Neil Webster, sales executive at Stone Real Estate - Illawarra said in the current climate, it was important that agents qualify buyers.

"That's making sure when we're doing inspections in particular that we're dealing with people who are genuinely interested and are aware of the situation of the current environment," he said.

"There will often be that person who sees something online, thinks, 'oh, that looks nice', clicks on it and gives us a call. They're not really genuinely looking to buy, they're just curious.

"And you have people come to open homes on that basis as well, like it might happen to be down the street from where they live."

Mr Webster said he was continuing to schedule open homes, but by appointment.

He said this was also an opportunity to vet how serious the prospective buyer is.

"So rather than have an open home where I've got 15 or 20 people turning up, I'm getting open homes where I'm getting five, maybe six people turning up," he said.

"And I'm actually saying to them, even in that half-hour period, 'don't all come at the beginning', and kind of staggering it."

Mr Webster that there were always going to be people whose life circumstances dictated a need to buy and sell property.

"It's the ones on the fringe, who perhaps don't have that urgency... Some of those people are probably going to sit on the fence a little bit more, and just bide their time," he said.

First National Real Estate Albion Park says it has taken steps to avoid direct contact, such as not shaking hands, observing social distancing, deferring non-essential rental property inspections, and working with clients responsively on specific arrangements where necessary.

"While the presence of coronavirus certainly requires us to observe some sensible precautions, the business of real estate continues and it's essential that we support clients who are selling their homes as well as the needs of our tenants and landlords," First National Real Estate Albion Park principal Alison Mansell said.

"So, for the time being, we're continuing all the normal functions that support tenants moving into and out of properties, but deferring non-essential routine inspections.

"Open homes continue, but with appropriate contact precautions, and we'll be offering more private inspection appointments."

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