Don't Lose The Keys To The Castle!
Every time we call to schedule a showing for a home on the market, we have an implied contract of sorts with the sellers. They've granted us the keys to their castle, and with that trust we have some obligations:
- To show up when scheduled, and if something happens to prevent that, to at least make the attempt to let them know we're not coming.
- To be respectful of their property. No tracking mud across their white carpets, no breaking things just to find out if there's hardwood flooring under the carpet, don't let the dog and cat out, etc.
- To keep our buyers from poking their noses where they don't belong and handling stuff they shouldn't be handling. Personal property doesn't convey, so no poking around in the desks and dressers, no touching the artwork or that sports memorabilia collection either.
- And not least important, is leaving the home secure when we leave. Doors and windows locked, and the key put away and inside the lockbox, secure from anyone who doesn't have authority to be there.
And for some reason that last part seems to be challenging to too many agents, and by too many, to us, even one agent not making sure the doors are locked and the key put away properly is one agent too many.
We're primarily listing agents, and it's shocking the number of times we get notified by our sellers that they came home and found the back door unlocked, a window opened that wasn't open before the showing, or some other violation of home security.
Today we showed four homes, a mix of electronic lockboxes and combination lockboxes. Of those four, TWO weren't properly secured. One home had the electronic lockbox only half reassembled, so the key holder could be pulled out by anyone who walked along. Then the last showing of the day the combination lock was already set to the opening combo. Again, anyone could have come along, slid the key cover over and had full access to the home. Just not cool in any way shape or form.
When finishing up a showing, it's critical to check the doors to make sure they're locked, and to double check the lockbox to make sure the key is safe and secure. Only then should we be leaving for the next home on our list.
Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz
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