Public auctions and property inspections restricted again in Melbourne's coronavirus hotspots

Agents have again been shifting auctions to online, or to offices in areas where the tighter restrictions do not apply.

The stage 3 restrictions were previously introduced across Victoria amid the spread of COVID-19 in late March and have been re-introduced in specific neighbourhoods after a second spike in cases.

The outbreak has been linked to security guards becoming infected at hotels where quarantining international travellers were staying.

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria confirmed the restrictions would extend to public auctions and open for inspections for the next four weeks.

The new rules will cover both inspections to buy or rent a home.

REIV president Leah Calnan urged agents to convert their sales to online and introduce one-on-one inspections to meet the stricter rules.

“Any return of restrictions is frustrating for all involved, but the real estate sector is prepared to do what’s required to help curb COVID-19,” Ms Calnan said.

On Wednesday, agents were busily taking calls to move auctions to online, and set up private, one-on-one inspections.

Brad Teal from Brad Teal Real Estate said his agency was changing at least 450 inspections and numerous auctions planned for the weekend in affected areas of the inner north.

“It’s a massive amount of work but we’re working diligently through it,” Mr Teal said. “It affects a big slice of my business.”

Mr Teal said agents would be looking to either hold auctions via Zoom or hold them safely at the agency’s Essendon office which was not included in the lockdown.

Agents were in discussions with vendors, particularly those who were in postcodes not previously identified as coronavirus “hotspots” like Ascot Vale, Mr Teal said.

“There’s a lot of angry vendors in Ascot Vale,” he said.

While online auctions were being used, he said buyers in inner-city suburbs preferred to be at a public auction.

McGrath Brunswick director Michael Chan said some vendors in affected suburbs were opting to delay their auctions until restrictions were eased.

“We have one vendor who has just listed in Brunswick West who we’re speaking to who is quite nervous,” Mr Chan said. “We’re just looking to keep things moving for people who want to get moving.”

Mr Chan said buyers might again look to secure sales prior to auction to try and knock out any competition ahead of a virtual auction.

“It’s just unusual that some auctions will be on-site and some will be online,” Mr Chan said. “We’ll just adapt to the space.

“The most important thing is that we work in line with what the guidelines are and keep people safe.”

Other vendors were happy to go ahead with online auctions.

Hockingstuart Yarraville director Leo Dardha said 80 per cent of his clients were looking to sell online while others were converting their sales to private treaty.

“It’s a weird, strange time that we’re dealing with,” Mr Dardha said. “How we’re selling in Yarraville we can’t in Kingsville, which is right next door, but we’re just adjusting to it.”

Ray White Victoria chief executive Stephen Dullens said agents were working with clients to change their sales to online, as they had last weekend when six local government areas were identified as hotspots.

“It feels like a bit of deja vu – we’ve been here before,” Mr Dullens said. “We’ve certainly had some vendors reach out just asking questions.”

Agents were discouraging people from withdrawing their homes for sale, given sales were doing well online.

“We’re feeling more encouraged this time around than we were in March, we’re really confident with online,” he said.