Phase 2 for Whatcom County Real Estate

On Friday, June 5th, it was announced that the Washington State Secretary of Health has accepted Whatcom County’s application to move on to Phase 2 of the Washington’s Safe Start Plan. You can read a broad explanation of what that means here, and here are a few key changes: Lets you have 5 people inside household Restaurants can open to 50% capacity (with no bar seating) Real Estate, Nail Salons, and Barbers can open King County was the first county to be admitted to Phase 1.5.  In addition to Whatcom, Snohomish, Pierce, Skagit, Clark, and Okanogan counties have been admitted to Phase 2. The out of office activities permitted for Phase 1.5 are the same as those allowed in Phase 2 – provided the required protocols are followed. The additional real estate activities allowed in Phase 1.5 and Phase 2 (as opposed to Phase 1), assuming the required protocols are followed, include: Real estate firms may open their offices in a limited fashion (with additional restrictions for Phase 1.5); Commercial brokers can engage in the same in-person activities 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. As a reminder, all in-person activities must be by appointment only and real estate brokers and industry partners must wear cloth face coverings and should encourage clients and customers to do the same. Another note to add: 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.