Special offer

THE PROBLEM WITH LOCKBOXES - OR IS IT THE AGENTS?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Godzyk Real Estate Services NH License 033394

A common problem that has recently gotten worse with the increase in vacant listings is the lockbox. Agents are taking it upon themselves to go into houses without contacting the listing agent. Some are so bold to give the codes to their buyers while others cant seem to remember to put the keys back.

Just becuase the home is vacant does not mean it does not deserve the same care and diligence you would give to an occupied house. It actually should require a higher degree of attention by that agent going into that house. It is respect, respect for the listing agent, respect for the home owner and respect for yoy being a professional who should treat any home you enter like your own.

I have had agents leave the door wide open never mind just leaving it unlocked. leaving lights on, windows open, the garage door up, use the toilet when the water is off and last night so kindly left all the lights on so the neighbor could call me at 1 am to report it.

I have switched to setting up all showings through eshowings. If an agent calls me and i dont know them or recognize their voice, i simply ask them to log on or call eshowings and set it up through there where there is a record of who received the code. Between using this service to register showings i thought i would be safer, but the some agents lack of duty, care and responsibility is not helping

Are they rushing? Do they not care? Do they think because it is vacant no one needs to pay attention?or do they not know any better?

What are some your policies or ideas on this matter?

Updated October 13, 2010

Blog Written by:

Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Realty Group

Manchester NH

Comments(6)

Carla Harbert
www.LorainCountyHomeSales.com - Avon, OH
RE/MAX Omega: Lorain-Medina County Area

Since there are so many agents in my area, our office has enlisted Centralized Showing Solutions to set up showings for our listings. I love the service & highly recommend this company. Unfortunately, we can have securities in place to protect homes with lockboxes on them, but when the agent that sets us a showing gives out the code to their buyers, with no intentions of being present for these showings, it's upsetting to me. I don't like my codes given out. I'll probably get blasted for this, but I think these agents are doing a disservice to all of us - by shortcutting & not fulfilling their job duties. The appointment was set up for THIS AGENT to show the home, not to freely give out access to any buyer they so chose. Unwise.

Oct 13, 2010 05:37 AM
Gloria Valvasori, Accredited Senior Agent
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE SIGNATURE SERVICE - Mississauga, ON
REAL Experience | REAL Commitment | REAL Results!

Hi Scott... unfortunately there are a lot of unprofessional agents out there. I'm not sure how one would resolve this issue.. Sometimes I change the code on the lockbox frequently, so agents who have been to the home before cannot just come in again, or give the code to anyone else without calling the office first to book the appointment through the proper channels.  This way I can at least keep track of who is going in...

 

Oct 13, 2010 05:50 AM
Gordon Lane - serving the Sacramento Region
eXp Realty - Sacramento, CA
Making selling or buying a home easy

This must be something that varies by area. In my area of California agents use Supra ekeys, which allows the listing agent to know exactly who has been in the house. Maybe because of that it is very rare for a listing agent to require notice before a showing. And I keep a list of vacant homes I want to previewd and if I'm in the area and have a few minutes I'll pop in and take a look - which I wouldn't do if I had to notify the listing agent first.

Oct 13, 2010 06:21 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Gordon unfortanately with alot of my bank owned listings, the bank requires a combo bix with their specified code. So Supra doesnt help me in thi\ose situations.

 

Oct 13, 2010 06:38 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Gloria on my own boxes i rotate the codes which helps, but it seems to be the new bank owned listinbgs that a flury of activity as they are priced to sell that seem to have the problems. Unfortanately i hvae to use that banks code or the banks use a national company that installs the lock box with their own codes.

Oct 13, 2010 06:38 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Carla i agree, if that agent is too busy to meet their client there, i can sure make time for them to get in without having the agent sneak them in alone.

Oct 13, 2010 06:39 AM