Here is the Link for NAMB in VEGAS.
How would you feel about a smart phone app that allows potential buyers to get a lock box code to tour a listing? Well, it exists.
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Yes, let’s go for it! buyers visiting on their own, no agent. After all it is the sellers’ decision to allow it, not the agent. It will resolved itself with sellers saying enough. Chances are there will be too many incidents and the sellers will call it quit. To name a few: Doors or windows left open, giving a chance for a house to be gutted of its metal, or squatted. Broken items. And the best toilettes not flushed after potential buyers use. I am sure many other incidents which I am not thinking of at this time…. let the millennial create their own list of incidents.
I was looking at a rental property in Indiana (as a consumer) and to see the property I had to provide a credit card for liability purposes and then they would give me an electronic code to view the property on my own. The idea was they could track who entered the home via the code and then charge me for any damages or theft. Yes it’s still a beatable system, but a shade better than the one mentioned in the video.
I’ve recently heard of real time video tours of homes and thought it meant the agent going to the home and FaceTime /Skyping themselves to potential buyers, not the other way around. Perhaps this is what was meant?
Now here’s a thought, if you can’t enter the home without being on Facetime, don’t they now have you on a live video feed that would match your appearance up to your ID?
Let’s take this a step further. What if they also used an app you had to download and it added geolocation to the mix? They have your pictures and proof of location.
So I would say they (the buyer) has just as much liability as any buyer who walks in a home with a physically present agent.
Absolutely insane for a seller to allow something like this. All the more reason to use a Supra Lockbox…. All it's going to take is for a few agenst to get sued to put a stop to this.
ZipTours is backed by Marketplace Homes out of Livonia Michigan. This Company Marketplace homes offers too homeowners that can NOT sell their home due to poor conduction of the home or just can’t sell for some reason. They promise home owners, if you buy a home from one of our builder partners we will lease your home for six years and guarantee your payments for the 6 years. What happens is after they show the bank the rental agreement the home owner off sets their payment on the house, the home owner can’t sell. Marketplace homes than closes on the owners new construction home and receives a commission then Marketplace homes lease out that home that the home owners had on the market for a long time longer than a normal listing of 60 to 90 days. Marketplace leases these homes with problems to family’s and won’t return repair request calls, the home owner are NOT concerned with paying out any on going repairs leaving the lessee, the start too their nightmare… Marketplace homes is a company that wants too sell to home buyers and sellers a Zip Plan, people today want trust,service,goal’s and needs meet. A person/Company with a video camera that will be handling one of the biggest purchases in a home owners life, I don’t think so…On line photos and on line video is all home buyers need, too look at a home. After viewing their likes, will buy. No seller will TRUST just anyone walking thru their home. There are problems with Realtor’s stealing from listings, why make more problem’s for the process. Marketplace homes, has poor customer service. Mike Kalis owner of Marketplace homes won’t even call his clients, that lease the homes his company manages. Realtor’s are professionals that are needed. I say NO to ZIP and Marketplace homes.
Sounds like an Agent Open House with a twist to me. Don’t many in the industry let “potential buyers” wander through homes without even providing an ID or a prequal letter?
Sounds a lilttle like today’s Agent Open House. Isn’t is common practice to let “potential buyers” walk through a seller’s real property without showing a valid ID or a PreQual Letter?
It is a great plan. I should come with an entry camera and a rolling programmable code on the lock box. 1 entry per code number and a running video of you in the property. $100 kit @ Tiger Direct!
The real estate industry has finally gone certificable nuts if this catches on – trust is the first and most important aspect of agency and what we as agents are most about. It's difficult to believe that anyone other than perhaps a millenial nerd would even allow this type of access. Nothing surprises me anymore but this is just crazy. There is no accountability and driven by laziness in the name of efficiency.
We have had agents do this in our market area but they just gave them the code and said "go look at it and let me know" – got a day code via Showing Suite (why?) But they can also just call the agent when they get there with the LB serial number and get a code over the phone.
It's time to retire.
For traditional sellers of an occupied home, Bad, Bad idea. But this could have a use for vacant inner city listings shown to an investor. Keeps Realtor safe and very efficient for the investor.
I understand this might be what a buyer wants but I'm pretty sure there a scummy people out there who have already figured this out. Agents need to be involved in the process and this marginalizes all of us further. The buying and selling process needs professionals involved. Not some FaceTime call center minimum wage non licensed individual.
In our area we are suppose to use Real Estate lock boxes, not combos.
