I'd love to show your house...If I could only get in!

First impressions count!  Make sure the door knobs and locks on the front door are in good working order.

Over the past couple of weeks I have had several experiences where I was showing a home to a client and it was nearly impossible to get into the home.  In two instances the keys fit the locks but it took about five minutes of maneuvering to get the locks to open.  In both cases the door knobs were practically falling off.  I also went to preview a property and the keys did not work at all. 

A couple of tips:

1. Make sure the lockbox is placed in a way that is easily accessable to agents.  We shouldn't have to be a contortionist just to get to the key.
2. Make sure the keys for the locks are correct.  Check, then check again, that the locks can be opened.
3. If the locks and knobs are old and don't work properly, suggest to the owner that they replace them before the property is shown.  It could be the difference between the property being seen by a client, or not.  And, it makes a better first impression.

While I'm still on my soapbox... Have your sellers/landlords make sure the front door is painted.  Peeling paint sends a message that the property is not well maintained.

It's the little things that can make all of our jobs a little easier!