Central Ohio Real Estate Market News

You’ve probably noticed some sort of contraption hanging on the door knob when a home is for sale. These things are called lockboxes and they contain a key to allow a real estate agent to open the home to show it to buyers.

The old-fashioned lockboxes have a combo dial like your high school locker lock did. Others have punch buttons that function in similar fashion to the dial. While they offer convenience, they aren’t as secure as we would like.

The best system is to use the “latest & greatest” Supra system. Here’s how it works, and the benefits it offers to sellers and agents.

Every agent who is a member of the Columbus Board of Realtors®, purchases a keypad, which is the black object in the photo. This keypad is coded to be specific to the agent. Each night, an agent puts the keypad into a special cradle that is connected to a phone line. Overnight the cradle “calls” the Board’s computer to be updated. If the agent is “in good standing” the keypad will update. If an agent has had their license suspended or has left the business, the keypad won’t update and thus, that agent’s access to homes is stopped.

When an agent lists a home, they put one of the blue lockboxes on the door knob of the home. Inside the lockbox is a container that holds the home’s key. That container can only be released by using the black keypad’s code. When the buyer’s agent enters their code, the keypad sends a signal to the lockbox, releasing the container that holds the key.

The system does not work overnight hours. It shuts down in the evening after a certain time and doesn’t start working until the next morning at 9am. This assures sellers that no one can enter their home in the late evening hours.

When the agent’s keypad is updated each night, it also downloads data to the Board’s computer regarding which lockboxes were opened with the keypad. This gives the listing agent a record of who entered the home. (It’s against the Board’s rules to enter a home without prior confirmation of a showing.) If the listing agent’s report indicates a buyer’s agent entered without the required confirmation approval, the listing agent can report this violation to the Board. The report also shows the time the buyer’s agent entered the home. Again, the listing agent can check to see if the time the buyer’s agent entered the home, matches the time the buyer’s agent requested.

Although not connected with the Supra system, Real Living HER uses a computer system when a buyer’s agent calls a specific number to set up a showing. The system is tied in with the Board’s computer, and assures that the agent truly is a Realtor® with the Columbus Board. After the showing is confirmed with the seller, an email is sent later to the buyer’s agent with a link to a feedback form that can be easily answered and submitted back to the listing agent.

One thing I should note, is that this is the system used by our local Board. Other areas or other states may do things differently. And the extra security that is evident with the keypad and blue lockbox, does not pertain AT ALL to the combo boxes, since no keypad is required to open those boxes. That’s why most agents don’t use them anymore except in special cases.

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