There are few tools of the trade that all REALTORS(R) should have in their possession in order to do their jobs effectively.  Many consumers take it for granted that their REALTOR(R) has all of these tools.  However, in today’s tough market place, many agents are skimping on services that should be part of their REALTOR(R) tool bag.  Lockbox access is a MUST in today’s market.  Local lockbox access is $191 per year.  This is a cost of doing business and absolutely necessary, so why are so many agents choosing not to pay for a lockbox key?

Lockbox access became an issue in the Fredericksburg area when the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS(R) opted to cancel their contract with Supra Lockboxes and begin a relationship with Sentrilock Lockboxes in 2009.  Prince William County Association of REALTORS(R) and Greater Piedmont Association of REALTORS(R) quickly followed suit.  However, the Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS(R) (FAAR)chose to honor their contract with Supra and began a year long process and debate on which lockbox system their REALTOR(R) members should use.  After many meetings and membership feedback, FAAR chose to sign a new contract with Supra, thus continuing a two lockbox system in region.   Most of the REALTOR(R) associations north of Richmond and into Maryland all use the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS) as their multiple listing service.  This means that over 15000 agents in Virginia have access to the same listings.  In essence, 18000 agents could show your listings.  However, all 15000 agents aren’t paying for both Supra and Sentrilock access.  This severely limits the houses a buyer can preview. 

If a buyer is looking in an area on the border of the lockbox systems, such as north Stafford and southern Prince William, their agent should have both a Supra key and a Sentrilock key.  As a listing agent, if I’m listing a house in Fredericksburg, I should be placing a Supra lockbox on the property.  If I’m listing a house in Prince William I should be placing a Sentrilock lockbox on the property.  It is the REALTOR’s(R) responsibility to make sure their listing is accessible to as many agents as possible and their buyers have access to as many listings as possible.  What does it cost for an agent to have access to both lockbox systems per year?  A grand total of $400.  Yes, $400.  That’s it.  That’s all.  With the average commission bringing in 10 times the cost of having access to both systems, don’t you think it’s worth the cost? 

Using an agent without lockbox access is like going to a surgeon who doesn’t own a scalpel.  It can be detrimental to your goal.  When interviewing agents, be sure to ask which lockbox system is approved by the local REALTOR(R) association and if that’s the lockbox they use.  If you are concerned with having as many opportunities as possible, ask if your agent has access to multiple lockbox systems.  If they don’t have access to both systems, you may want to interview another agent.