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Your combo lockbox code is showing

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Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 531132

Around here, like in most parts of the country, not every agent uses secure lockboxes on their listings. I get it, the secure lockboxes are pretty expensive, compared to pulling out one of the decades old combo's.

In the last couple of days I've had to chuckle when calling the showing service and hearing what the combo is on at least three different listings.

I'm sure you remember that the old combo lockboxes came with one or two default codes. I'm not going to say what they are here in a public forum. I'm pretty sure the manufacturer assumed that users would change the default code before using them in public.

Decades later now, those default codes are still being used. When I see those old lockboxes, I'm pretty sure I have about a 90% chance of opening them without asking what the code is. Secure...I don't think so.

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 Richard Iarossi is a full time licensed REALTOR®, working in Crofton, MD. My coverage areas are: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Howard, Calvert, Queen Anne, and Baltimore City and County. I specialize in residential real estate, working with both buyers and sellers. Use the registration free search on my website at www.RichSellsHomes.com. If you’re not already working with a REALTOR®...I can help. Call me at 443-995-9595 (Cell) or 410-451-6255 (Office).

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Comments(11)

Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

we have to put those boxes on our REO listings (listing agreement requirement) and they even sometimes tell us what code to put on them.  But I would never use them on a private listing, ever.  

Mar 15, 2014 01:32 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Good morning, Rich. I occasionally run into these too. Typically, I will try the defaults before calling to see what the code is. 9 times out of 10 I get in without calling.

Mar 15, 2014 07:21 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Yep we can name many of them.  I did chuckle this week when I called on one and it as 0000.  Honestly you don't know how to set the numbers?

Mar 16, 2014 12:07 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     If 0000 doesn't work, try the street number of the house, LOL.   Yes, we have to use Combo Boxes on some Listings, but PLEASE try to be creative!     

Mar 16, 2014 10:08 AM
Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind
KGC Properties LLC, Tucson Property Management & Real Estate - Tucson, AZ
Broker/Owner

GOOD MORNING RICH!  Fred beat me too it!  Ha ha ha!

Mar 22, 2014 09:14 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Rich -- kinda like the people who use 1-2-3-4 as their password or personal identification number.  

Mar 25, 2014 11:04 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Not sure that our E & O insurance covers combo boxes. I see those same numbers on the boxes. Good seeing you yesterday.

Mar 26, 2014 04:34 AM
Diane M. Phillips Realtor 443-286-4365
Frankly Real Estate Inc. - Manchester, MD
Specializing in Carroll Co., MD

Rich ~ I think combo locks are a disservice to the sellers. Do combo locks put the clients best interest above our own?

Mar 30, 2014 11:21 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

We use combo lockboxes because we encourage out of the area agents to show our properties.  We also change the codes from time to time and not all our codes are the same as all our listings, so agents always have to call to know what the code is for every house.  It is not hard to do this if you have a system in place.

Apr 27, 2014 11:53 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Interesting information Rich! I have also noticed the code may go along with the last 4 digitss of the agent's telephone number. I have discovered this on my own and you are right, not very secure.

May 26, 2014 02:32 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Rich, For our market, it's practically a necessity to use the combo/numeric style lockboxes.  While towards Cincinnati the electronics are more common, as you go north to Dayton, there aren't any electronic.  Everyone is still on combos, so if we want to make our listings most available to area agents, it's combos/numerics.

May 26, 2014 03:14 AM