Home movers and estate agents are faced with perhaps the biggest ever change in how properties are marketed and viewed as England's housing market reopens for business, according to an expert.

Estate agents and other housing market professionals said they are ready to help England's housing market spring back into life - although they will need to take a cautious approach.

In a sign of pent-up market demand starting to be released, property website Rightmove reported a 45% surge in online viewings on Wednesday.

The experience of buying and selling a home is likely to be very different for many to "normal" times - meaning people and property professionals will need to be flexible and prepared to alter plans if they cannot keep to social distancing rules.

Government guidelines indicate more of the process will take place online and some - or all - moves may still need to be paused to limit the spread of coronavirus.

People wanting to sell their home will need to make sure they are out of their property while viewings take place and buyers and sellers should expect to delay moves if someone involved gets Covid-19.

And they should not expect to move into any home where people have coronavirus or are self-isolating.

Rightmove saw a 45% increase in visits to its website on Wednesday morning compared with Tuesday morning.

Its housing market expert Miles Shipside said: "Home movers and estate agents are faced with perhaps the biggest ever change in the way that houses are marketed, viewed and surveyed."

Mr Shipside added: "These guidelines are understandably stringent as they are there for everyone's safety.

"All parties will have to be innovative to work within these guidelines where practical, and put safety first in any grey areas that are not covered by the guidelines. Technological solutions will not suit every situation or every individual so there will need to be workarounds which still comply with strict social distancing."

Mark Hayward, chief executive, NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) Propertymark said agents that choose to reopen will have to ensure that they follow the official guidance very closely, as the health and safety of all involved is fundamental.

He said: "Some agents are choosing to reopen sooner rather than later based on local demands in their area.

"Others have said they are taking a more cautious approach, particularly where they have staff on furlough and where staff will need to commute into the office."

Key aspects of the housing market are now permitted to take place in England - unlocking billions of pounds-worth of transactions which were on hold.

Estate agents' offices can re-open, property viewings are permitted, and other essential parts of the sales and letting process can get going.

According to the Government, more than 450,000 buyers and renters have been unable to progress their plans to move since March.

Guidance published on the Government's website suggests the experience of buying and selling a home will not return completely to "normal".

The guidance, for England, says: "The process of finding and moving into a new home will need to be different given those involved in the process will have to adapt practices and procedures to ensure that the risk of spread of coronavirus is reduced as far as possible.

"This will include doing more of the process online, such as virtual initial viewings; vacating your current property whilst other people are shown around; and ensuring your property is thoroughly cleaned before someone else moves in.

"We encourage all parties involved to be as flexible as possible over this period and be prepared to delay moves, for example if someone becomes ill with coronavirus during the moving process or has to self-isolate."

The guidance also says: "It may also become necessary to pause all home moves for a short period of time to manage the spread of the coronavirus."

The advice adds that people who have coronavirus or are self-isolating with their family member should not leave their home to either move home, or undertake property viewings.