Opinions About Listing Security are Widespread and Varied
It seems there are all sort of opinions about security for MLS listings in my area.
No doubt you have seen and experienced the same, and perhaps more.
Some agents are very cautious, appropriately so, and safeguard the security of their clients homes.
Others seem to have no cares whatsoever.
We are seeing more agents asking for a text with the BRE # (our California Bureau – formerly Department – or Real Estate of BRE #) on vacant homes before you can use the Sentrilock lock box.
While the lock box requires the electronic card all agents have who are members of our MLS, some agents are being more cautious. No doubt they have had bad experiences.
Other require a call even if the home is vacant and has a Sentrilock box before you can tour.
And while some agents include the combo for a combo box in the confidential remarks, others require you to call to identify yourself before they give out the cod.
Some agents like to keep you in suspense and NOT tell you the lock box is a combo on the MLS, and so you get there and have no access, and likely will not be able to reach the agent to obtain the code. Fortunately this is not common, but is happens more than it should.
And then there are those agents who seem to have no clue or cares about security.
I have had a couple cases where the key was provided under the mat – no lock box of any kind. I’d be pretty ticked as the client if I found out THAT was the level of security and access my home was being afforded by my REALTOR.
Yesterday I showed a home where the key was supposed to be under the flower pot (per the agent the night beforey, since the home was vacant…and she has a partial interest in the property). That alone raised my eyebrows a notch.
No key, vacant house, and the garage door was open.
I rang the bell, and several people emerged from the house through the garage. Turns out the agent who was showing the home was told by the listing age the garage door was unlocked and you could simply open it and walk in. Those were the showing instructions.
Given the security, it was no surprise that this house was a major project and the agent, perhaps, felt there was no need to safeguard the property.
One can’t help but think about vandals, squatters and so on.
Wonder if her client knows? Or cares?
The last breach of security, and inappropriateness, I've seen now 3 time just this year is buyer agents letting buyers in and either not accompanying them, or leaving them in the house when they needed to run off to the next appointment. Walking in the door to show and finding buyers there but no agent is, to say the least, disturbing, And this has now happened on 2 of my own listings.
Thoughts?
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