It’s hard to miss news coverage of COVID-19, the coronavirus. In response to those ongoing concerns, NAR issued two guidance papers and cancelled some scheduled events.
ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s hard to miss news coverage of COVID-19, commonly called the coronavirus, as Americans and businesses react to its potential expansion. In response, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) cancelled some upcoming meetings and issued two guidance papers, one for Realtors and one for associations.
As of Friday, most Floridians didn’t face a notable risk of virus exposure. However, the situation is rapidly evolving nationwide, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to provide updates on its website.
Attempts to contain COVID-19 largely focus on steps individuals can take to avoid becoming infected and steps the general population can take to avoid coming into contact with it in the first place.
NAR’s “Coronavirus: A Guide for Realtors,” answers a number of common questions, such as “What unique issues does coronavirus present to the real estate industry?”, “May I ask clients or others I interact with in my real estate business if they have traveled recently, or have any signs of respiratory illness?” and “Should I still conduct open houses on my listed properties?”
NAR’s “Coronavirus: A Guide for Realtor Associations,” deals more specifically with matters that affect state and local Realtor associations, such as “Should association events be cancelled?” and “What precautions should associations take in the workplace?”
NAR says it will update its guidance as the situation evolves.
NAR events
Some groups, including NAR, have cancelled functions where a large number of people congregate, especially if attendees must travel.
“As a result of growing public health concerns associated with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the state of emergency declared by California, the National Association of Realtors announced Thursday that it is suspending all non-essential travel – international and domestic – by staff and volunteers traveling on behalf of NAR,” the association announced on its website. The suspension is in place until April 11 or further notice.
“This was not a decision made lightly or in a panic,” says NAR CEO Bob Goldberg. “We believe this approach is in the best interests of all of those in our Realtor community, whose safety and well-being are our top priorities. It is also consistent with actions taken by dozens of other U.S. organizations.”
Cancelled events include the Association Executives Institute scheduled for March 13-16 in San Diego, and Broker Summit, scheduled for March 31-April 1 in Los Angeles. Registered attendees are already being notified. NAR is considering alternatives to reschedule, relocate or redesign the conferences later in 2020.
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