For those homeowners who are selling their homes, often the agent will ask to put a lockbox or keybox on the door so that other agents will have easy access to the property. This can be critical since with so many homes for sale, if your home is not readily accessible the buyers will move on down the street to similar homes. And they may never return. So being able to get agents and their buyers into your home is very important.
However, there are lockboxes and there are lockboxes. Some of these you can buy at the Home Depot or over the internet. You may have even seen them. These are combination lockboxes. The agent can set a combination for the box and when another agent calls he/she can give them the combination. Then the buyer's agent can open the box and get the key that opens the home. There are several types of combination boxes and one type is shown to the left.
Here is the problem. Combinations can be seen or heard by buyers and others. They can be written on the listing information sheets and picked up by others. If they get into the wrong hands, that person can later return, put in the combination, take out the key, and enter your home. The box type in the picture does not even require that you put in the numbers in a specific order. So, for example, if the combo is 1-6-9-3, you can also put in 9-3-6-1, or 3-9-1-6 etc. No matter how you enter the numbers, that type of box will open!
Another problem is that some (not many) agents give the combination to customers when the agent cannot go to show the home in person. This is strictly forbidden, but sadly it does happen.
It is also possible that with the non-push button type of combination lockboxes the agent may forget to spin the tumblers when he/she exits which will basically leave the box in an "open" position that will allow anyone to get the key out!
In addition, with combination boxes no record is kept of who went into the home and when they were there.
So why are these boxes used so often? Well, they cost about $30, more or less and can be bought through many outlets.
Now, the type of lockbox I used is much more secure. It is called the iBox from General Electric. As you can see in the picture to the left, there are no keys. Just a little red (hard to see) infra-red window, not unlike the one on your television. The key is kept in a special compartment in the bottom of the box and the box is very hard to get off once it is shackled on the door or a nearby railing.
To open it, an agent must use an Active Key or a properly programmed Blackberry type device with an infra-red sending capability. These can only be purchased from our local REALTOR associations. Not just anyone off the street can buy one. And their use is very well regulated.
Each agent has his/her own personal PIN code that he or she must enter and then point the Active Key at the box. If the code is correct, the bottom of the box can be opened and the key taken out.
An added plus is that as soon as an agent does this, a signal is sent out via the cell phone network that goes through the internet to my computer to tell me that, for example, on November 3rd at 3:42 PM agent Joe Schmoe from XYZ Realty used his Active Key to enter the home. I can keep a running record of the number of showings and also know who forgot to turn off the lights, etc.
Another important feature is that if someone wanted to rob a home, first they would have to steal my Active Key. Then they would need to somehow guess my PIN number. That number is something I keep out of sight when I punch it in. Then they would have to beat me to the phone. Since as soon as my key was taken, I can call General Electric and say "Active Key # ******** was stolen". Immediately they can send a signal through the cell phone network that will deactivate the key and make it useless. Pretty neat, right?
Even those these iBoxes cost me around $120 a piece, and the Active Key costs me nearly $200 a year for its rental, I feel they are worth it. I get accurate reports on visits, and my customers' homes are more secure. There are no 100% guarantees in this world, but I try to go the extra mile to make sure I protect my sellers as much as I can.
When listing your home, ask your agent what type of lockbox he/she intends to use on your home. It is a valid question in today's world.
If you would like to learn more about how I do business, you can visit My Webpage at: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com or my Zephyrhills 55+ Bulletin Board at: www.bulletinboards.com/zephyrhills55+bulletinboard You can also call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com
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