Yesterday afternoon I was out showing properties to a first time home buyer here in Myrtle Beach and as we approached the door of the property, she asked how we were going to get into the home since nobody was home to let us into the property. I explained to her that the key was secured in a lockbox that holds the key and gives easy access to REALTORS® to enter the property. As we got closer to the door, we noticed a combination lockbox on the door she mentioned how she would never want one of those on her home and she would feel unsafe having it hang there giving others access into her home at any time of the day.
It reminded me of a recent Two Minute Tuesday video I recently did on this exact subject. Check out the video below:
Whenever a home is occupied or holding the belongings of my seller, I am never going to install a lockbox like the one pictured above. While these combination style lockboxes have a level of security with the code, they also leave people selling their Myrtle Beach home at a great level of vulnerability.
See, most the time when a lockbox is installed on the property, the listing agent does not go back to the home again unless they are showing the home to a potential buyer, holding an open house, or to remove the lockbox from the property. That means, if a lockbox like the one above is being used, that code is not being reset from the day it is installed. While agents are supposed to be the people keeping the codes safe for homes, sometimes the buyers are nosey and see that code and could access at a later time. Unfortunately I’ve seen/heard people giving the codes to others and then they have access into your home at any time they please.
Also, when a lockbox like the one above is in use, the listing agent has no way to know when the lockbox is being opened or limiting the times it is accessed. Instead of using a combo lockbox, I feel agents should spend the extra money to get a MLS approved electronic lockbox like the one below.
The reasons I am a big fan of using these types of lockboxes is pretty obvious. First, these lockboxes are virtually indestructible and almost impossible to break into without the proper access codes. In comparison, the cheaper combo lockboxes have several videos on YouTube teaching people how to hack them open. I’ve actually used these videos to open one of my own that I had forgotten the code to in the past. It only took me about 15 minutes and I was in. MLS approved lockboxes are only accessible electronically and unless you have the application on your smart phone and have the 20+ digit alphanumeric code, you cannot access these boxes.
The second reason I prefer using these types of lockboxes on properties that are occupied is that they limit the times in which the lockbox can be accessed. Most of the time they are set from 8 AM-9PM. This means that the sellers can rest peacefully at night knowing that someone will not be coming in their front door while they are sleeping or showing up early in the morning while they are in the shower getting ready for work. With a combination lockbox, anyone with the code can access at any time of the day.
The third reason why using the digital lockboxes is that it keeps track of every time the lockbox gets opened and by whom it was opened. I went back into the system a pulled a screenshot below of activity on my listings from over 2 months ago. This way if something were to happen where my sellers had an issue in their home I could immediately check and see what agent was in their home that day and reach out to them. In the past I’ve had things get broken in a home during a showing, doors left unlocked, lights left on, an inspector accidentally leave the oven on, and much more. Since I had an activity log on the home, I could immediately check and know who was the person responsible for that happening. 
After sharing these reasons, you may be asking yourself, why would any agent ever use one of the less secure lockboxes on a property? Well, there are a few reasons where I do use those type of lockboxes and they come in handy. Many times when a property I will place one of these types of lockboxes on the home. These lockboxes are usually about 1/4 the cost of the electronic loxkboxes.
I will also use a combo lockbox on properties where we might need a contractor to access the property. Many times I am helping my my clients get their home for sale in Myrtle Beach by assisting them with getting the home painted, carpets cleaned, and other items fixed throughout the home to make it show ready. I could go meet each of these people individually each time they need to get into the home and let them in, but most of the time, they are going to want to visit several times over a time period to do the work needed and I cannot be there. Because you need to join our local REALTOR® Association in order to access the electronic lockboxes and it is an extra expense, many contractors do not have the ability to access electronic lockboxes. I can simply give them the code and they can then go do what is needed on their schedule.
So, in closing, when you are selling your home in Myrtle Beach, do you want an agent that is using the cheap combination lockboxes on your home, or do you want an agent that takes your safety seriously and will spend the extra money to keep you, your family, and all your valuables safer?
Today is Amazon Prime Day and while I have spent most of the afternoon fighting the website to order a few items, one of the things I realized pretty quickly was that smart home technology is growing at a rapid rate. This was made evident to me by the enormous amount of smart home tech deals that were being featured in the sale this year. Everything from Amazon Alexa devices to smart outlets, thermostats, lights, doorbells, keys, and so much more. That being said, are sellers listening to you during the showing?
