Below is a post that was written by a great real estate agent in my area - with whom I share great concerns with. Lock Box Combinations are SACRED!! Not to be given out to buyers EVER!! Sellers have given us their confidence to keep their home safe and secure, to the best of our ability - while something like this happens and it can destroy trust. Please read...and share with Sue, your comments.
"Oh that's ok. Our agent gave us the lockbox code!"
My new sellers were so excited! We listed their house recently and they had their first showing scheduled for 11am today. At 12:10pm, Mr. Seller called: "Sue, it doesn't look like anyone was here. There isn't a card, and the lights were still on." I told him I'd give the buyer's agent a call & confirm they saw the house. I got the BA's voicemail, and then Mr. Seller called back.
"Hey Sue, there's a young couple at our front door with "Fred's" business card. They said he's out of town & he told them they could come see the house without him. So we're out on the deck and they're walking through the house."
Yikes! I didn't like THAT...having these strangers wandering through their house without an agent accompanying them. That was problem #1.
The couple was there about 15 minutes, and as they were getting ready to leave Mr. Seller asked, "By the way, what would you have done if we weren't here?"
Ready for this??? Problem #2...
"Oh that's ok. Our agent gave us the lockbox code!"
SERIOUSLY?!?!?!
Apparently this couple saw 2 other houses before ours...but those were vacant. So that made it "ok"?!?!?!
To say I was livid would be an understatement! My seller was surprisingly calm about it, but they are obviously not happy. This is not a foreclosure (which would not make it ok!!). This is a home my sellers are living in! I have since changed the code on that lockbox, and yes, I have contacted the agent's manager. That agent has been licensed since 2002, so there's no excuse.
Ready for the kicker?? I just received a call from "Fred" who proceeded to lie and tell me he was there at 11:30 with a female client. Oh really?? How then did this couple get his card? And my code?? When I laid into him expressed my displeasure, he tried to turn it around and had the nerve to demand: "Do your sellers want to sell their house or not?!?!"
Absolutely unbelievable.
I have never, ever shared a lockbox code with a client. Or even another agent! When I am given that code, it is the key to someone else's property! The Golden Rule again, folks. Do you want strangers wandering through your house whenever they want??? I don't care if it's a relative or someone "you trust". NO WAY!!! We have a Code of Ethics we must live by. Even if it weren't for the Code, what about common sense????
What would you do???
Sue
Sue Gabriel, REALTOR®
Prudential Lucien Realty
(440) 552-2128
Does Your Real Estate Agent "Sell With Soul"?
The Golden Rule...it's that simple!
I would turn him/her into the real estate commission after I face to face confronted him/her WITH my clients so he/she could explain their reasoning on why they put them (the clients) in potential jeopardy.
Man I am steamed and all I did was read this.
Isn't that amazing? That shocks me. No matter how many times someone might say it. Common sense is not very common, it seems. Unfortunately.
You should be angry. That is totally wrong. And yes...it's NOT okay to give out the lockbox code...even for a bank owned house. I list REOs and it really gets me that people think they can just wander around the property and look in the windows because the house is bank owned.
I find it interesting that when caught red handed, he wanted to turn the tables. Not a very good strategy after making a foolish decision!
Cal
I recently let an agent keep a key to a $900,000 property so he could let his prospect back in. When I had another prospect and needed the key I called the agent. He said, "I'll have to get it back from _______." Really?!? The prospect has been coming and going on his own?
Who would have been responsible if something turned up missing, or the door was left unlocked? I'm thinking I would have been in the path of wrath for some reason.
This does tick me off! I will make a note to change all my lock boxes often. And warn the buyers agent of how displeased if there were to happen.
Just stopped by to say that I
Carla it never surprises me what other so called "Realtors" do to humilate the pracitce vs professional Realtors... ugggg