Pros and Cons of a Lock box

Here is the latest installment of Russ Ravary's home selling tips on the pro's and con's of putting a lockbox on your home when you list it.  I have strong opinions on this because I believe you are making a huge mistake if you do not put a lockbox on the house.   When selling your home whether it is in Sylvan Lake home, Commerce, or Canton your real estate agent is going to ask you whether you we are going to put a lock box on your home.  My first reaction as your real estate agent is......Yes, you do have to use a lock box when selling your  home!

A lock box makes the whole process of selling your Oakland or Wayne County home easier.  A lock box is a basically a padlock with a cavity inside where a key to your home can be placed. My office gives out the combination after they talk to you and verify it is OK to show your home.  When another real estate agent calls to set up a showing of your home my office verifies who they are.  They ask them for their license number and they call to confirm on an office number for that agent that we have in our system.  So they can’t be just anybody looking to get into your house.  They will call that agents phone number that we have in the system.

They have to be a licensed real estate agent to gain access to your home.  Then my office gives the other agent the combination to the lock box.  Only someone with the combination can get into the lock box and access the key. Having a lock box available at your house makes it easy for other agents to get access to your house.  We have a record of who goes into your house and when they go.

It takes time and a lot of work to get into a lockbox.  Getting into a lockbox is very hard as I have done it quite a few times over the years..  They are built to withstand somebody breaking into them.  Once every few years I get a lockbox that gets stuck closed.  So I have to break into it and get the key out to put a new lockbox on.  First you have to cut it off the door.  It is very tight to use a bolt cutter or you have to sawzall it off.  Then once you have it off the door you have to take a sledge hammer to break the lock box open.  They could take the same sledge hammer to your door and get in.  So the security is there with a lock box.

Without the lock box, agents representing buyers would have to set appointments to meet you or your agent at the house so they could gain access and view the home. This would be extremely inconvenient. Since almost every other house does have a lockbox available, if you do not allow one most agents will simply not show your property. You will miss out on lots of potential buyers.

More Michigan home selling tips

My past experience with agents or home owners that don’t use a lock box is that they lose showings.  Now you have two agents that have to try to arrange a time when they both can be there.  If you do not have a lock box you are making a big mistake.  Think about these scenarios. 

1.)  Your agent has a family get together or his son is in a playoff game.  Do you think they are cancelling their family obligations to show your house. 

2.)  Your agent has a closing, or an office meeting.  Do you think they are going to cancel the closing to show your house? 

3.)  Your agent has buyer showings on the other side of town already scheduled with a client?  Do you think your agent is going to show your house?

 No, your agent is going to say the buyer can’t get in that day.  You have lost a possible sale of your home.  All listing agents are busy.  It is a major inconvenience for them to drive to your house and let another agent it.  Trust me on this….a lot of homes without lock boxes lose showings because it is too hard to get into.

Honestly if you have hired a good real estate agent they do not have time to go to your house for hours and wait on showings.  I don't have the time to do that.  It's a waste of my time.  I honestly won't take a listing that the seller won't allow a lock box.  It's crazy not to put a lock box on the house. 

The listing contract that you sign specifies whether you allow a lockbox or not. It is locked into place, usually on the front door and cannot be removed. Only other agents can access the key that is located within the lockbox.  So I highly recommend you put a lock box on your Oakland County home when you go to sell

Feel free to read more home selling tips and when you are ready to sell your home go with a Realtor like me that will market you home in the places home buyers are looking.   Thousands of people go to my websites each day, I will get you the exposure you need to get your home SOLD!  We get quite a few buyers looking for homes via the website.  More buyers for your home means it should sell quicker.  Remember it is a numbers game.  The bigger demand for your home the better the chance of selling it for top dollar.

Why give your money away to some real estate agent?  When you sell your home keep more of your homes profits by hiring a great realtor with a low commission rate.  Save thousands and thousands of dollars.  Call Russ today to see how much you can save when listing your home.   248-310-6239

If you are looking to sell your home and want a really good real estate agent in your corner give me a call.  I market your home heavily on the internet.  Plus I am a good negotiator so call or text me at

 248-310-6239

 

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 My quote of the month:

You are the only person that can really change your life

 

May life always treat you and your family well.............

 

Russ Ravary

Real Estate One

"Helping make your next move easier!"

In the Top 2 % of Michigan Realtors

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cell 248-310-6239

Office 248-363-8300

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By the way if you know somebody else looking to buy or sell a home I always appreciate a referral.