Yes, We Have no Lockboxes

Most who have found themselves out looking for a new house have found themselves watching a Realtor struggle with opening a real estate lockbox. Lockboxes are those little metal boxes with ABC combinations holding the keys to the house.

When we list property, we dont use lockboxes. Matter of fact, we don't even own one.

Lockboxes are a security risk to the property. They signal a lazy real estate listing agent. Far worse, they also allow practically anyone to enter the home, or in the case of cancelled showings of a home, make it nearly impossible for homeowners to know if someone was in their house or not.

The listing agent who uses lockboxes is really saying to the owner: I'll list your house for sale, but don't expect me to show it every time someone wants to see it. A practical question a homeowner could ask at this point is; since you will be the listing agent and the contract says you are going to sell the house, how are you going to sell it if you're not there? and how would a buyer's agent seeing the house for the first time know every aspect of this house?

These are practical questions. During the listing of a home, we learn virtually everything there is to know about a house. How old is the water heater, when was the hardwood refinished, where are the exact property lines; the list is nearly endless. It's not even practical to think an agent showing the house to their buyer clients would know any of these things. The buyer ends up leaving the property with more questions than answers and a sale never takes place.

Another common scenario is for the buyer's agent to no-show or cancel showings. Of course the listing agent doesnt know that because there is a lockbox on the door, they werent there, and its no big deal to them if the buyers agent showed up or not.

We attend every single showing of our client's homes. Other agents always state to me, "that must be very inconvenient". It's not nearly as incovenient as having your home on the market for sale. And by not using lockboxes and being available to answer all questions about a property, the goal is to make sure it's on the market for a minimum time and the sale is made.


The Friendly Real Estate Broker loves real estate questions and challenges from the public. Baseball trivia is welcome also.