ZipTours is backed by Marketplace Homes out of Livonia Michigan. This Company Marketplace homes offers too homeowners that can NOT sell their home due to poor conduction of the home or just can’t sell for some reason. They promise home owners, if you buy a home from one of our builder partners we will lease your home for six years and guarantee your payments for the 6 years. What happens is after they show the bank the rental agreement the home owner off sets their payment on the house, the home owner can’t sell. Marketplace homes than closes on the owners new construction home and receives a commission then Marketplace homes lease out that home that the home owners had on the market for a long time longer than a normal listing of 60 to 90 days. Marketplace leases these homes with problems to family’s and won’t return repair request calls, the home owner are NOT concerned with paying out any on going repairs leaving the lessee, the start too their nightmare… Marketplace homes is a company that wants too sell to home buyers and sellers a Zip Plan, people today want trust,service,goal’s and needs meet. A person/Company with a video camera that will be handling one of the biggest purchases in a home owners life, I don’t think so…On line photos and on line video is all home buyers need, too look at a home. After viewing their likes, will buy. No seller will TRUST just anyone walking thru their home. There are problems with Realtor’s stealing from listings, why make more problem’s for the process. Marketplace homes, has poor customer service. Mike Kalis owner of Marketplace homes won’t even call his clients, that lease the homes his company manages. Realtor’s are professionals that are needed. I say NO to ZIP and Marketplace homes
I can’t even begin to list all the reasons this is a bad idea. As a Seller… yea… You remember the seller… The person whose home these unattended “buyers” will be going through – I would NEVER sign off on this!!! I have to look at specifically what the listing agreement says about lockboxes & showings but I am pretty sure it speaks to the fact the seller agrees to allow the home to be shown by licensed real estate professionals. Whether specifically stated… Again… Pretty sure the implication is that the Licensed Real Estate Professional is physically present! It’s one of the many reasons a seller uses a RE Pro!!! They feel safer! Good grief!!!
Although this option may work for a buyer that has already been qualified and has actually met with a realtor, I believe most sellers would prefer the agent representing their property to be present. Buyers typically choose a realtor based on their performance history of selling prior properties. All in all, I feel this is a bad idea. Giving a lock box code out is insane. May as well leave the door open.
What we must first do is create another handful of laws, rules, and regulations regarding lockboxes. After that, we can discuss the problem. The fiduciary aspect of any agency relationship requires the agent to put the client (seller) interests above their own. Your first thought should always be WWCW – what would the client want. If your client would have no concerns about an unsupervised and unauthorized person gaining a key and entering their property…. then go for it !!
Forget it. As an agent I want to read my buyer’s reactions to what they’re seeing. There’s a level of accountability to the owner and/or the listing agent. Lots more to say, but why waste my time on this ridiculous idea…
Sadly you can’t fix stupid!
I can’t imagine any seller with a halfway decent house saying “Sure, I don’t mind you giving absolutely everyone with a Facebook page and a driver’s license access to my home without a licensed Realtor present.”. I would never say that.
Too many times have I been showing a house only to find a buyer there that is not accompanied by a real estate agent, but was given the code by one. I don’t agree with the practice nor do I agree with the ZIP Tour concept. As Frank mentions, on the surface it sounds great HOWEVER it puts the home seller at great risk. Theft, home invasion, vandalism, raves, squatters. These are all terms that come to mind when I see this concept taking hold. What needs to be done is to educate buyers NOT to allow this sort of practice for their own protection.
Why on GOD Green Earth would any Seller or any competent agent would even want to take a chance on this app. As agents we are to protect our clients(Seller) investment(s). This app will open the flood gates for criminals.
Homebuying is such a personal and significant life experience why wouldn't you want your agent with you. For safety reasons I don't think clients should enter homes alone. It's interesting that people have come up with a way to reduce the need for an agent meanwhile legal fees, inspection fees and bank fees are on the rise, crime rates as they relate to theft and home invasion could certainly increase as well. I say keep go back to the think tank on this idea.
Just say NO! Discuss with your sellers and I would imagine they all would say no. Simply have it part of the showing instructions. Realtor MUST be physically present in order to show home to any buyer.
Really? What are these people thinking? As soon as a few houses get robbed….game over.
Absolutely no way!
In Pinellas county Florida if it is in the MLS and it is discovered that the buyer got the code from an agent there is a $5000 fine. Catch….it is being done and fines don't seem to be put in place. Lazy agents creating this . Hurting the reputation of the industry for fees we fight hard to negotiate.
Sure…go for it…until there are drugs missing from the medicine cabinet, someone slips and falls on a staircase or loose rug….someone uses the toilet and it overflows…..someone "tests" the gas range….There are no good ends to this foolish practice no matter what consent you get from the Seller.
