The Supra iBox BT LE
The Supra iBox is used by some associations as their preferred lockbox. It is connected to your phone through bluetooth and is managed on the app. There is no keypad. It’s a plain lockbox with a bluetooth connection. It serves a purpose for local real estate agents that are realtors, but it comes with problems. Since it does not have a keypad, a day c ode cannot be given. This means if a real estate agent, even a realtor, in a nearby area doesn’t have a Supra eKey then that agent cannot access the property. This alone should render this lockbox obsolete.
The Sentrilock
The Sentrilock lockbox is owned by the national association of realtors, so naturally it’s offered widely through local associations of realtors. This is a solid professional lockbox because it has the same bluetooth connection to an app on your phone as Supra, but something more important. This lockbox has a keypad that allows listing agents to give buyer’s agents a day code to key in manually. The keypad feature makes this lockbox far superior to Supra’s iBox BT LE.
But You Don’t Need Those “Professional” Lockboxes
The lockbox that is affiliated through your local board of realtors does not offer more than alternative lockbox solutions available to all real estate agents, even the general public. Below are two types of great lockboxes among many options.
This lockbox can be managed from an app on your phone like the professional lockboxes sold by associations of realtors. It also has a keypad to allow access by entering a code. This lock box has all the desirable features of the Sentrilock, but you do not need to be a member of an association of realtors to buy this lockbox.
This is the classic four digit combo lockbox. These are often left around for contractors or for trusted people to gain access. They are convenient and reliable, but they do not offer security if someone forgets to put the key back. The code can be changed so that if you give someone a code you can change it after the showing so that they don’t use it again to gain access. You do not need to be a member of an association of realtors to buy this lockbox.
What About Accessing Realtor Lockboxes?
Many existing real estate listings will have a realtor lockbox, like a Supra or Sentrilock on them. If you are not a subscriber then you will not have an electronic key to gain access. This isn’t a problem for just non-realtor agents, but also other realtors. There are real estate territories in which realtors in a neighboring county will use a different type of lockbox. This means if their client crosses the borderline, the realtor in the neighboring county is out of luck.
How To Get Access To a Listing Without a Lockbox Key
There are a few ways to gain access to a listing:
- Contact the listing agent and ask for a day code.
- Contact the listing agent and ask for someone to open the property for you.
- Submit an offer subject to interior inspection.
- If the listing agent isn’t cooperative, contact the seller directly.