Special offer

LOCK BOX CODES?! Does your SELLER/Bank Let YOU give it out?

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert

I just learned something new... an AH moment for me.

I've been trying to get in contact with a Realtor for DAYS regarding a property he has listed. BUT first I need to get the LOCK BOX CODE from him to GET IN, as he HAD put the WRONG one in the MLS!!! This has been going on for FIVE DAYS.  I call his office and am told, daily, he is IN a meeting (this dude must be terribly important).

My clients are getting TICKED to say the least, so she calls his office (and does NOT say she is working with ME) and says she wants to see this particular property.  Mr. IMPORTANT calls her right back...BUT says he is very busy, and gives her the CODE to get into the REPO and look at it heself.

Okay, times are changing I know, but giving out LOCKBOX CODES, regardless if it's a REPO or not, to me, is just plain old WRONG on so many levels!!

Fellow Realtors, are you experiencing this?

*** The MLS BOARD President got back to me: NO, A REALTOR CANNOT GIVE OUT ANY CODE TO A CONSUMER.

Comments (19)

Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Some Realtors are NUTS.

May 28, 2009 08:00 AM
Lee & Pamela St. Peter
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Realty: (919) 645-2522 - Raleigh, NC
Making Connections to Success in Real Estate

Nuts Kat and risking hefty fines!  We're lucky in that here we don't have to deal with Mr. Importants.  Our TMLS engages the services of CSS and all our appointments go through them - really very convenient.  As for giving out a combo - that's a big NO-No here!

May 28, 2009 08:03 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Um, I am pretty dang sure it says in ALL our REO listing agreements that we can only give the code to licensed agents.  Sounds like this guy is just trying to steal your client.  Hoping if he gave her the code she would call him back.  It's a shame the asset manager can't catch him at it and fire his Important arse.

May 28, 2009 08:06 AM
Heather the Realtor Orlando, Lake Mary
LemonTree Realty - Orlando, FL
First Time Home Buyers, Bank Owned Homes

ouch that is bad on his part we never give them out over the phone and he probably wants a pocket buyer that is why he is making it hard for realtors. That's a shame

May 28, 2009 08:07 AM
Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ
Weichert - Lopatcong, NJ

Kat,

My REO agreements specify that I can only give the code to licensed agents.  The bank wants a combo lockbox so it or its authorized folks can access.  I ALWAYS put an electronic lockbox on as well and that is what fellow agents use.

The listing agent you described should be shot. ;-)

May 28, 2009 08:11 AM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Lee and Pamela: I LIKE the idea of your CSS.  Thanks for the feedback.  I still sitting here with my mouth open.

Tammy: Oh, I'd LIKE to doing something to his ARSE myself. :)

Heather: WELL, my clients SO dislike his UNPROFESSISM.

Irene: I AGREE!!!

To all: I am waiting to hear back from the MLS Board. I haven't turned him in, YET. But I want to know IS that an OKAY thing to do with consumers?

May 28, 2009 09:25 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

I can't even begin to tell you the number of times I have gone to a property and found someone inside.  When I introduce myself and ask their affliation I learn that their agent gave them the code to go take a look.  I just had an agent suggest that a problem in a property we have under contract is the result of something our home inspector did.  The lockbox code is in the MLS and any other agent could have been in the property with absolutely no record of it. 

May 28, 2009 09:25 AM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Cindy: AMAZING isn't it???? There is such a long list of WHY I think this SHOULDN'T be condoned. Let me start y saying:  SAFELY!  

Mouth still open!

May 28, 2009 09:28 AM
Caren Wallace
Premier Property Group LLC - Tualatin, OR
Portland Caren Real Estate

Kat, I have two words for this guy..........snake...........lazy!

May 28, 2009 09:58 AM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Caren;  OR, LAZY-SNAKE.  :)

May 28, 2009 10:16 AM
Vicki Pedersen
Pedersen Real Estate - Riverside, CA
Providing Exceptional Real Estate Service

Kat,  This is a problem that irkes me.... whether it is the listing or selling agent who gives out the codes.  Agents should NOT give out codes to anyone other than agents. 

May 28, 2009 12:15 PM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Vicki: You're exactly right!

I'm SO tired of unprofessional and irresponsible Realtors.

May 28, 2009 12:59 PM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!
Kat i can't believe in a time when Realtors should be really respected, I go to my listings and the door is open. I am with you.
May 28, 2009 03:44 PM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Kat!
I think the operative word is "LAZY".

May 28, 2009 03:59 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Unbelievable....so Mr. Important couldn't get back to you, an Agent with a client, but had time to violate all the rules.  I hope you either turn him into the Board or inform your broker, and his.  It's not OK, no matter what.

May 28, 2009 05:04 PM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Tom: I know... THIS IS NUTS!

Paula: You're RIGHT!

Kathy: I've done BOTH. 

Thanks all, for the feedback!

May 29, 2009 01:52 AM
Michelle Pimentel
Empire Home Staging Solutions - Upland, CA
ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging

Kat,

What a weasel...I bet I can guess which office he works out of!  It's a shame that not all Realtors are ethical.  One thing I do know is that the agents at Windermere Fine Properties would NEVER do something like this!  Such a shame!

Jun 04, 2009 10:27 AM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Michelle: I still can't believe it.  I did call the BOARD and tell them!  I'm sick of these lazy snakes.

Jun 04, 2009 03:05 PM
Linda K. Mayer
License # 01767321 - La Verne, CA
Realtor, SRES, SoCAL, A REALTOR YOU CAN TRUST

Everyone's comments are true, but did you ever think of the liability issues?  What if the "buyer" simply wanted to get in and have a party!  Think of all the damage that could possibly be done and that realtors responsibility.  Some realtors will do anything to double-end a comission, but this is over the top!

Jun 14, 2009 10:07 AM