Of all the silliness this takes the cake. The opportunities are certainly ripe for theft and other issues. I only use electronic lockboxes and all our REO properties now require them. This has been a mandate for the past four years. If a vacant bank owned property managed by an asset management company REQUIRES electronic lockboxes only then apparently they had some problems in VACANT houses. So, now a homeowner with all their personals is talked into letting unattended buyers go through their homes? Facetime is only as good as where someone points the camera. I tell all my owners to tuck away small valuables as well as ALL medications. I had an experience with someone who had to use the bathroom all the time only to find out she was clipping drugs out of every place we went. Not the whole bottle just a few and nobody ever knew. When Zip suffer enough lawsuits this will be over. I also think it good standard practice to remove all photos save the front photo when closing out a listing since these pics stay on the internet forever.
If the house is vacant, and owner living in another state, what is to stop the potential buyer from getting the key thru this company, making a copy and then occupying the house? You then have problems with possession, eviction, claims homeowner abandoned the property, etc. Here in Texas, we were having problems with people moving into vacant homes and saying the owner abandoned the house. It takes a long time to legally evict them, years even.
I would hate to be one of those buyers getting accused of stealing something when more than one buyer has the same code and can give to how many others. This is not going to work for smart sellers!
The heck with Supra. Just don't give out codes.
All a walk-thru buyer needs to do is unlock a window or two while they are there and more than theft can happen…. Think about it – rape, murder, child molestation, etc. Not only that, it just feels weird that a stranger unattended, has been through my home. What if there are two or more of them? Does everybody need to stay within the view of facetime?? What if they do not have a facebook page? And exactly how do they Vet these people? Is there a hard line that says you say too many bad things on Facebook? Who decides whether you are good enough or not to see a house alone??
Too many unanswered questions for me at this time. Maybe a better idea is detalied virtual tours and one final showing with a Realtor. Of course Realtors want to show the best pictures online so a more realistic representation would have to be given so the buyers can make informed decisions based on reality.
Technology is great but this is not something I would recommend to my clients yet.
We only give a “ONE DAY CODE” for a lock box when (a) an agent gets to the house and their sentry card isn’t working (b) after we have confirmed that the requester of this “ONE DAY CODE” is a licensee. If (and our brokerage does) assign all lock boxes to a particular property that data is gathered and we always know exactly who/what/where a lock box was accessed. Our market area shares several MLSs with different lock boxes, this practice is done to facilitate a showing and sale.
Why do I have to be fingerprinted and licensed again? Huh? What? This is INSANE!
I don’t like it. We need to have control over our buyers because they can almost do anything over the internet already and this new system can give them even more “power”.
Supra key access. Even vacant homes, as theives take appliances, ac, fixtures etc.. No showing after dark, No showing before 9am. If we use listing booster, visual tours, multiple photos, etc serious buyers know about the home and can arrange the appropriate showing time. Crooks on the otherhand prey on the unsuspecting. Good message!
Hell NO!
Frank asked a good question at the end, what if the company created a way for the buyer to pick up a smart phone from the office that is programmed to track the clients where about, but also allows the client to use the ibox from the phone. The phones can be tracked and have to be returned to the real Estste office and the ibox generates a time stamp to keep track of when it was opened… This still protects the home owner and the buyer still has to return the phone back to the office, yet allows them to go see the houses on their time.
lazy agents……this will kill our industry
I was showing one of my listings to some buyers when a couple walked up in t shirts and shorts and asked if this was *** NW 33 Ct? I said," yes". They were waiting for me to put the keys back in the LBX. I thought I would ask, "are you an agent?" (sometimes agents dress very causual in So Florida). They said, "no". I asked if their agent was meeting them? They said, "No". I asked (as the listing agent), "how were you going to see the home without your agent?" They said,"our agent said it was vacant so it was OK to give them the LBX code!!" Hmmm….I asked who their agent was and they got offended! I said I would show them the house, but I needed to speak with their agent first.
I replaced all combo LBX's with Supra units that day. How lazy does someone have to be to not meet buyers at a home and put at risk someones personal belongings?
Not a fan.My sellers would oppose potential buyers in their home with out a Realtor. There is no account ability. Stay away from my listings.
Absolutely should not be allowed. It denegrates our profession and leaves not only us in liability hell, but most important our clients in jeopardy and unsafe conditions!!! There are so many things wrong with this concept that it scares me to even think that Realtors would even consider it a viable option or tool. Lazy agents are the ones that would use it and we certainly don't need any more of them!
Amazingly bad idea!!
I love the idea but I dont think it is a secure way to show real estate, build customer relationships and increase business. The sellers would be totally against it anyway!
Forget Facebook profiles, what prohibits a buyer from "falling" at the property and now your sued.
