To combat theft and to increase accountability, my company, Concord Real Estate has begun using the service of www.reolockbox.com. This is an online system that is available 24/7 where we advertise in the MLS that the lockbox code is available. Because we service Volusia and Flagler Counties in Florida and they have three, separate MLS systems, and now we are entering into the Orlando Market serviced by MidFlorida Regional MLS, this enables all agents to have equal access to the same information.
Reolockbox requires a one-time registration by the agent and the agent's state license information is verified with the state registry. If your license is inactive, suspended, etc. my assumption is that you would not be getting access to the system. This registration does not cost you anything to sign up.
Please note, if you are just going in to get a code and register for the first time and you find yourself in a place that is asking for money, you are in the wrong section of the site.
Upon registration and getting the code, the system sends the listing agent an email of the showing agent and agency that is going to view the house. Since these are all vacant properties, showing time is hardly important, but we do need showing counts for monthly reports and followup and feedback are always a good thing, though rarely we have time to do this these days.
Please cooperate and use the system. I have found that about 20% of the agents do everything to avoid using it and it creates problems for them and me. It causes delays for them because they complain about how hard it is to get in touch with me when they had access 24/7 to the information. I must tell you that a lockbox code call is a low priority to me when clear instructions are indicated for all to see in the MLS and someone is just being stubborn. By their refusing to be part of automation it means that I must stop what I'm doing, take their call, look up the number, give them the number and then log their showing in the system.
It is a one time registration and you will not have to sign up again and our REO's are likely to be around for the next 3 to 5 years according to the industry gurus. If this doesn't seem like a big deal to you, then you haven't worked in an REO Agent's office, even in normal times, most agents in my office would comment that they didn't want to work "that hard."
Also, please be careful about the keys and put them back in the box and spin the dials when you close the box. It is only courtesy for the next agent showing the property or us the listing agents. We take all kinds of heat from all sides when the keys are missing and we must rekey. As agents, our time is very valuable and we all need to be respectful and mindfull of each other's time.
Wishing you sunshine,
Janet Fetterman, Broker Associate/Owner
Concord Real Estate
132 Canal Street
New Smyrna Beach FL
386-299-6393
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