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LOCK BOXES another reason sellers choose auction is respect of privacy

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with The Auctionarium

Sellers are usually uncomfortable with a lock box

Privacy or respect of it is one of the biggest motivating factors with sellers when choosing to use a professional auctioneer over a realtor.

Why on earth would someone want 10,000 people to have 24 X 7 access to their home? I could start on lock box horror stories but y'all have heard those before.

My question is how can someone make a 1/4 million to 1/2 million dollar decision on a home that has not been appraised and inspected prior to being placed on the market?

We usually have the inspection completed, appraisal, aerial photographs, 30-second video spot, interior / exterior photos, seller disclosures, contracts and more posted on our website before a sign goes up in the sellers yard..

http://auction.reauction.com/cgi-bin/auction/view?cmd=view&listingID=449

In this slow or as realtors now say "challenging" market a lockbox removes all sense of urgency for a buyer looking at a property.

Auctioneers are marketers and we only show a property twice before auction day usually for two to three hours requiring everyone who is interested to show up at the same time.

When was the last time you previewed a property with a steady flow of people who registered at the door (or are refused admittance) and were given a personal inspection of the property with a minimum of one to three other groups inspecting at the same time?

For me it was last Saturday.

So what is the reason for using a lockbox again?

The saddest words in the English language are "because thats the way we have always done it..."

 

08/24/2007 by Billy Burke, CAI - AARE Edit Delete

Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team
I like the idea.  I am going to work on doing that.  A new way to present.  Thanks for the suggestion. Good post. Bookmarked for later reference and ideas. I rated it a 4
Aug 24, 2007 03:22 AM
Billy Burke
The Auctionarium - Altadena, CA
CAI - AARE
Thanks!
Aug 24, 2007 03:25 AM
Scott & Healther Rozzell
Keller Williams - Visalia, CA
Visalia California
Very intersting.  Thank you for sharing !!
Sep 01, 2007 06:06 PM
Linda Mardi
AuctionFirst - Austin, TX

Billy - agree with your comments. I had a client with 3 dogs and 1 cat. She choose the auction method to sell her home just because of that reason. She didn't want a lock box and preferred a one time open house approach.

Linda

Sep 16, 2007 01:50 AM
Trish Perez
To Follow Shortly - Huntington Beach, CA

Hi Billy,

Want an excellent point!!  Thank you!

I also don't like the "open house" (way we always did it before! LOL!)

It just doesn't seem safe.  At a property "preview" or "showing" prior to an auction, there's a time limit and you have a group of people vs. just one or two in a nine hour period of time.  Safety is important, and I agree with you, why take risks you don't need to take?

Thanks!

Trish

Sep 28, 2007 05:27 PM
Carol Spengel
Prudential Rubloff - Wheaton, IL
Wheaton IL
Our Supra lock boxes can be set so people don't have 24/7 access.  We can set them to only open during certain times.  Sherry
Oct 03, 2007 02:14 PM