How do they get the lock box code? If a listing agent provides the code that agent should have their license taken away and never returned. I will not even do an inspection for an appraisal on a house without some one being there unless it is vacant, thus nothing there to be accused of being taken.
I will check with our MLS here, but I am sure an agent providing lock box codes for this purpose would be kicked off the board
James
I would not give a buyer a lockbox code even if I was present. You then have no control. They could come back later with friends, give a friend who is also looking for a home the code, just list the code on Facebook to brag to their friends about the cool home they just saw. Unless it comes with a security system with cameras in every room and a one use code this is not an option. I would think that many people would prefer that the property was left open so they could just look around whenever they wanted to. The fact that some lazy age group of people that are so self absorbed that they think they are the only ones around does not make it a good idea.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
An agent who participates in this process should have their license taken.
Vickey is correct. If you use a Supra electronic box and put CBS (call before showing) code in it, only the person you give the code to can open it. Even without the CBS code, a buyer should not be able to access the box with their smartphone as they would have to be a paid, registered user with Supra. Agents who use the cheap, hardware store combination code lockboxes are just trying to save money, but are not being professional. Also, they have no way to track who uses the lockbox. With Supra, every time an agent opens the box I get an email with the name and time it is opened. I have a report on each listing. Time for agents to get professional and stop being lazy and cheap. Kathleen, how do you get your listings shown if you don't give out the code. Really?
It's a violation of the REALTOR Code of Ethics Section 3, Standard of Practice 3-9, to "provide access to listed property on terms other than those established by the owner or the listing broker." Therefore, any company doing this without the expressed permission of the listing broker or owner is violating the COE.
One thing that could help this to work would be a smarter lockbox. If for example the call center could open the box once they were on Facetime. Or if the buyer could download an app that opened the box but only while the app is communicating with the call center who is once again controlling the timing of the opening.
Most of my sellers would not want this but I could see it for new or otherwise empty homes.
Wonder how much longer these idiots will have their license. One more thing to include in all my listings. "Buyer agent to be physically present during showings." Just another stupid disclosure like don't iron your clothes while wearing them. There will always be one to push it a bit too far.
Here in my MLS, My Florida MLS, it is up to a $5,000 fine to give out lock box codes.
Are they taking direction from the people running our government? Crazy!! I would like to start a revolution …..if you want to be a member of our profession and associaiton you must close 12 transactions a year. There are too many rules and regulations and the climant is always changing. If an agent is not full time and not understanding the ever changing rules and regulations how can they advise their client in the correct and professional manner that we all strive to have and be. We as agents that are full time and this is our career must stand together.
Face Time GOOD… Lock Box Codes NOT GOOD. Yes, millennials want ‘instant gratification’ and that is not a bad think. FaceTime or any other form of video is a great way to help curb that appetite. And… during the video interaction, the agent can then gather information that helps the agent qualify the prospective client as a viable and potentially qualified buyer. Video interaction would also put a safer spin on an agent having a ‘first encounter’ one-on-one ‘in person’ interaction because a video image of the buyer prospect would be logged onto the video platform. It would be better if the video platform used a cloud based archive system to store and save the video session, for security reasons. Nevertheless, giving out a lock box code is simply NOT the right thing to do. Just my 0.02 cents to this subject.
So while there's noone looking they "lick the donuts" left out by the seller (aka ariana grande style) Pretty sure its not just realtors that may not like the idea… Not sure sellers would like strangers off the street without licensed FINGERPRINTED agents with them.
Are they nuts!!!!!
. . . let's take that a step further. Several brokerages now solicit sellers via radio, tv and mailers, to buy their home outright, put their combination lockbox on and give the code to any potential buyers who want to see with or without a Realtor. Nice and clean for them as the Seller has already paid all the fees upfront for the closing costs, home inspection, appraisal, HOA fees, taxes, etc. and moved out of the house. Sure the fees are a little higher, not much. Upfront looks great. No closing hassles for the owner. These brokerages put it on the local MLS and pay a Buyer Broker commission. No Supra Lockbox. No risk to the now non-owner. Now who wants to be a Listing Agent? The reports coming from sellers are indicating some additioanl negotiations where the brokerage does their home inspection (paid by the owner already) and now wants additional fees to fix inspection items.
I believe this could be a really great thing if implemented correctly. If a potential buyer has met with a loan officer and provided full documentation and a credit report has been run where this borrower has been fully vetted by a bank or broker then a real estate agent has just saved him or herself a ton of gas money by allowing the borrowers to do this via face time. You have a fully vetted borrower and you have all their stuff – there is no reason not to do this. Just food for thought and before you all go nuts with the new TRID rules think about it this way. Borrower wants to see a house great let me do an LE for you. Borrower says great and signs the intent to proceed. Now you can ask for all the rest of the documentation. Now you have completed vetted the borrower and they can go house hunting…it is not that hard every body.
