Can I Still Move During the Stay at Home Order in Chicago?

We’re here to answer your questions about how COVID-19 and the Illinois Stay at Home order impact searching for new Chicago real estate and moving within the city.

As of the date of publishing this post, here is what we can tell you.

Real Estate Professionals are Included in the List of Essential Businesses

Under the “remain at home” order signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker, real estate professionals are included in the list of essential businesses. However, there are some guidelines real estate professionals need to abide by when working with clients. This is because we still need to practice social distancing and help keep movement within Chicago and the surrounding areas to a minimum. 

While we may be more restricted in conducting tours of properties and listings, and it may be more challenging to meet in person to discuss your new home search, there are some things we can do to continue to move your housing search forward.

One on One Discovery Video Chats

You don’t have to wait until this quarantine is over to have a consultation with a real estate professional. At Luxury Living Chicago Realty we’ve been inviting our clients to a special video chat (use Google Hangouts or Facetime) and creating custom plans to help clients achieve their real estate goals. Whether they are looking to rent or buy, we listen to our client’s wants and needs. Then we send a follow-up email with the plan of what we are going to do and a timeline.

Conducting Remote & Virtual Real Estate Tours

While in-person tours and showings may be limited, our team has high-quality photos, videos and 3-D tours of a majority of listings for you to view in the comfort of your current home. The Luxury Living Chicago Realty team is also available to walk you through the video tours in real-time so we can answer your questions and point out the benefits and features of each listing. When permitted, we can Facetime you from the listing as well. There also may be some instances where we can still physically tour a property, but those are determined on a case by case basis.

For now, it’s best to get comfortable with evaluating an apartment through a remote tour and making decisions based on floor plans, photos, videos and a great description of the space.

Is it Possible to Book Movers and Move During the Stay at Home Order?

The answer is yes, but proceed with caution. Be mindful of any price gouging. Also, practice social distancing techniques when moving. You’ll need to evaluate the urgency of your needs. If you need to move immediately because a lease is up or closing is scheduled to occur then you’ll want to proceed as planned. If your move date is further off, best to move your search forward using the tactics above and keep an eye on your move date.

We can also provide assistance with finding a Chicago moving company during COVID-19 stay at home orders.

Staying Up to Date While Searching for Real Estate During COVID-19

With our experience in the market place and our connections and partnerships in the industry, Luxury Living Chicago Realty is here to help you stay informed as things change in the marketplace. Now more than ever it’s important to have a trusted Chicago real estate professional by your side to give you guidance and information to make informed decisions. 

There is still great opportunity in the Chicago real estate market. If you’re ready to move, we’re here to help!