done a virtual viewing and set a further two closing dates but the market is, of course, much quieter than you would normally be expected at this time of year.

I want to get a valuation carried out for my property. Can Warners help?
Yes. We would be happy to carry out a virtual valuation of your property over FaceTime, WhatsApp or Zoom. To arrange this, give us a call on 0131 662 4747 or click here.

I want to sell my property but it isn’t on the market yet. Is this possible?
The short answer is that it depends on your circumstances. We would obviously love to help you sell your home but under the current ‘lockdown’ scenario there are practical considerations that could make this difficult, such as having a photographer and surveyor attend your property.

There are circumstances where this will be possible though, for example if the property that you want to sell is vacant. Get in touch with us today on 0131 662 4747 and we would be happy to talk through your circumstances and discuss how best we can help.

My property is currently on the market with another agent but I can’t contact with them. Can I transfer my sale to Warners?
If your existing selling agent is no longer able to respond to enquiries or help with the sale of your property, we would be happy to speak to you to see if we can to help. Market conditions are incredibly challenging but we are still helping sellers to get offers agreed on their properties by taking a proactive approach. Our team will be sure to respond to all buyer enquiries, arrange virtual viewings with potential buyers and get your property sent out to interested buyers via our matchings database.

Get in touch with us on 0131 662 4747 or by email at property@warnersllp.com and we will be happy to talk through your circumstances to see how best we can help.

My property is currently under offer. Will I be able to conclude missives?
The general rule just now is that entry dates should be postponed where possible and certainly where both buyer and seller are safe and secure in their current environment. Where it is essential that the move take place to avoid severe personal or financial hardship and where the move can take place safely for all involved, settlement can take place.

Even if it is not possible to conclude missives under the current lockdown scenario we can do as much as possible on your transaction to allow the move to happen more quickly once restrictions start to be lifted and things begin to return to normal.

Can you note interest or make an offer on a property?
Of course. We are still actively making offers for buyers. It’s important to note that the mortgage market has tightened substantially since the pandemic took hold so, if you would like, we can also put you in touch with a mortgage broker who can call you to discuss your case and help find you the best deal.

Call Warners today on 0131 662 4747 or by email at property@warnersllp.com and we will be delighted to help.

I had an offer accepted for a property but I can’t speak to my current solicitor. What can I do?
The situation that we are now facing is unprecedented and evolved rapidly. As a result, some firms may have either become hard to contact or, unfortunately, become unable to carry out ongoing work.

If you are unable to contact your current solicitor firm, do feel free to contact us on 0131 662 4747 and we will be happy to see if there is anything that we can do to help.