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Please, Please Do Not Put Combo Lock Box Codes on the Internet

There was a time, in the good old days, when agents used secure lockboxes, and only secure lockboxes, on the homes they listed.

With the advent of agents from a number of different multiple listing systems, with their own unique lockbox keys, showing homes outside of their area (dare I say sometimes out of their area of expertise) along has come the combination lockbox.

Combination lock

Yes, many agents have resorted to using combination lockboxes...I even admit to doing so twice. I'm uncomfortable with it and will be very reluctant to do it again. However, I am afraid to say I never will. What if my seller wants me to? Will I refuse? Will I give up the listing? Maybe not.

The problem with the combination lock boxes is when the agent puts the code in the public remarks for the listing. Perhaps it is just an error when it appears but then some agents need to be more careful when they are inputting their information. If they have someone else doing it, they need to remember it is still their responsibility to make sure that the information is accurate and to make sure that it does not reveal anything that could put their sellers at risk.

Our local multiple listing system has a drip system which can automatically e-mails contacts. This is a great way to enable you to keep your clients current with all the properties in their price range. However, it is a feature I do not use and one reason is because every once in a while I find a lock box combination in the public remarks. Please make sure you are not sending out this information.

Another reason I do not use the drip system is because some REALTORS®, in spite of the fact that they know it is not allowed, put their contact information in the public remarks. Another "error"? Hard to believe when it happens over and over again.

We have a great system that allows us to share so much information. This is extremely helpful to our buyers and sellers. We need to watch what we are putting in the system. There are guidelines...let's adhere to them for the benefit of our clients and our fellow REALTORS®.

Naturally this is meant for those that are being consistently negligent (lock box code) or abusing the system (their contact ifnormation) time and again.

Be sure to review your Listing Agreement...does it say that you are installing an electronic lock box? If so, unless you have permission from your seller you may want to reconsider using one with a combination.

OUCH! I just fell off my soapbox.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.

Contact Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web site http://lakeannacountry.com/.

Posted by Kathleen "Kate" Elim LAKE ANNA, VA Real Estate on 06/15/2009 04:00 PM

Comments (13)

Marketing in the ActiveRain Channel

realtor, buyer, seller, mris

Originally posted at: Lake Anna Country: Please, Please Do Not Put Combo Lock Box Codes on the Internet

Post is included in group: Best Business Practices
Post is included in group: VIRGINIA
Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: Northern Virginia Real Estate
Post is included in group: Activerain MLS Online

13 Comments on Please, Please Do Not Put Combo Lock Box Codes on the Internet

JUN

I never really thought about this, though I have seen it in some MLS postings. Great reminder, as nothing on the internet is totally private.

Hi Miss Kate! I showed a house this weekend that did not have a lock-box at all, because an agent, who couldn't find time to show the home, gave her buyers the combination, and let them go an occupied home by themselves! The 87 year old owner came home to find a strange man in her basement. Can you imagine? I have accidentally put seller's telephone numbers in the wrong spot when I input my own listings and fortunately, have always had a friend or just another agent, be kind enough to call me right away and let me know I made the mistake.

JUN

Kate, That's horrible! Wouldn't an agent be responsible if anyone who was on MLS saw the code and got in? What a scary thought (and I don't know what the policy is here for names and contact information posted but I see it all the time).

JUN

Kate - that's a good reminder. I'm featuring this too, in the Best Business Practises group.

Hi Chris...The other problem is that these listings are e-mailed or given to our clients and we should not be giving them the codes to enter homes iwthout us. No seller has this in mind when working with a REALTOR.

Kate

Hi Susan...That woman must have been horrified. I wonder if she let that listing agent go. She should. That was blatantly the wrong thing to do.

We all make mistakes and it helps when friends bring them to our attention. I always call the agent, even if I don't know them, to let them know the mistake. Unfortunately, some agents do things deliberately. They don't get a second call from me. We have a system that allows the violation to be reported.

Kate

Hi Carole...I would venture to guess that the same rules apply everywhere. It is to safeguard the sellers.

It's important for other agents to have that information if they need to contact the seller directly for permission to show (that is the way it is done in my area) but not for the public.

Kate

Hi Loreena...It really surprises me how often agents knowingly reveal information that really should not be made public.

Thanks for the feature.

Kate

Kathleen great reminders. So many try to beat the system by doing things they know should not be done, like the prohibited information in the remarks section.. Agents certainly need to exercise more care when it comes to lockbox info, security should be a top priority.

JUL

Great advice Kate! I wasn't aware this was happening.

JUL

GOOD MORNING KATE! There is an agent in Tucson that uses the same code for all her properties that she keeps on combo boxes. She advertises the code and yes, homes have been broken into. Whatever we do - we really do need to watch out for our clients! Great information to post! -- Gabrielle

AUG

This was common in the Olden Days before the internet and the MLS books were not to be given to the public

AUG

Seems to me that every mls has diffrent set of common problems. Right now in Chicago area the most common problems are buyers roaming in and around listed homes with access codes and without assitance of their agents. This situation adds some security problems like for example flodded home after another bidder won the contract, and planted (smelly) fish in ventilation systems of another property where somebody apparently was trying to keep other buyers away. (I did spend almost 2 hours trying and finally locating the FISH) One of agents in our office was fined for allowing buyer to go alone with sentrilock code when the seller was actually living inside. POLICE WAS INVOLVED ETC.

Anither problem are agents listing REO properties, and forcing buyers to go through related mortgage services (it is forbidden by our MLS) I think generally lack of respect for the law and common decency is showing off.

But generally how you can expect public to respect laws protecting only the stronger contender.....

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