Colorado State Bans In-Person Home Showings, But Real Estate Is Still Essential

Mark Colorado down as a no-show: After initially allowing in-person home showings, Colorado has banned them in an effort to keep those with asymptomatic coronavirus infections from spreading the disease. The state had already prohibited open houses, but now it is paring down real estate, which is still considered an essential business, to only its most essential parts. Appraisals can continue, and buyers will still be able to do a final walkthrough, but potential homebuyers must turn to photographs and digital tours as the first step to finding their next move.

A debate has raged within the real estate community about whether agents should be out and about showing homes to prospective buyers or sheltering in place during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies settled the issue on Thursday.

“Encouraging members of the public to engage in nonessential travel and/or requiring residents to leave their residences for the purpose of viewing real property unnecessarily compromises public health by expanding public exposure,” the Division of Real Estate said in a posting on its website.

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