We can choose between putting our listings on a combination lockbox or a Supra, Electronic key in our area. The supra tells an agent who accessed the house and when. It stops unscrupulous people from obtaining the combination and helping themselves to the seller's belongings. This doesn't happen often but it happens. Or, an unscrupulous agent who doesn't feel like meeting the buyer at a house can give his client the combination and away they go. This happens way more than you'd think, fortunately, it's never happened to one of my listings.
I always ask the seller which they are more comfortable with. A combination can be appropriate if the seller lives there and can be there after the showing to ensure the home is properly locked up. If the seller is away or has a second home and is not there often and their home still houses all of their belongings, an electronic key is the only way to keep the house secure.
Whenever I have a situation, where I feel the house is more secure with an electronic keypad, there are agents in our market who refuse to use them due to the cost. It's a whopping $120 a year. For me, it's the cost of doing business.
Does your agent have the app or does your agent need to call the listing agent whenever one is required to have them meet you at the house?
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