Can I Use My Electronic Keypad Instead of a Lockbox When I List My Home?

So today we're going to answer the question, "Can I use my electronic keypad instead of a lockbox when I list my home?"

Electronic Keypad Versus Lockbox

All right, so for all my sellers that have an electronic key pad on their front door, I know it's super convenient to have, and the first question I get asked is, do I really know that clunky lock box on my front door? And the answer is yes and here's why.

So when you have an electronic keypad on the front door, even though I understand you can change that code for every single person that walks in that door, the point of having the lock box on your front door handle is the only person that can access that key box where your key is located,  is a licensed agent that's currently paying their board dues, who has been background checked and fingerprinted. They also have to be present to escort the buyers through your home since they are the only ones with access to the keybox and not the buyers.

With the showing service we use and the lockbox data, there's a record of who accessed the lockbox and who was in your home during what times in the event we need to find out that information.

Security

If you have an electronic keypad on your front door and just give a code out, anybody can use that code because they don't have to be a licensed agent and board member using technology that only the agents have. ANYBODY can be in your home which is a problem for safety and security.

Even if the code gets just given to the agent, the agent can technically give it to the buyer, say they are running late for the showing or something comes up, they can just say hey the code for 1234 Main Street is 0000, I've got to go pick my kids up. Can you guys just show yourself in, I'll meet you there, or who knows what.

So it's a big deal from a  security standpoint because we want to know who's in your home. We want to know that they're being escorted by a legit agent that is paying their dues, that's a member of the board that has been fingerprinted and background checked, so that if anything happens, we always can go track that person down.

The other thing is the key box is inactive from certain times of the day, and I understand you can do that with your keypad on the front door, but again, it's just another security piece.

So I do require all of my sellers to have a lockbox on the front door so that it protects them from anything that can happen along with the ability to reach out to the agents that have shown the home to gather feedback from the buyers that they showed the home to.

I hope that helps answer you question of using your electronic keypad instead of a lockbox when you list your home and for more tips and information on showings check out  my post on How do Agents Access My Home for Showings.