When THAT sale was taking place I "snatched" a good amount of them, at least around 10 or more. In my area, for a long while, the same blue lockboxes Jay features were selling for $20. I don't even want to THINK about the potential liability that scenario could cause. Their own buyer agents give them the code. Most investors in my area know of a couple of them. Only thing LOL, is the codes seem to be one of a couple. Most of the lockboxes I see used are from bank reo properties, and the logic, at least in MY area, that I heard is that the listing agents either get these combination lockboxes directly from the lender or they use the combo boxes due to the fact that plumbers and repair people need to get in and the agent understandably cannot meet the service providers. Personally I can't stand combination lockboxes. It makes you wish it was harder to become a REALTOR® with at least a small emphasis on adequate levels of common sense. Any REALTOR® inside paying attention to their client is not likely to notice someone looking at the lockbox unless they are just leaving. It only takes a few seconds for someone walking by to go up to the door, look in the lockbox and get the code.
I often tell anyone who gives me a code when I called to confirm it through my office "so that there is a record of the confirmation", but I hope that they also get the hint that they shouldn't have told me in the first place.Īnother thing that I dislike is when agents leave a note in the lockbox with the code on it as the code and lock box are then usually left open for viewing when an agent is in the house. I have received confirmations in the past when I have to go through the agent and with some smaller brokerage offices, but if anyone asks for me to give it out I tell them I will confirm with their office and their office can page them the code. This is why all confirmations should go through the offices. Let’s face the facts, they save significant time and draw far less attention to themselves by simply tossing a brick through a window or putting their foot through your front door.įiled Under: Phoenix Real Estate Tagged With: Chandler About Jay Thompson Burglars don’t want to spend time at your home with a hacksaw or acetylene torch trying to get a lockbox open. Cutting one of them open would take a LONG time. Many people have concerns about placing a lockbox on their home. You’d be amazed how many homes I can open simply by trying the as-shipped default combination. Also, change the default combination before you use one of these. Sadly, I’ve seen lock box and gate codes placed in the public remarks section of the MLS – which is beyond stupid. Use the Realtor remarks section of the MLS. You’d think this would be painfully obvious, but apparently it’s not. “Combination” boxes take on several forms, here are a couple:Īgents: If you insist on going cheap, don’t EVER give out a lockbox code over the phone or via email (same goes for gate codes to gated communities). In the Phoenix real estate market, we use Supra electronic lock boxes that look like this:
If your agent can’t afford the $125 an electronic lockbox costs and insists on placing a $30 manual box on your home, I suggest finding another agent. Home sellers: Insist that your agent use an electronic lockbox, not a box that requires a combination or code to be entered. These boxes record every opening, so you know who accessed it and when the lockbox was opened. They don’t require codes and have to be accessed with an electronic key that is only available to licensed agents. I can’t give a code out over the phone.īetter yet, use an electronic lock box. You: Sorry, you’re going to have to call your office or wait there until I can come unlock the home.
We were just driving by and my client said, “Honey stop the car! I want to see this lovely home!” You: The lockbox code is in the Realtor remarks section of the MLS.Ĭaller: Oh, I’m at the house and don’t have access to the MLS. Here’s the right way to answer this call :Ĭaller: Hi! I’m an agent and I need the lockbox code to show your listing. In the second theft, a listing realtor got a call on Sunday from a woman claiming to be a realtor and gave her the code to the lock and arranged for the showing on Monday.Įxcuse me? GAVE HER THE CODE? Over the phone? Why in the name of Pete would you give anyone a lock box code over the telephone?!? Thieves posing as realtors and prospective home buyers struck two homes in Chandler on Monday, according to police. This from the East Valley Tribune yesterday – Imposters steal from Chandler home sellers.