We hope you are healthy and if you are having to shelter in place, using your time to catch up on your to-do list and plan for recovery. Many states are starting to issue shelter in-place orders due to the COVID-19 outbreak and stagers are struggling to determine if staging is considered an essential service. We understand that escrows are continuing to close and contractually staging inventory needs to be removed before the new owners take possession of the home. Due to the shelter in place orders it makes it difficult to comply with the law, stay in business, and not suffer a loss.
What We Are Doing At RESA HQ To Help
Updated March 30th, 2020
RESA has received requests from members to get clarity on the different state’s shelter in place orders. RESA understands that stagers need to be able to pick up their inventory from properties that have sold and under current shelter in place orders this is not possible.
We are reaching out to each state and explaining how a stager’s business works, asking for clarification on their rules and if stagers have any leeway with regard to the current orders. As we are hearing back, some states are issuing permission to be able to de-stage properties as long as certain safety protocols are followed.
Below is a list of states where we have applied and the results. We will continue to update this page as quickly as we can. If you have questions please call HQ at 888 201 8687 x 1.
Orders Indicate Staging/De-Staging Essential In Real Estate or Essential as It Provides Support to an Essential Business
(Must Follow Social Distancing Protocols and Minimum Basic Operations if Possible)
- Connecticut
- Colorado– 05/03/2020 Stagers may be considered :Field Services means a service that is being provided out in the field as opposed to a company property, including third party private properties, such as a third party household.
- KC MO Area
- Massachusettes
- Michigan– 05/03/2020 MI Updated to new CISA Order which included real estate services.
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Illinois
- Wisconsin
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- Virginia
Allows De-Staging Only (Minimum Basic Operations)
- Florida– 04/06/2020 An argument can be made that staging would be essential if they consider staging as part of real estate services and at the very least to operate at a basic minimum function to maintain the value of a business’s inventory.
- Minnesota-03/27/2020 Stagers who have to remove the furniture and materials from a residence in order to complete a transaction are critical within the meaning of the EO. However, in order to meet the spirit of the EO, stagers should not be putting themselves or their crews at risk by staging new homes during the stay at home order or moving furniture into the residences of new clients during the period of the EO. Please note that Executive Order 20-20 requires all employees who can work from home to do so, even if they are eligible for a Critical Sector worker exemption. Workers who qualify for a Critical Sector worker exemption who cannot complete their work from home may report to work as usual.
- Maryland– 04/08/2020 IV C c. Staff and owners may continue to be on-site at Non-Essential Businesses for only the following purposes (“Minimal Operations”): i. Facilitating remote working (a/k/a/ telework) by other staff; ii. Maintaining essential property; iii. Preventing loss of, or damage to property, including without limitation, preventing spoilage of perishable inventory; iv. Performing essential administrative functions, including without limitation, picking up mail and processing payroll; v. Caring for live animals; and vi. In the case of Non-Essential Businesses that are retail establishments, continuing to sell retail products on a delivery basis.
- Indiana-04/08/2020 section 15: For the purposes of this Executive Order, the term “Minimum Basic Operations” includes the following, provided employees comply with Social Distancing Requirements, to the extent possible, while carrying out such operations: The minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’s inventory, preserve the condition of its physical plant and equipment, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions. The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences.
Staging /DeStaging Not Allowed
- Pennsylvania– We applied for an exemption and the state has deemed staging or destaging as NON essential.
Applied to These States for Clarifications Waiting Response
- California Several Attempts- Most recent 04/06/2020
- Georgia-04/07/2020 Uses CISA Guidelines. An argument can be made that staging would be essential if they consider staging as part of real estate services according to the CISA Guidelines and at the very least to operate at a basic minimum function to maintain the value of a business’s inventory.
- New York
- Montana
- Arizona– An argument can be made that staging would be essential if they consider staging as part of real estate services and at the very least to operate at a basic minimum function to maintain the value of a business’s inventory.
NOTE: We are reporting results in real-time. If your state is not listed, it is not being ignored, we are listing them as we go. Please check back regularly. RESA is not responsible for information as it is changing quickly. Please seek information from your state should you wish to review the orders on your own.
Felicia has a background in production design and studied at Academy Of Art University where she had a focus in Motion Pictures And Television. In her free time you can find her reading about the latest marketing trends or hanging out with her husband in Disneyland.
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