The safety of buyers, sellers, agents and employees is always our top priority. After careful consideration among our leadership team, CENTURY 21 New Millennium’s stance with respect to COVID-19 can best be summarized as respecting everyone’s individual wishes—those of our sellers, our buyers, our agents, and our employees. If a seller has reservations about showing their home, we will respect their wishes. If a buyer has reservations about viewing properties, we will respect their wishes. We appreciate that everyone’s personal situation is unique.
We sincerely hope you and your families are all safe and well. Your health and well-being is our number one priority.
Below is a running log of CENTURY 21 New Millennium’s latest updates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional updates will be posted below as necessary.
April 29: C21NM Agent Thomas McGowan Featured by International Franchise Association for Front-Line Heroics
CENTURY 21 New Millennium agent Thomas McGowan of Fredericksburg, Va., was featured in a recent blog post by the International Franchise Association, titled “How Century 21 is Giving Back to Local Communities.” An excerpt follows below:
One of those first responders is Thomas McGowan with CENTURY 21 New Millennium in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is not only continuing to conduct his real estate business in his own town, but he is also helping to save lives 300 miles to the north by volunteering to serve as an EMT in Queens, New York, one of the hardest-hit districts during this global pandemic. As a Lieutenant at Virginia-based LifeCare Medical Transports, McGowan and his team deployed to New York a few weeks back with eight ambulances and 16 fellow EMTs.
Currently, he is leading a strike team that, when called upon to relieve overworked EMS employees with 911 calls and medical transports, provides advanced and basic life support—and, they do so working 12-hour shifts with their own PPE, bleach, and spray bottles, knowing full-well these items are in short supply in New York City.
As Mike Miedler, president and CEO of Century 21 Real Estate noted, “Thomas is one of the true heroes performing a truly selfless act. We value and appreciate him at Century 21 Real Estate and so does our country.”
April 20: NM Hosting Nationwide CENTURY 21 Agent Best Practices on April 24
Friday, April 24 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST | Nationwide C21 Agent Best Practices
We’re pulling together agents and teams from 16 top-performing CENTURY 21 brokerages across the nation to share Best Practices for navigating the COVID-19 real estate environment. We’ll cover:
- Virtual Presentations
- Communicating with your SOI during the shelter-in-place
- Effectively and efficiently transitioning back into business
- How have you adapted and transformed your business during the last six weeks?
April 17: Virtual Buying and Selling Process
New Millennium has created a pair of real estate consumer resources explaining how we can help you navigate the home-buying and home-selling processes in a virtual environment.
Whether you choose to buy or sell virtually, in-person or a combination. New Millennium agents are here for you to ensure a process that is seamless and worry-free.
Download: Virtual Buying Process [PDF]
Download: Virtual Selling Process [PDF]
April 16: FLAG Deliveries Begin in Arlington, Supporting Local Police and Fire Units
DONATE HERE » gf.me/u/xu4272
April 6: Two Zoom Sessions Available to All REALTORS® This Week
Wednesday, April 8 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Mortgage Industry Update
You’re invited to join us on Zoom this Wednesday, April 8, as we hear from industry experts on what’s really happening in the mortgage market. New Millennium President Mary Lynn Stone will moderate a panel including:
- Michael Carr, Executive Vice President, Presidential Bank Mortgage
- Chris Cusack, Senior Vice President, Presidential Bank Mortgage
- Rich Becker, Divisional Senior Vice President, Presidential Bank Mortgage
Friday, April 10 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Agent Best Practices
All are welcome for our weekly company-wide Agent Best Practices Zoom meeting, led by New Millennium CEO Todd Hetherington, bringing together agents from all over the DMV to share how individuals and teams are navigating these uncertain times and successfully generating business.
Register HereApril 6: New Millennium Launches Front-Line Appreciation Group (FLAG) in Washington, D.C. Metro Area
Join us in supporting the Front Line Appreciation Group (FLAG)—a national movement that is dedicated to feeding our local front-line workers in hospitals, healthcare facilities, police stations, EMS and fire stations during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also keeping our local restaurants in business. CENTURY 21 New Millennium is proud to carry the FLAG across the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. Ask your CENTURY 21 New Millennium agent how you can get involved locally.
DONATE HERE » gf.me/u/xu4272
And, join the Facebook Groups!
- FLAG – Front Line Appreciation Group of Virginia
- FLAG – Front Line Appreciation Group of Maryland
- FLAG – Front Line Appreciation Group of Washington DC
April 1: Protocol Update | Required Client Acknowledgment Form
Going forward, CENTURY 21 New Millennium will require buyers and sellers to sign a form acknowledging and agreeing to abide by our company protocols. A copy of the form can be located here, and your New Millennium agent will work with you directly to provide and facilitate the signature.
March 31: Agent Best-Practice Session Open to all REALTORS®
Agent Best Practices | Friday, April 3 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
We’re pulling everyone together to share Best Practices—literally anything and everything that is working while we are practicing physical distancing while maintaining social relationships.
