This petition serves as a request to have REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS reinstated as an ESSENTIAL SERVICE in Ventura County. This would include but not be limited to real estate agents, both residential and commercial, allowed to represent and consult buyers and sellers through real estate transactions.

Shelter has never been more essential than it is right now, our clients and community need REALTORS® to be there for them at this critical time to ensure the safest health standards are taken and prudent counsel for a mutually successful closing.

The California Governor's office has reinstated REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS as an ESSENTIAL SERVICE (https://www.car.org/en/aboutus/mediacenter/news/essentialservice) and the County of Ventura must follow suit.  
The California Association of REALTORS® has provided a comprehensive list of best practices and additional forms (https://www.carcovidupdates.org/best-practices-guidelines?src=redalert) that demonstrate how we can facilitate transactions during this time and inform and protect the buyer and seller should a COVID-19 related situation fall upon them respectively. All REALTORS® will follow these at the highest level with respect to our local and state health and safety organizations.

Nearby Counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo have reversed County Public Health Department rulings and reinstated REAL ESTATE as an ESSENTIAL SERVICE with reference to the above stated precautions being taken by its agents. These communities are very similar to us in population density.

From SLO County: As of Monday, 3/30/20 the SLO County government made the determination that real estate is an essential service and listed it on their website under "Businesses open for limited service". They now display the following information on their website, which mirrors the State mandate...Real estate sales and marketing (no open houses or model home tours, showings should be done virtually, if possible; closings, telephone and virtual activities and transactions permitted)As you consider conducting real estate activities, please go to this link to view CAR's newest document titled "Best Practices Guidelines" which should be carefully followed during any/all transaction activities you conduct.In addition to the Best Practices Guidelines mentioned above, CAR will be releasing a new form possibly today (3/31/20) as a PDF and possible within zipForm® tomorrow, which is tied to activities outlined on the Best Practices form.Any updates of information will be sent out as soon as possible. Thank you for your diligence in complying with all government mandates and requests related to COVID-19.

Cindy Doll, A.E.

Pismo Coast Association of REALTORS®

A real estate listing is a lead economic driver to so many related services and trades. Putting a stop to this will not only hobble the economy at large, it has the potential to cut off a lifeline of business opportunities to those who service the homes in their respective communities. A real estate listing activates an inspector to inspect, an appraiser to appraise, a bank to lend, a tradesmen like a contractor or landscaper to tune up a property, a title officer to do a search and write policies, and an escrow to provide closings. If these industries are considered essential, why stop the lead domino from happening at a time like this?

I urge you to sign this petition so we may present a unified voice to the Public Health Department of Ventura and the Ventura County Board of Supervisors and demonstrate that REAL ESTATE and it’s related services must be reinstated as ESSENTIAL.