What Are Lockboxes & How Do They Work? 
When a homeowner lists their house for sale with a Realtor, they may choose to store their house keys in a lockbox for easy access for showing their home. In fact, these handy accessories have all but replaced the need to keep a spare key at the Brokers office or a key under the mat. And not to mention, they are a lot more effective and secure.
What Is A Lockbox?
A lockbox is a small strong lockable container that has a storage compartment inside that holds the key to your house. It is typically hung over the door knob to the front door or a railing close by and allows Realtors to gain access to your home when you can't be there for a showing. They come in different styles. Some known as combination lockboxes require a 3 or 4 digit code to open them.The most secure lockboxes are the Supra type lockboxes which only a Realtor can open with their MLS ID code which is updated daily. In addition,the showing times can be controlled & monitored & the listing agent is notified via e-mail or text every time the house is shown.
Why Realtors Like To Use A Lockbox?
It's no surprise that we like to sell houses, but we wouldn't be in business for long if all the homes we wanted to show had to be omitted because the owners were at work or away. A lockbox works to prevent anyone, other than approved Realtors, from being granted access into the home. Not only does it allow the Realtor to be more effective in showing homes, but it also gives the owner more free time & some added peace of mind in knowing that their home is being protected.
Lockbox Safety
When it comes to protecting any home, careful planning is a must. Many experts and homeowners alike believe that having a lockbox alone will not protect the home, but rather the unit together with proper placement would be the better combination for optimal security. Some Realtors recommend placing the lockbox in an area that's concealed, but that's not obvious at first glance. Some may prefer to leave the lockbox near the entrance of the home because, after all, how many burglars would ever walk right up to the front door?
Now that you know where to place the lockbox, you need to know where not to place it. Never choose a location that's far from the home or is inconvenient for the Realtors to access. In order to show your house to potential buyers, they need to be able to get in the door & it's not likely that they will be thrilled at the prospect of leaving their buyers waiting at the front door while they search the perimeter of your house through snow or an overgrown lawn, just to find the house key.
Comments(3)