Canberra real estate agents are hopeful for a return to auctions and open homes soon.
It came after the NSW government announced on the weekend it would allow the practises to resume from Saturday.
There has been a ban on open homes and auctions for six weeks as part of the government's social distancing restrictions.
For agents, they were forced to adapt in a very short period of time.
As an auctioneer, Alec Brown has gone from calling auctions in front of large crowds to standing in front of a camera and a few of his colleagues.
"It's a case where the fundamentals remain the same, the way you can engage with a crowd still remains the same, you just don't have that instant feedback by way of being able to read people and see their expressions," he said
"You more or less rely on that connection via online and hoping what you put forward is a compelling argument and a good reason for people to still bid and to still remain engaged during an auction."
The Ray White Canberra sales director would like to see a return to auctions but recognised it would be different to how it was before.
"I would welcome a level of getting back to what things were like before... providing that obviously the infection rate doesn't change," Mr Brown said.
"Following hygiene protocols, following social distancing protocols and perhaps a first step would be open homes and auctions might just be regulated by the number of attendees involved in that process."
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The NSW government has outlined health guidelines for real estate agents follow, including open air auctions where possible, physical distancing of 1.5 metres and extending open home times.
Real Estate Institute of the ACT president Michael Kumm said he thought agents would be able to quite comfortably control social distancing and he said he did not believe in the current environment you would get onlookers, only serious buyers.
The institute has submitted a proposal to ACT Health that included considerations and guidelines agents could take should open homes and auctions resume.
A lifting of restrictions is unlikely to happen by this weekend.
Mr Kumm said he was not bothered by the fact an onsite auction would be allowed in Queanbeyan this weekend but not in the ACT.
This was a view echoed by Mr Brown.
"I can appreciate everything the ACT government has done to date so if they see a reason for another period of time for us not to follow the same sort of guidelines," he said.
"Whilst it would be disappointing on my behalf I don't think it's a case where we would have to wait too long before we are in line with NSW."
One auction in Queanbeyan is scheduled for this weekend and Luton principal Richard Luton will host the auction onsite.
"I've had it on the market the last three weeks, it was always going to be online but we've told everybody it's going to be onsite and as per NSW lifting it and all the documentation has come through saying we can do them," he said.
"So depending on the weather. If its raining we'll only let the people inside that have registered and keep their distance and if it is too crowded we'll still only let people in the back garden that have registered again."
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has maintained the territory would be in lockstep with NSW.
NSW has had harsher restrictions in place than the ACT, this is one of the first examples where the state has had a more relaxed policy than the territory.
The lifting of real estate restrictions in the ACT is currently being considered as part of a raft of other measures. It comes as national cabinet considers the easing of social distancing guidelines on Friday.
"National Cabinet is currently in the process of considering easing restrictions on open homes and auctions, with safety measures in place," an ACT government spokeswoman said.
"The ACT is an active participant in these discussions.
"We will generally look to follow the national baseline, and be in alignment with rules that apply in NSW, so as this is consistent with the health advice on risks to the ACT community."
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