March 30: Residential Real Estate Classified as Essential Services by DHS
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security has developed an “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” advisory list. On March 28, the list of essential services was expanded to include residential real estate and settlement services, in addition to commercial real estate services (via Maryland REALTORS®).
March 29: Agent Best-Practice Sessions Open to all REALTORS®
All sessions to be held via Zoom webinar and moderated by New Millennium CEO Todd Hetherington. Click the buttons below the sessions of your choice to register and add to your calendar.
COVID-19 Addendum | Monday, March 30 | 9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Todd Hetherington will moderate a panel including John Long, NM General Counsel, and Herb Lisjak, Principal Broker. This is an open discussion and best practices sharing session for utilizing the COVID-19 Addendum with buyers and sellers, and will also speak to differences between the various jurisdictional addenda released to date.
U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act |Monday, March 30 | 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
The CARES Act includes many relief options for business owners as well as unprecedented provisions for independent contractors. Kevin Walsh, New Millennium’s CFO and CPA, will discuss what this means to you as an agent/small business owner/independent contractor.
Agent Best Practices | Monday, March 30 | 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – pushed to Friday, 3, 9:30 a.m.
We’re pulling everyone together to share Best Practices—literally anything and everything that is working while we are practicing physical distancing while maintaining social relationships.
March 27: NM Protocol Update Following D.C. Executive Order
With Mayor Muriel Bowser declaring D.C. as a state of emergency, New Millennium’s D.C. office will follow the same protocol as Maryland offices have been since Monday, March 23 (see previous post below). Effective 12:01 a.m. on Friday, March 27, our D.C. office will be closed to the general public, but will be minimally staffed to support our agents and client appointments.
March 23: NM Protocol Updates Following Maryland and Virginia Executive Orders
As a result of these updated guidelines issued today by Governor Larry Hogan in Maryland and Governor Ralph Northam in Virginia, New Millennium is modifying our Company Protocol in the following ways:
- Effective 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 23, our Maryland offices and satellites will be closed to the general public. It is important to note that our offices will remain open and will be minimally staffed to support our agents as well as our real estate client base. We will continue to follow proper CDC protocols and practice proper hygiene and practice physical distancing while maintaining social relationships.
- Effective immediately, Maryland agents shall not conduct public open houses on their listings. Scheduled appointments and showings are still permitted. Again, we will continue to follow proper CDC protocols. We strongly encourage using technology to our advantage via virtual tours, FaceTime showings, etc.
All other company protocol remains unchanged. Banking/mortgage origination and real estate settlements are considered essential businesses.
March 22: Hetherington Provides Coronavirus Real Estate Update
CENTURY 21 New Millennium CEO Todd Hetherington shares an COVID-19 update on our company philosophy to respect everyone’s individual wishes as well as the protocols we’ve enacted with respect to buyers, sellers, agents and employees.
View on Facebook | View on LinkedIn | View on IGTV
Key points from this update include:
- Our company philosophy is to respect everyone’s individual wishes—whether buyers, sellers, agents or employees.
- Our offices are staffed at a minimum manning level so we are here to support our agents, and our agents are fully prepared to support our clients.
- We have written company protocols (see below)
- We all follow CDC recommended sanitizing measures
- Our agent’s, staff’s, and employee’s health, and their family’s health is most important
- We can support our clients either physically while PRACTICING PHYSICAL DISTANCING, YET MAINTAINING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS or virtually
- Technology is helping us every step of the way, including Virtual Tours, FaceTime Showings, digital contract execution and remote closings
- We are all still working, albeit a little differently, while we all do our part to flatten the curve. Safe buyer showings, home inspections, appraisals and closings are all taking place. Banks and mortgage companies are still lending money (and rates are absolutely phenomenal!).
- In fact, in the last few weeks since we have been modifying our practices, New Millennium as a company has listed 202 new properties, ratified contracts on 391 of our listings and settled 345 homes. We’re still ratifying roughly 20 new contracts every day!
- We are here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out should you need anything at all
- Real estate is a critical part of our local and national economy. We, as a company, have for the past two decades done everything we can to support our communities and our economy. This is no different. We will continue to do our part to keep real estate strong and vibrant throughout the Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. area.
- Let’s use this pandemic as an opportunity to all come together and be there for one another.
- Be safe. Wash your hands. And, again, let’s practice physical distancing while maintaining social relationships.
March 18: Hetherington Shares COVID-19 Best Practices at Realogy Broker Roundtable
CENTURY 21 New Millennium CEO Todd Hetherington participated in a panel discussion with top Realogy brokers to share how New Millennium has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining Hetherington on the panel were industry leaders including Mike Miedler, President and CEO of Century 21 Real Estate; John Peyton, President and CEO of Realogy Franchise Group; and Ryan Schneider, CEO and President of Realogy Holdings Corp. The video is available below.
March 15: New Millennium announces Coronavirus Protocols
- View/Download Protocol: Agents in the Office
- View/Download Protocol: Office Procedures and Staff Instructions
- View/Download Protocol: Working with Buyers
- View/Download Protocol: Working with Sellers
- View/Download Protocol: Bay County Settlements
