What a difference three months makes.

Restrictions in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 have altered almost all standard practices, including real estate transactions. So, if you're buying or selling a home, things look a little bit different.

Typically, REALTORS® hold open houses to attract a crowd. However, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and a new emphasis on social distancing, this home-selling staple just won't do.

It's the biggest investment we are ever likely to make, yet too often buying and selling a home comes with a bunch of misconceptions about making the most of that investment.

Len T. Wong, broker/owner of RE/MAX Len T. Wong and Associates, chalks these misconceptions up to a lack of information, rather than any fundamental misunderstandings about the buying and selling process. Providing that education to the client, he says, is the role of an experienced REALTOR®.

Here are the top five buying and selling misconceptions Wong has seen throughout his 25-year real estate career: