Showing Instructions are important - 15,000 reasons why you should follow them

AB, I know combo locks aren't as fancy or as secure as the electronics, but they are effective as stopping drive by showings.  If you don't call the showing center, you don't have the combo to get in.

The reason agents do not follow instructions in my area. .they don't subscribe to the MLS and are accessing listing via other "free" means. .where agent to agent communication are cut out. .

In my area, every showing or agent preview must be confirmed - either via a call to the agent or office, or by using Showing Desk.  The showing instructions aren't provided (combo if needed, etc) until the appointment is confirmed.

What drives me nuts though are incorrect or insufficient showing instructions that are provided once an appointment IS confirmed.  Wrong combo codes, no instructions, etc.  Nothing worse than being in front of a home on a day where temps are below 20 trying to get a combo lock to open only to find out the code was changed.

Not sure the penalty at our board is, probably because never intend to violate in the first place.

This is why I have some of my Supra electronic lockboxes (such as the one shown in your post) programmed with a CBS (Call Before Showing) code.  No one can access the key in the lockbox without contacting me ahead of time for the code, which is entered prior to the agent's PIN code.  Unfortunately, many agents don't use (or perhaps know about) this feature and, therefore, don't know how to access the ELBX with it so I have to walk them through it step-by-step... but at least I know they can't get in without my knowing about it ahead of time.  I can't help but wonder... did that newbie agent ever realize she could've set off an alarm?  After all, she didn't know whether the house had an alarm and that would've been part of what you would've needed to let her know about had she called.

With the sophisticated ways to contact people now a days...how can there be misunderstandings? Text anyone? Phone call perhaps? There is no excuses here....good post and host

It can be very frustrating dealing with agents who don't adhere to the showing instructions.  Another reason to also remove the lockbox after the property is under contract.  You'd be surprised at how often buyers go in to 'measure' without permission and the buyer agent thinks nothing of it.

Oh, there was an agent in my office several years ago who went into the seller's home to bring him copies of some documents (this was before email was the norm).  She was the listing agent.  Walked in, and was attacked by the dog.  The seller was home in the backyard.  The agent sued the homeowner and lost because she didn't let the seller know she was coming.  The dog did what he was supposed to do. Her intentions were good, and she is a very friendly agent, but it was not a pleasant situation.

I'm glad nothing unfortunate happened, and glad you gave the new agent a chance to apologize and learn from the mistake.  We have all been that new agent, right?   As you said, she will never fail to check the showing instructions before going into a property again!

Hello Anna. You know I love it. Fining is the only way to correct this. I think you handled it well though.

Anna, That agent will never do that again and may pass what she has learned onto other agents! There are still those who want to show off or think they are exempt but hitting them where it hurts is a great deterrent! They better learn it, durn it!

Great post Anna!  Good for you for "teaching" the newer agent what she should do going forward.  I hope this lessens the number of times this happens.  It happened to me too about 2 1/2 years ago when I re-sold my former home.  An agent, her own broker, access my listing without calling - setting off the alarm and my Canadian client was contacted in CANADA! Imagine how mad she was and frustrated I was.  I called the agent and left her a very terse message and sent her an e-mail to never do that again.  I wasn't as patient as you were!

I see agents in our area of violating showing instructions frequently. The usual excuse falls into two categories; proclaimed ignorance of seeing the private notes, or they didn't care and felt they had a right to just go ahead and show the property. As you so rightly point out failure follow showing instructions is an MLS violation and should be reported in most cases.

There are lockbox violations here now and then, thankfully it's not a common occurrence.

Ouch!  That's quite a fine for making a blunder.  I do totally understand her mistake.  I've had clients pressure me to see a property when we are out shopping.  Fortunately with a good smart-phone and/or tablet, it's pretty easy to get a hold of someone for a showing.  You were full of grace on this one.  She won't forget it.  8-)

Great blog. The response of using a CBS code on the lock box is the best control over who can show it. Theft is on the rise & may only get worse.  THAnKS

Ms. Anna Banana, with video tours the bad guys can shop for the best homes to break into.  While following showing instructions is very important, of course, why have a normal lockbox on a house under those high risk circumstances?  Show by appointment and increase the brokerage fee if necessary for added security.  As far as I know our MLS does not fine for not following showing instructions.  How does one prove they weren't followed?  Leanne's comment in 26 about CBS is an interesting feature I didn't know about.