That kind of thinking is unbelievably naive for all of the reasons cited previously. Meeting with a loan officer, and doing all the things you mentioned doesn’t change the fact that many people, even legitimate buyers, have sticky fingers when no one is watching. And there’s no agent present to insure that shoes are removed so that no dirt/mud/snow gets tracked through out the house.
Nuts! Way too much Liability for the seller for me to reccommend participating in.
OH HELL NO!!! No un-escorted buyer is going into any of my listings! What disrespect to my sellers!!!
No way, you are duty bound to protect and represent the seller in all aspects of marketing and security is at the top of the list…jack poole
All I can say is WTH??? This is such a liability and the possibility for theft and/or damage is high…If a seller Opts for this they are crazy.
WTF!
After a few lawsuits and agent fines or jail time I feel the unprofessional agents will be gone.
Trespassing? Theres an app for that!!! 🙂
Just wait for the first law suite!!! it will come!!!!! What do Realtors get paid for if it's now showing property!!!!??? I also read that people know how to break the code on coded lock boxes…that's why Supra is secure…it's also a cost of doing business!!! Ive been a Realtor since 1973 and it should be a person business and the young people will learn that too!!! I went to show a condo and it had the owners phone number and still listed in MLS and when i called the owner she gave me the code after I gave her my phone number and she would have never know if i gave that code to 10 people to code or evern left the door unlocked!!! Just saying!!!! Danger and law suites in the future!! (Your Purrrfect Realtor) Darlene
Insane for a Seller? Insane for a broker! Liability, liability, liability. In Central Oregon, our Llisting agreements allows the listing broker to share access with cooperating brikers and appraisers. Period. Not to sellers, not to home inspectors and not to the public. Our MLS also has fines for sharing the passwords and PINs with others. Also, in Oregon, it is a violation of State Law to share a commission with an unlicensed party.
Our MLS uses electornic lockboxes which record the time, date, and agent opening the box. You can’t use them unless you have an eKey issued by the MLS. The MLS doesn’t allow us to use lockboxes that can be opened with a code. Does that stop everyone from using the ole coded lockboxes? Of course not, but it sure makes it difficult for thieves if the agent will just follow the rules.
Supra / Sentri…The only way to go. Absurd to think that any seller would allow this type of showing.
“Please, before you drag the cut up copper across the finished wood floors, please remove your shoes, turn off all lights, and leave your card….”This is the best terrible idea in a while. Maybe they can submit it for an Inman Tech Award.
Please, before you drag the cut up copper across the new wood floor, remove your shoes, turn off all lights, and leave your card." LOL, this is the best terrible idea ever. Maybe they can submit it to Inman for a Tech award.
Joan Hazelgrove Aloha Joan, I know you propably mean well, but to call me cheap and unproffesional for not subscribing to SUPRA, is to say the least, unprofesional in itself. I have lived in Kona for the last 15 years, I have never owned a key to the home I purchased 14 years ago – so my "SUPRA" would be empty for showings. Many clients are the same way, and the ones that do have keys, leave the windows in the house open 24/7, so the locked door is just to keep the honest person, honest. The criminal can get in with a simple boxcutter and cut the screens, better yet, they just remove them, so they have no weapon if the were to get caught. So, we do put cheap, unprofessional lock boxes on most of the homes, and they work fine, my understanding of the SUPRA (because they came here and pitched it) is that it only sends you a notification, when the person either updates their supra online, or is within a "wifi" they have access to. Things may have changed, but they are not the answer to all! We overwhelminlgy, as a members voted to stick to the mechanical ones.
I believe that the Courts will track the crime backwards to ZipTours, backed by Marketplace Homes out of Livonia Michigan and charge them as a contributing accomplice.
How could this possibly be legal? NUTS !!!
Here's what we do. We do not put in the MLS that there is a lockbox. All showings must call my office for access. This gives us an opportunity to screen the caller, get their license number, and meet the potential buyer and their agent at the property. It's a pain and takes time away from other business but it's what we do. Love the idea of CBC code. The only way to incresas our professional standards, and the public opinion is to take control of our profession.
