Four words a Realtor hates to say to a home Seller are "I lost your key". It happens. It happens more often then you think.
It usually happens in one of two ways: 1) Another agent takes the key from the lock box to show the house, puts it in his/her pocket, shows more houses and forgets where that key in his pocket came from. 2) An agent fumbles the key taking it out of the lock box and there it goes... down the smallest crack in the deck or even a crack between the concrete steps.
It's not a good feeling for the listing agent either way (or any agent who has lost a key) because we know it was "your key", the key to the house, the key to your homes safety.
Most lock boxes that Realtors use are roomy enough to hold a key with a key fob on it (one, not like the mess on my daughters key pictured above) and that fob may well stop a key from slipping into a tight spot. If a home owner gives me a key without a fob I put one on it.
If your front door is like the one pictured above to the right with a deck it may be a good idea to place an indoor/outdoor mat at the front door. This will usually stop a key from falling threw the cracks (depending upon the bounce and fumble). Another obvious advantage to having a mat in front of your door is less tracking into your home. Frankly I've purchased more than one entry mat for my clients when I've sensed potential disaster.
Now, as far as that other agent walking away with it... well it's not a bad idea to have a couple of extra keys made when you list your home.
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