Lockbox Etiquette-Are You One of the Careless Agents?
On one of many Facebook real estate groups a question came up yesterday, "the agent showing behind me wanted me to give him the key". She told him he should get it out of the lockbox and he turned around in front of both sets of clients and was rude about it.
Didn't sound like a new agent, I think he's one of the many agents lots of us would simply like to see go away! One 
bad apple and all that stuff.
Many of the agents responded with " ask for their card and then give the key to him or she should have given up the key", especially in this market. I don't know what the last statement means but all of those agents should find work elsewhere, in another profession. New agents don't act or respond in this fashon but with questions like how should it be done? Why?
Am I being rough? To harsh? Well, in the last few years I have seen, dealt with and suffered the dumbness and/or unprofessional behavior of more of these agents then should be considered normal! They are everywhere among us right now! And it hurts everybody concerned with selling homes. I left remarks on this poor activity and they argue for giving the owners house keys to some dude walking up to the home! OMG, learn, follow the rules and don't be a dumb ass.
If you don't understand why a key SHOULD NOT be passed off during multiple showings, get training because there is more than one reason! In fact, don't enter a property while being shown by another agent, wait in line for your turn. We aren't selling ice cream, skateboards or skirts!
Remember, if it were your home, would you want anybody that walks up to have the key? And for those agents that pass off the key when someone hands you a business card, I've got hundreds of other agents cards I could pass off. Combo only lockboxes, only for the banks, REOs.
Home sellers and buyers, vet your agent, ask questions, ask this one because the lockbox is often discussed for security reasons. We can't protect the box if an agent showing is going to hand off the key to your valuables, safety or security unless we provide a one time code to every agent holding them personally responsible! I think that is my next listing benefit I will offer all of my sellers. Yes it takes time but the security of our listings is paramount.
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