Sure if I was a buyer it would be great…however as a Realtor and property owner I would never allow anyone to enter a home vacant or occupied without an agent present. I know who is going to be sued the first time anything is missing. Even vacant homes can be vandalized…plumbing, wiring gone,appliances, etc. This is truly crazy…but I have a feeling this is only the beginning.
this lockbox thing is insane
i wouldnt use a realtor who uses the dinosaur lock boxes
If I were a listing agent I'd want permission from my seller in writing before I offered this type of service; in terms of security I can see it working better in a vacant house. Also, why can't the listing agent be the contact and do the facetime – its a brave new world!
When is the last time the car sales person let you test drive a car without them riding with you? I'm sure they would love not to go on test drives, but the insurance company would have something to say about that. This sounds like the same thing to me.
In Texas Realtors have to be finger printed to have a Realtors License. I never put a combination lock box on a home that is occupied because they are to easy to get into. Why would someone let Buyers (not knowing if they are even qualified)into their home unsupervised. Face time does not show the big picture of what is going on in the home plus Buyers knowing the code could come into the home anytime. BAD IDEA
This could allow buyers to go anywhere is the country without an agent, taking business from local agents. If a seller approves of this, their agent better have a something in writing telling the seller their house could be robbed, vandilized, burned down, or just graffitied and that they will be totally liable for any damage. Does CAR have a new form for this?
I would much rather have the combination code without an agent than to have to wait for an agent to meet me at the property. This service appeals to me a lot! I am a real estate investor and find the majority of agents are ones that took a weekend course so they could get licensed but know nothing other than how to fill out the forms to make a sale. Is that everyone, no…but most seem to be that way. I'd rather go see a house without someone who has something else on their schedule. While that's how I like to do it, this doesn't mean I think this is the best way to get them. Maybe a DL with a pre-approval letter would be sufficient…and would mean a better client, anyway. These guys are on the right track. Another way to do it would be for your local agency to provide this service where the agent meets you once, verifies you are who you say you are, then offers the codes out to the client as needed. This way, the agent locks in their commission and the client gets to see houses at their own convenience. Not all buyers will prefer this method, but some like me would LOVE this!
We have a horrible franchise known as Ziptours.com making their presence in the Metro Detroit area. I had a horrible experience with a buyer showing up knocking on the door of my listing saying that they had an appointment to walk through the house with their "virtual agent" When I called Realcomp our MLS, they stated that their rules do not specifically state that you must be physically present…..pick your jaws up! I was alway under the same understanding as Cindy that it is a fineable offence to give any "non-licensed" person a lockbox combo. Needless to say we now have verbiage in all of our listings that you must be physically present with your buyer at all times. On a side note, Realcomp has now changed their wording to include "with Seller's permission". I am appalled that anyone would think that is a good idea. Lockbox combos in the hands of buyers is a horrible idea.
Had a very bad experience.
I have a current client that worked with an agent one time and that agent gave my current client lockbox code to get in homes. They felt TOTALLY uncomfortable with it. How did I meet them? They called me first and explained they wanted to see the home but wanted an agent there. Here is another scenario for potential idiot buyerw who enter a home without an agent. You better hope NO young child or teen is left home alone or you know that owner may accuse you of something that never happened. I like the convenience but HUGE potential law suits.
A couple thoughts. First and foremost, while I think this is ridiculous, does the seller allow this? If so, what can I say. Stupid is as stupid does! Why would a seller allow this? If a lower commission is the incentive that seems pretty stupid! I hope the listing agents protect themselves although they are somewhat complicit, aren't they? Second, discount brokerage model aside, we as agents should be promoting better service NOT cutting corners. I wonder what happens when the buyer wants to make an offer: does the agent walk through the property with the buyer? By him/herself? Or do they write an offer for a house they have never seen? As far as reliability, there is a lot of talk about Uber in my area. Aside from the convenience to the user, I have heard positive things about the way Uber "qualifies" their drivers. By the way, it seems that a couple of their "qualified" drivers have been accused of assaulting/ raping customers. If Uber can't get it right 100% of the time ….
This is just insane! This action has just placed my seller's lives, personal property, and real property in danger. In addition it has placed the safety of my fellow realtors and their clients in jeopardy. Effective immediately I will no longer allow agents to call sellers for showing times and will activate the CBS feature on all my team's lockboxes. Any agent wanting to show the property will, #1 Be required to pre-register before being given access to any of our listings. #2 Be required to provide BRE license number, broker info, contact info both phone and email. #3Be required to display or present their NAR and or BRE license before gaining access. I will also consider and look into a process of dening access to any Zip client without a member of my team being present, which in turn unless they are accompanied by a licesed Realtor at that visit, will immediate activate a procuring cause even via having the prospective unaccompanied prospect sign a BRNN (Buyer Representation Agreement) for that property and also any subsiquent other property we in turn show them.
