Is The Remote Way Becoming The New Ordinary?
House Viewings, Mortgage Advice and Wills - Is The Remote Way Becoming The New Ordinary?
The property market is still not quite the same as it was back in February.
Property viewings were virtual as lockdown continued, until back in May, the government removed the ban on in-person house viewings. However, virtual viewings are still encouraged before visiting the property in person.
While virtual house viewings and video tours are still being offered, mortgage advice and wills are also taking the remote path.
Video conferencing software, Zoom, became popular as lockdown began. The founder and CEO said, "In March this year, we reached more than 200 million daily meeting participants, both free and paid."
Phone calls and video calls could be more personable for clients. Having a virtual mortgage interview or a meeting with your mortgage adviser via Zoom or Teams will be as close as possible like going into a bank or building society in person.
When it comes to taking mortgage advice via a video call, an advantage is that the audio can be recorded. You may also be asked to scan and send important papers or images via secure document upload and this could be via smartphone or tablet.
As social distancing means more remote engagement with customers to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus, one example of how video technology is influencing change is in the witnessing of wills. The government is set to introduce the remote witnessing of wills which will mean more people can record their final wishes during the pandemic. The change will mean that, as long as the quality of the sound and video is clear enough to see and hear what is happening at the time, wills witnessed over video calls will be deemed legal. It maintains the vital safeguard of requiring two witnesses. This protects people against undue influence and fraud.
These changes will be implemented in September, with the law amended to include video witnessing.
The first coronavirus case in the UK was 31st January and therefore the measures will be backdated to then. This will mean that any being witnessed using video software, from this date onwards will be legally accepted. The measure will remain until 31st January 2022 or as long as deemed necessary. After this date wills must return to being made with witnesses who are physically present.
The use of video technology is here to stay and for many it will take some time getting used to. For others, the opportunity to talk and see their adviser at a time a place suitable to them, will make access to expertise easier and deliver greater benefits.
