Ensuring the health and safety of our clients, employees, contractors, third party service providers we work with, and everyone in between is incredibly important to us at Knock. We’ve always put People First, and this core value is especially relevant now, considering COVID-19.

COVID-19 is changing the way real estate operations are run nationwide, as local governments issue “Shelter in Place” orders to encourage citizens to practice safe social distancing and to mitigate the spread of the virus.

As of today, real estate has been deemed an “Essential Service” by most local authorities, with a few exceptions. As such, where possible, we will continue to serve our clients to ensure closings happen on time, inspections meet deadlines, and appraisals are scheduled properly.

While we navigate this public health emergency, we’ve advised our Licensed Local Experts, Inspectors, Agents, and other employees to follow CDC guidelines and best practices to ensure their safety and the safety of our clients.

We will continue to keep a close eye on local guidance to make sure our practices and policies are updated based on the guidance of our local authorities and the National Association of Realtors.

How is the Knock Home Swap Impacted?

Swapping your home is absolutely still possible right now. Knock will buy your new home for you and allow you to sell your old house on the MLS after you’ve moved out, so you don’t have to deal with cleanings and showings. That said, special precautions will need to be taken to ensure minimal risk to clients, as outlined below. There are also a few markets with strict shelter-in-place guidelines that will impact touring activity.

Buying your new home

• In most cases, showings can be scheduled via ShowingTime.
• If not feeling well, please stay home.
• Buyers should wear gloves and bring hand sanitizer to home visits.
• Buyers should stay at least 6 feet away from showing agents.
• In markets where real estate is not essential, virtual walkthroughs and tours may be available instead of physical home tours.
• Buyers should follow best practices for washing hands and be mindful of minimizing physical contact in occupied homes.
• If homes are occupied, proceed with caution and minimize physical contact with surfaces.
• Buyers should attend closing without their agent and lender.
• Buyers shouldn’t attend home inspections or appraisals.
• Buyers and agents should work on virtual visits and walkthroughs where possible (via video chat).

Selling your home

• With the Knock Home Swap, your old home is vacant and ready to show when listed. Please avoid going back to your home during this time. If you do return, please wear gloves and wipe down surfaces.
• Knock will not be cleaning our listings after showings, but they are clean prior to listing. Buyers should follow guidelines listed above and CDC guidelines.
• Closings are still happening, some remotely, and some with limited personnel.

Where is touring and showing activity restricted?

• These markets in which Knock operates have specifically ruled out showings, open houses, and home tours in person. You may be able to tour with the listing agent, and our team of local experts are here to advise (just give us a call).
  • North Carolina - Executive Order 121 deemed that real estate services, including brokerage, appraisal, and title services, ARE included under essential business operations, which enables closings to continue and should allow for the touring of homes on the market to continue with a few exceptions:
    • As of Thursday, March 26, the city of Durham, NC did not deem real estate brokerage as an essential service and, therefore, home tours and showings were not allowed. We are following closely to see if these counties and cities react favorably to the Governor’s order.
• New home evaluations are currently unavailable in these restricted areas, but we are happy to discuss future Home Swap possibilities. Just give us a call at 470-485-6625, or email us at help@knock.com.