Hey, folks -

I've been doing Chicago Real Estate for 14 years now, and have become very successful at it, knock on wood. 

Our Team was very hesitant to use lock boxes rather than personally accompany showings in the City of Chicago.  This year, I began using them in the city more and more, and with great success.   Previous to 2007, our Team used lock boxes and SUPRA only on our suburban listings.

My biggest fear was the client perceiving less customer service.  In all cases, no client complained that our service level decreased - and our Team really prides itself on service!  One of my admins always schedule the showings, we always "sell up" the salient features to the showing agent, we always call for feedback, repeatedly, max three times, until we get it.

There has been no problems with security, and no problems with agents just showing up (we do NOT mention the property is on lock box in the MLS - only when the showing agent calls to request a showing).

In a tougher market, like the one we're in, you need to make sure EVERY showing is accommodated.  With all-accompanied showings, if one of us couldn't accommodate a particular agent, we would ask for an alternate time.  The agent would usually respond with "I'll get back to you."  Often times, we never heard from them again, and lost the showing.  In essence, our new system actually INCREASED the number of showings on our listings, and we've really reduced agent complaints that they waited too long for a return call, or the office secretary was non responsive.

Also, always-accompanied showings take a minimum of one hour total to accommodate - EACH SHOWING - between transportation in traffic, most times, the showing itself, and getting back to what you were doing before.  We also keep communication nice and tight with our clients - all active clients are contacted by phone, even if nothing is going on, at least once every THREE days.

For about four months now, we have retained Centralized Showing Service, via showings.com.  They are open 7 days a week, 8AM - 8PM, and will accommodate any special showing request your client requires (advance notification and confirmation, special instructions, like "take off your shoes," or "make sure the cat doesn't run out."  They handle all the legwork - calling the client, professionally, calling the buyer's agent, calling our Team to confirm the showing, emailing the showing request to our Team, and re-calling both the agent and the client as many times as needed to schedule and confirm the showing.  Before we did this, my admin would spend all day, during stronger markets, doing nothing but the mundane tasks of confirming and scheduling.

CSS also sends out four automatic feedback request emails (INCLUDED WITH SERVICE), and can further follow up by phone ($21.95 for the life of each listing), and send an immediate showing report and feedback summary to the seller, and to our Team and individual listing agent.  The price for CSS is only $225/quarter for unlimited listings.

Again, folks, I was quite hesitant to move in the lock box direction.  It appears, however, that my fears were not founded.  This frees our Team members up for more time doing what we do best - list and market their clients homes, and service our buyer clients.  It also reduces our stress levels overall, fuel costs, and headaches.

We feel, as Real Estate Consultants, our jobs are three fold: 1.  Coaching our clients - in other words, telling them what they NEED to hear, not what they WANT to hear, to simply placate them, 2.  Properly marketing their properties, in ways that work the best, not just to impress them with a lot of expensive stuff, and, finally 3.  Hardball negotiate for the best possible price to them, and navigating the smoothest possible contract-to-close.

Would be glad to discuss our system with you, and answer any questions.  Would also like, very much, to hear your thoughts on this often highly-charged matter here in the City of Chicago.

Thanks for listening!

Dean & Dean's Team, Chicago