The Number of Missing Sacramento Lockboxes is Rising

That would be frustrating.  I have not had that happen much in my area.

Hi Chuck: Well, me, either, until last weekend. I kid you not, almost one out of every two homes did not have a lockbox! And they weren't all REOs, either.

Hi Kevin: We can use a contractor's box but we must also use a blue (not a brown) Supra box. Which is sort of a pain when it's my listing and I need to put a contractor's box on the home, because I have to make an extra set of keys. At least if the agent would call with the code to the contractor's box we could get in, but they don't. I should report these agents to the board but I don't have the time.

Oh my - we have had to purchase over 100 lockboxes this year to keep up with our inventory - we have seen many offices not put lockboxes on because they are out of them.... wonder if that is what is happening with your area

Hi Thesa: You wouldn't think with inventory dropping that agents would be running out of lockboxes. But they do cost $130 or so a pop, so maybe some agents can't afford very many of them.

Is the listing agent or the listing agent's assistant so busy that they do not have time to put on the lockbox?  Are all of these homes vacant and that's why the seller does not know that their is no lockbox? I have to ask where are the sellers and why aren't they demanding better service?

100 to 1 that the agent can't afford any more lockboxes.  The supras in my area are $90 new from the board office.  That's why agents in my area don't have them, or borrow them, or swipe them only to find out they can't be used without the shackle code.  We've recently had an invasion of Sentrilocks to our area so I may know where I can sell my Supras I bet in the future! 
EBay discount?

so what is the reason that they are not putting on lockboxes?

that is crazy

your friend in Charlottesville!

Hi Jill: Yup, the homes are vacant so the sellers don't have a clue.

Hi Lyn: That could be. Lockboxes are expensive, but so what? They're a necessity AND a tax write-off.

Hi Charles: I haven't encountered this before. Every now and then, sure, but not like this!

I agree that I'd become unglued if I went to show a house and the MLS said there was a box and then there wasn't!  The Board should have some rules and they should be enforced.  Having to pick up keys is too much trouble.  The agent who does this is NOT helping the property owner.

 Elizabeth

I have boxes of those things. Why some one does not put lock boxes on I have no idea.

Sincerely

Tom Braatz

Elizabeth - I don't know.  That sounds crazy.  Do they want to sell the house, or don't they?  :)

Hi Barbara: Imagine if every other home you went to didn't have a lockbox! It makes the listing agents appear so unprofessional.

Hi Tom: I have no idea why they don't do it unless they don't want other agents to show their listings.

Hi Debi: They might want to sell the home themselves, you know. Agents who want to double-end their listings often enter them into MLS as "appointment only, call listing agent." But at least they tell you that upfront, and you aren't digging through the bushes, scouring the fences and wandering the property trying to find a lockbox that isn't there.

How frustrating for the agent and the prospective buyer.  Do you think that the sellers know that they are potentially losing out on a sale to buyers who cannot get inside?

I wonder if they were permitted to use contractors lockboxes if that would resolve this issue?

Metrolist rules state first violation is a 100 dollar fine and the mandatory purchase of a metrolist lockbox.  I was seeing this quite often a few months ago but had had better luck recently.  I would report them, it makes it very frustrating when you are trying to show property and can not get in.

Wow Elizabeth! You mean the agents are not putting on a lockbox. That sucks! I do. ;-)

Hi Steve: They can use contractor boxes as long as they use a Supra, too. But they don't put the codes to the contractor boxes in MLS half the time, and if they don't answer their phone to give you the code, what good does it do?

Hi Carolyn: I've heard when you report them, the listing agent denies it and says there is a lockbox but the buyer's agent couldn't find it. The MLS police aren't going to investigate. It's kind of a useless penalty.

Hi Teri: Well, one of the listings that did not have a lockbox went pending this morning. I won't be surprised to see it show up sold with the listing agent in dual capacity.

Elizabeth, that sucks. It sure isn't fair to the Seller! Or to your buyers. I guess breaking windows isn't an option...

Later in the rain~Deb

Elizabeth - You have the fancy lockboxes in your area. We are tech savvy but behind the times when it comes to lockboxes.

Hi Deb: We can't break windows, of course, but we can peek inside. :)

Hi Tracy: I think those Supra lockboxes are rather clumsy looking.