Special offer

Supra on the phone: A great call

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Concepts

Our MLS has been on Supra since I joined in 2003. At that time we all had our little black E-key keypads that we entered codes into and plugged into a gray lock box to get key access.

Beginning in 2004 in what seemed like a huge technological advance, our board, The Des Moines Area Association of Realtors started switching out our gray electronic lock boxes for infra red models. The E-key keypads could do both lock boxes so we continued to fumble along with them however.

If you're familiar with the devices, they had to be put in a cradle hooked to a phone line which updated nightly. Forget to put it in the cradle and you could only use the key three times before it wouldn't open boxes. Then, if you were in the field, you had to call in and navigate your way through a phone tree to get a 12 digit update code. Copy it down wrong and you had to call in again. Seems like when it happened to me it was always raining and my cell phone battery was about to die. What a pain! That is if I'd even remembered to bring the thing on that occasion. Oh man!

But no more! Starting in about 2006 Supra started making its E-key application available for certain cell phones, or Smartphones. Wow! My life changed. I never forget my phone and so that made it certain that I always had my E-Key. Furthermore, Supra hasmobile listing data, an agent roster, client search manager, showing report and more helpful tools. I find it indispensable for my business. I use it every day. Supra even sent out a rep that did free training for our board, you can check their website at GE/Supra for a schedule of when they might offer the course in your area.

Now, Supra for Smartphone*Source Supra/GE is available for over 40 phones:

Blackberry: 8800 series, Bold, Curve, Pearl, Pearl Flip and Storm *Blackberrys however require the use of a fob which I wouldn't like.

Windows Mobile Smartphone Infared models: 8125, 8525, HTC Mogul, HTC p4300, iPAQ 6900 Series, MDA, PPC-6700/6800, Treo 700w/wx, Treo 750, Treo Pro (850), Treo 800w, XV 6700/6800

Palm models: Centro, Treo 600, Treo 650, Treo 680, Treo 700p, Treo 755p

Carriers: These carriers offer compatible models: Alltel, AT&T, Bell, Cellular South, Rogers, Sprint, T-Mobile, Telus, Unical, US Cellular, Verizon.

If you are still carrying around an Activekey (newer version) keypad you owe it to yourself to research whether you could get a lot more functionality over having e-key professional on your Smartphone. Although phone choices are limited, they have increased from just being offered on a few phones. Having been a keypad user and now having the application on my phone, I can tell you that next to my website, this is absolutely the last tool I would ever give up.

 

Comments(9)

Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

My local MLS was on Supra and they have decided that Sentry was better. . . and not very happy, I have 15 of those boxes and afraid to use them because of Realtors accidentally leaving the boxes open after showing the properties.

It's not a pleasant call when your client (the seller) calls you to tell you that they slept all night with the box wide open and the keys available for anyone to grab them. 

It's a mess!

Jul 12, 2009 10:48 PM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

The Toronto MLS does not use Supra, Sentry or any other electronic system.  We are still using mechanical lock boxes.

Jul 12, 2009 11:14 PM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Matt, good information and nice of you to share it with everyone.  Glad that it has gotten better for you.  Sounds like the way to go.

Jul 12, 2009 11:30 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Matt, I've elected to keep my e-key and not go to the Supra phone application.  If anything happens to my phone, I can still show properties.

Jul 12, 2009 11:47 PM
Chip Jefferson
Gibbs Realty and Auction Company - Columbia, SC

Recently I had to carry my supra key in everywhere I went. If left in the car the heat was making the battery overload and catch fire. It still took them 5 weeks to get me a new one that wasn't defective. Im sure my auto insurer would have loved that one.

Jul 12, 2009 11:54 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Matt, our Association changed over to the SentriLock system the first of the year. I't a whole lot easier to update, buy you have to do it manually every day. My SentriCard data got corrupted and I had to spend some time with customer service. They fixed it remotely and its been working ever since. Looks like you are having good success with your E-Key.

Jul 13, 2009 12:31 AM
John Slocum
Premiere Property Group, LLC - Vancouver Washington - Vancouver, WA
Broker, SFR - Vancouver WA Real Estate

Hi Matt, last year our local board held a vote and we all upgraded our E-Keys to the newer ActiveKey.  The ActiveKey is updated via the cell-phone network (no more manual updates), and sends (almost immediately) both an e-mail to a listing agent and an alert to their ActiveKey whenever one of their lock-boxes is opened.  With the old e-key we often found out days later there was a showing -- not anymore!  Thanks!  John

Jul 13, 2009 02:35 AM
Pat Argo
Keller Williams Realty of Brevard - Titusville, FL
CRS

     Matt, Our board made the switch to Supra several years ago. They even came to the board with training and packages for the TREO Smartphone.  I have loved using it as well as less stuff to carry!

     ALAS, now I am in a real quandry. I have absolutely positively totally worn out my TREO. It is held together with rubber bands.  My carrier, AT&T, has NO smart phone products available without the need for a "Fob". I know I cannot be the only agent having these problems but I keep running up against a brick wall in trying to get real answers.

     Has anyone had experience with buying "unlacked" phones from other sources?

     If I cannot find something without a fob, I might as well carry a phone and an active key which will soon be available in our board and update without the cradle.

So that brings up the topic of: which smartphone is most effective if mls access is not a requirement?

Jul 13, 2009 03:46 AM
Matt Grohe
RE/MAX Concepts - Des Moines, IA
Serving the metro since 2003

Everyone: Thanks for all your comments. If you need any more encouragement, here's this notice from our local Realtor board:

TO ALL AGENTS- IMPORTANT REMINDER It is important that agents should not leave their ActiveKEY in a parked car. High temperatures such as those encountered in a parked vehicle on a hot day may cause the battery to overheat. Any agent who has questions or concerns about their ActiveKEY is encouraged to call GE Security's support line at 1-877-699-6787.

Jul 15, 2009 06:35 PM