Online auctions, telephone bidding, virtual rental inspections, 3D property tours and digital appointments are some of the tools that have been put in place to navigate this rapidly changing landscape.

Auctions for properties being sold through River Realty went ahead online last weekend for the first time, and there was strong interest from registered bidders.

"There was a lot of work behind the scenes over a few days to get interested bidders online once the government announced that the way we usually do auctions could no longer go ahead," managing director Chris Henry said.

"After showing them how to use the app with a bit of coaching from our staff their confidence was there."

But not all sellers are willing to take the auction path. Some fear the online process could deter prospective buyers, particularly those with limited digital skills.

LJ Hooker Maitland has seen more buyers choosing to rely on offers instead of putting the property up for auction in a bid to reduce the stress on everyone involved.

LJ Hooker and River Realty will create virtual tours of available properties following the federal government's ban on group inspections.

"We're doing the best that we can in an environment that nobody has ever been in before - there is no rule book on how to cope with this," LJ Hooker Maitland managing director Todd Fisher said.

The pandemic has seen a downturn of buyers and sellers in the market, according to PRD Nationwide, and that will send property prices down.

Agent James Hannah expects the city won't see prices drop as much as capital cities and emphasised the recovery would be swift once the pandemic ends.

The federal government's decision this week to restrict public gatherings to two people has again forced the industry to adapt. It means only two people can attend a private inspection.

Mr Hannah said agents would now show each person through individually, or allow two people to look together while they waited outside. Hygiene procedures have been put in place to protect clients, prospective buyers and renters, and themselves.

Mr Hannah said property sales were still strong and this week he was finalising a $1.5 million sale and another for around $400,000.

"There is still interest in the broad range of the market," he said.

Mr Fisher said the rental market remained strong in March with the agency drawing up 24 new leases.

The business is now rolling out virtual tenant inspections across its 600 rental properties, which will be done via online chat programs like Skype or FaceTime, in a bid to keep landlords informed. He hopes the online face-to-face contact will give tenants a mental health boost.

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