At Alert Level 2, visits to family and friends are once again allowed. As important as it is to spend time with family and friends, it is equally important to protect those we love by adhering to social distancing rules even when we gather at each other’s homes.
“As strange as it may be to host family and friends under the condition that social distancing rules are to be followed, these precautions are there to help protect you and those around you for as long as the threat of COVID-19 continues to exist,” explains Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett.
To help homeowners stay safe when hosting gatherings at home, RE/MAX of Southern Africa provides the following advice:
Space out the furniture
To limit the possibility of infection, furniture should be spaced out so that guests are seated roughly 1.5 meters apart from each other. This means that the smaller the home, the fewer people will be able to fit comfortably within the home while still adhering to social distancing measures. With this in mind, homeowners should limit the number of people they host to the amount of space they have available. Host guests outdoors
The risk of infection is much lower when hosting an event outdoors. Seating should still be arranged with social distancing rules in mind. Homeowners might want to consider building a covered patio space so that they can still host these outdoor gatherings on colder, rainy days as well. As a bonus, these outdoor additions usually add great value to the property and are likely to become increasingly popular in both the current and post-pandemic world.
Apply a “you touch it, you sanitize it” rule
To limit the spread of the virus through high-touch surfaces, homeowners should ask their guests to avoid touching any surfaces in the home and to sanitize their hands regularly. Hosts should also sanitize their home both before and after their guests arrive. As additional measures, hosts can use biodegradable paper plates and serve food that can be eaten without cutlery.
Find a larger home
“If your home is making it difficult for you to host your family and friends safely, then there really has not been a better time for you to start your search for a new home than right now. Interest rates are at an all-time low and house price appreciation has been slow over the last few years, resulting in relatively affordable property prices in most suburbs across the country. If you are ready to start your search for a new home, get in touch with your nearest RE/MAX real estate agent to find out what the current market has to offer you,” Goslett concludes.