Imagine the following scenario: You have just completed a showing with your clients. As you exit the property, a person representing themselves as “Randy the Realtor®” approaches and informs you that he has the next showing appointment. Randy then asks if you wouldn’t mind handing him the key to save him the trouble of opening the lockbox. 

What should you do? 

Remember both your primary responsibility as a custodian of the property as well as the security function of the lockbox system. First (according to both the Code of Ethics and the Regional Rules and Regulations for the SentriLock Lockbox System), you have a duty to ensure that the property is secured and that the property key is returned to the lockbox following a showing. If a key goes missing, access to the property is provided to an individual who is not permitted to enter, something is stolen from the property, or someone damages the property, and the SentriLock Access Log shows that you’re the last person to access the lockbox - who is going to be held responsible? You – If you do not return the key to the lockbox. 

Second, the security provided by the SentriLock Lockbox System is effective only if Realtors® use the system correctly. The listing agent, via permissions from their seller client, dictates who is allowed to enter the listed property. The listing agent and the seller also have a right to know who has accessed the property. You, as a selling agent, do not have a right to provide access to a listed property outside of the specific permissions granted to you by the listing agent/seller. By requiring that next person use their own credentials to access the lockbox helps to verify that Randy (who is really the next-door neighbor and is pretending to be a Realtor®) isn’t allowed to gain access.  

It's best to be prepared for this scenario with a professional (but firm) response. Realtors® are trusted with one of the most significant possessions in a person’s life – do your part to keep properties safe and secure. 

Do you have a great response when you are asked to “pass the key”? Please share by emailing proservices@nvar.com – you might be featured in a future publication!