Lazy Agents! Now this "facebook buyer" has the code forever. Security issue. Even if the house is vacant! Has a pool.Buyer drowns in it. Stupid agents.
The E&O insurance companies are going to have a field day with this. It's a safety issue for everyone.
I love technology but I hate mediocrity. We can all agree that service of any kind is becoming a thing of the past in America. This technology doesn't make life easier for anyone but the agent. I have no problem working for a living as I care about my sellers and buyers. I would NEVER , under any circumstances give a Buyer a lock box code. Among other things it could be huge potential liability for the Seller. Or what happens if the Seller says the Buyer let their dog out and it ran away or was hit by a car!? Hello lawsuit! Too many opportunities for deceit.
Oh, here's a good scenario: aggressive dog on premises locked in an area that unattended buyer is not supposed to go into. Goes into anyway. I'll leave the rest up to imagination but it gives me nightmares. This is just 1 little scenario.
Bad idea. The agent should be the one walking thru the house on FaceTime
Nice try, Dawn…. but why stop at 12? A quality, full-time agent in Las Vegas should close 15 homes a year…. no, let's make it 24 homes …. that's only 2 a month, are you sure that 12 per year is enough? I assume someone in Elko or Sparks would have to contact a "certified active" Realtor in Reno or Vegas when they want to list…. or they'll decide that "being a Realtor" just ain't that big a deal….. and the agents that don't qualify for your new "Realtor" status will use Zillow or other sites to market their listings…problem solved. What might happen to NAR and local user fees with only 1/10 as many Realtors? I am a licensed broker, certified appraiser, registered arbitrator for property tax appeals, and instructor for the Realtor University and the Real Estate Commission… and have a practice that dates to the mid-1970's… but I wouldn't "qualify" under your new rules – I don't "sell" enough to be an "active" Realtor. Why not just create a new "top dog" (TD) designation as a Realtor and invite your buddies to pay fees (based on closed sales) to join your "club"… and leave the poor appraisers (that also pay dues and user fees) alone ???
Agree with your opinion of supra –
When is the open-heart surgery APP coming? Wahoo!
How lazy & stupid do these Apps need to get? We can't even bother to show a person, the largest purchase of their lives', a couple houses live and in person?
A coded lock box that you change the code every week solves the problem of who has been in house – I don't have time to let a repair person into a home if needed – give them the code and check later – Supra box needs to be usuable by the trades and smaller
A great reason NOT to use a Realtor. One of the main reasons you want a Realtor is because you're afraid of who might come to your door. Now you've just eliminated one of the main reasons to use an agent. If this comes into use in my area I'm not listing so I can at least be around when people are rummaging through my stuff. And who's to say they leave when the facetime is over?
Or they just move in…
All I can see is chance of huge liability for all concerned…buyers, sellers and agents…not to mention total lack of professionalism on the part of agents to allow buyers access to lockbox codes!
So while the so called buyers are on face time with the realtor, their buddies are stealing from the seller in other rooms. Sellers are nuts to go along with this. You get what you pay for if you want to work to with discount brokers of any kind you get what you pay for.
Crazie, I have sellers who are afraid of a lockbox with a liscensed agent. They feel they may be robbed. I explain without the lockbox we have no proof of who was in the house when. Unless a house is vacant I cannot see sellers being confortable with this. As far as fake FB pages. Talk to some high school "mean" girls and its done quite often. They will make pages that appear to be a rival girl at school and just trash her. You cant get them down. Fake ID's and fake FB pages for someone looking to rob (criminal mind) is not rocket science. College kids have fake ID's out the ying yang. Hell they order them online. Sadly I am suprised crooks have not levereged our industry at a higher level already. Open Houses and showings (several agents harmed in the last several years). They send hack emails attemtpting to redirect closing funds. When there is a wil there is a way. We honestly need to be more cautious and use more discretion not less.
No! No!! & No!!!
Not safe for seller,
Lots of risk for the agent.
I tell you what, if I was selling my house I would NOT allow this. Not a chance.
As the owner of a home of which I was trying to sell; I would not want anyone unaccompanied by an agent to be in my home. Who is to keep that person from stealling from the house contents?
This is unethical and against the law in Florida.
There are so many things wrong with this idea, which is clear by some of the points already brought up. But why would Realtor wish to give away 50% of their potential business. In short you would only have listings, and there wouldn’t be buyer agents. Many agents start their relationship with new clients as a buyer’s agent and hope to make a great impression so that the buyer refers your information out to others in that new neighborhood for which they just moved into. Plus why would any home owner agree to let their home be viewed by strangers without a licensed agent with them. If that’s the case, simply have an open house sign in the front yard and level for the day with the front door open. Just think of the number of people which have no intention of buying, simply using this service to view their neighborhoods home and are simply window shopping for fun.
