Should you have a lockbox or not? Having a lockbox makes it easier for Realtors to show your home. And the easier it is to see your home, the more it will be shown and the faster you will receive an offer(s). Scroll down to learn more about the different types of lockboxes and how to keep your home secure without discouraging showings:
For security reasons & to track showing feedback, even if you have a keypad on the door, I recommend using a lockbox instead of giving your code out to Realtors because you don’t want the code ending up in the wrong hands. Also, with a keypad, you can see when your keypad was accessed, but your agent can’t, which means they can’t follow up for showing feedback. Without that feedback, there could be something preventing buyers from wanting to buy your home that you won’t be able to remedy (e.g., pet odor, taste-specific decor, squeaky doors) if you don’t know about it.
Which is better, a combination lockbox or Realtor-only electronic lockbox? Realtors often opt for combination lockboxes because they are less expensive but, just as with the keypad, the code can end up in the wrong hands. Some Realtors use the same combination codes for all their properties or the last 4 digits of their phone number, which makes it easier for someone to access without permission. As there’s no way to tell who used the combination, immediate showing follow-up is not possible. Showing feedback can alert you to correctable buyer turnoffs.
The electronic Realtor lockbox can only be accessed by licensed Realtors who have been through a background check & fingerprinting and who are dues-paying members of the local Realtor board & have paid additional fees for lockbox access. The listing agent can track who accessed the lockbox & when it was accessed. It also enables prompts for Realtor showing feedback.
But scheduling mishaps occur and, to prevent a Realtor from gaining access without the listing agent’s knowledge, ask your Realtor to have the lockbox programmed with a CBS (Call Before Showing) code. This prevents Realtors from zapping the box & getting in without notice. They must call the listing agent for the special code.
The easier it is to see your property, the more it will be shown and the faster you will sell. More showings translate to more offers, faster. Fewer showings mean more days on market and that leads to a lower sales price.
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