That's ridiculous! Why would anyone think that allowing unlicensed and unmonitored people in your house was safe for either the Buyer or Seller?
I really can’t see a true criminal going through all this trouble, when a solid kick to the back door can easily grant access with no homework, no checks, no fakes, no alert to access, no dealing with authority at all. As technology advances and new products discovered, we will see more and more of this in our industry. I think we all might be a tad nervous our services are being marginalized. Lest we forget, they need us for the transaction.
Thinking at ths from the Sellers perspective – I feel it will not be tolerated in our market. Sellers don't want just anyone off the streets walking into their home – unsupervised. It is a crazy concept!
If your a seller and allow this, dumb deserves what dumb gets!
Too much liability for the seller and the RE Agent. Facebook and an ID is not enough qualification for me to open the door for a potential buyer. Lookie Losers will be all over this. Only 1 out of 20+ Zillow contacts are viable buyers. Only Newbie and Stupid Agents would show a listing without checking loan ability and POF. I heard a while back a couple was going around to Open Houses and would help themselves to the sellers medications. I always tell my sellers to lock up guns, valuables and meds before showings and Open Houses! Sounds like a law suit waiting to happen. I heard the “we will buy your house” pitch years ago in the 80’s now a new generation gets to know reality of this statement. Wake Up America!
Never give code or let buyers go without agent
Lance Owens not everyone can live in Mayberry 1955. Most people have to live in cities where we have to worry about thieves at night and getting shot by Police during the day. Mainland USA.
When is the last time someone got fined compared to how many times this happens every day
John Santamaria If agents don't turn in violators none will ever be fined. We as agents have to be the eyes and ears of our respective MLS"s.
I think it's a bad idea, leave seller wide open
Even back in the day when we had few options..I always had my sellers take the keys OUT of the lockbox when they had no showing scheduled.The keys never went BACK into the box until I called them and told them when the showing would be.It made all of us feel more secure to know that not just ANYONE could access the house by virtue of a key ileft sitting in the box
Even back in the day when we had few options..I always had my sellers take the keys OUT of the lockbox when they had no showing scheduled.The keys never went BACK into the box until I called them and told them when the showing would be.It made all of us feel more secure to know that not just ANYONE could access the house by virtue of a key ileft sitting in the box
Or..you could get yourself licensed and handle your own deals LEGALLY…..OR….you could align yourself with a GOOD agent who stays abreast of the market and is on top of new listings that suit your needs.If you provide enough business..maybe you can negotiate the prices you'll pay for their commission splits.Seems to me having a person who is skilled at what THEY do is worth setting up a connection with….but then I've only been doing this for 45 ys….what do I know….
Not FAST enough!
This is ridiculous! I would never give out a code!
Barbara Anne West interesting how you imply illegality is taking place. For 45 years of know how, I'm sure you can figure out how the way I've always worked things has been legal. I'm glad you've been successful. Keep up the good work. Once again, one does not need an agent to be able to house browse…it's like walking a car lot with a rabid salesperson breathing down your throat…or so I've been told…
It won't stop it because there's always another lazy agent infiltrating the industry with the same lack of ethics as the ones that got sued '
This is not a value added, safe, or legal technology to use. The legal listing agreement, i.e; contract, prohibits an unaccompanied buyer in any home without their licensed agent. No unlicensed person is allowed or provided a one-day code to gain access and no unlicensed person has a Supra Lock access card. Very unsure how this ‘app provider’ even gets one-day codes or combinations. It is never in a seller’s best interest to ever allow an unaccompanied buyer into their home. Not only is there a personal buyer safety issue at play, there is seller responsibility if a potential buyer enters the property without an agent being present. Even a burglar can levy litigious action against a home owner if they get injured while in a sellers home. (While unlikely to be successful, they can still file against the homeowner.) Allowing this type of unaccompanied access may seem like a great idea, it erodes the purpose of having a Realtor who was ‘hired’ to safeguard a seller’s best interest. If a FSBO elects this type access, then they also accept the responsibility for anything that happens as a result.
Total disrepect for your seller. Why is this happening so now we have self service, do it yourself home buying!
Ya gotta agree with Vicky but soooo many agents these days don't want to pay for the Supra Key….
I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my site 🙂
http://www.ceapvkenya.org/index.php/component/k2/itemlist/user/221021
WOW! Could there be anymore shitty discount companies in this market! The laziness of some real estate brokers never cease to amaze me. No wonder why Realtors have such a crappy public reputation. Step up your game loser!
great info! thanks for posting
salazarproperties.ca