Wow this is so prevalent!

I use a combo & I change the code frequently to thwart that activity!

I think our local MLS/Board of Realtors should penalize offenders!

We have had the same problem with some of our listings that are vacant and have lockboxes.  It's definitely against regulations to enter the home without permission from the agent with the listing.  We used to use the same code for all our lockboxes and never changed them for awhile.  Now we change them periodically so that agents don't just automatically know the code.

How do lockboxes work in your area?  Do the agents need to call for the code or is it the same for all agent's?

I just had this happen yesterday. The agent showed a home that is appointment only. Only we were waiting for a contractor to show up to meet the owner. I was not going to be able to be there but the contractor was not answering his phone and the owner wanted to know if the guy was going to show up because he was not there yet either but was in the area.

My wife went to see if the contractor was there and found this agent showing completing showing the home and caught them as they were leaving. I was on the phone with my wife. She asked if they had an appointment to which they all just sat there looking dumb. She asked which one was the agent and for her business card. They "showed" her a business card but refused to allow her to keep one.

I told my wife to put the agent on the phone. The agent takes the phone and immediately says "I'm sorry I don't speak English". She hands the phone back to my wife and they drive away.

I then return to find that not only did the above happen but that the agent did not sign the guest book but also opened the sliding glass door in the rear of the home and left it wide open. Not just unlocked. I'm mean it was wide open glass and screen door both.

I read the lockbox using my d-key and identified the agent. I have left a voicemail at the broker's office. I also attempted to call the agent who did not answer her phone. I did not leave her a voicemail. What's the use in that? She doesn't speak English right? LOL Two hours later she called my number back. When I answered she didn't speak any words but I did hear some kind of human voice noises that sounded like some "uh, oh, er's" and then she hung up the phone. I attempted to call her right back and she didn't answer.

I will certainly be reporting this to the board. I guess the answer is to put a CBS code on all my lockboxes. I just hate to do that because if an agent that does make an appointment as required but between the phone call to make it and the time they get to the home they have lost the CBS code or don't even know how to use a CBS code they won't show the home.

It never ceases to amaze me what people do in this business. Against the rules or not somehow it seams that people just do whatever they want.

In my MLS there are showing instructions entered into each listing that prints out on the MLS info sheets.  There is 1. Keysafe/No Call which means just go on in anytime using the lockbox.  2. Keysafe/Call First (phone numbers for the occupant are shown).  3. Call owner or Call tenant for appointment.  4. Call Listing Agent for appointment.

You can't enter a new listing without choosing one of these options.

You do have the option of putting on a non-Supra box and giving each caller the combination or printing the combo on the info sheet.  Or you can say Key in Listing Office.  

If you add specific instructions in the MLS for agents to call you first, then of course the realtor who just invited himself in was wrong.  He could have been a bigger problem if there was a dog in the house to bite him, or cats that got out when he went in.

I will say that only once did I have a problem.  I was showing a house many years ago that had Keysafe/No call necessary and Vacant in the remarks section.  After going in with my buyers and touring most of the home, we walked in on a tenant who was just coming out of the shower.

The listing realtor didn't know that the owner had rented it to someone on a week to week basis the day before.  There are other stories of similar things in my MLS, but not very many.

It is not a big problem here.  Everyone is told to read the MLS sheets, call the listing agent, call the broker, or call the occupant if they aren't sure what to do.

its odd that some will not ask permission since our whole success is based on the network we build and it is for the long term

however if you would be in ny you would not even think that you deserve to be asked permission we have keys in the office and if you deposit $20 you get the key and we return the money after key is returned

R-E-S-P-E-C-T is E-X-P-E-C-T-E-D among professionals. Severe flogging for all who do not respect the sellers property! I have had a sort -of kind of -similar experience where a new agent just walked up to my buyers door and asked to show the property. He then called me and said he had an offer. I told him it must be hard to come up with an offer sight-unseen. He told me what he had done. I think my broker told him the cow-cabbage story (How the cow ate the cabbage). Good thing is he brought a contract but I told him if the seller would have been a little old lady I would have come unglued. His broker just wasn't babysitting him that day.

I am all in favor of using electronic lock boxes. Both as a listing agent or selling agent they are a great convenience.

At least with the electronic boxes you can figure out which agents have entered the property,  They are also much easier for showing than the combo ones. I do not like having to write down codes to open

the combo boxes.

There are always going to be agents who will  abuse any sytem that we have in place.  Overall I think most agents respect the rules for using lockboxes.

We could always go back to  leaving the keys for the property in the "brokers" office to be picked up prior to showing.

We couldn't agree more.  Some people's children.  Sometimes we wonder where these people come from.  It certainly doesn't make us look like the professionals we're supposed to be.  

A long time ago we had the "get the key" system like Jack decribes, but as the membership grew it became too unwieldy.  If you want to show several homes at a time, running around to get keys is a big pain.  The SupraKey lockbox system is great.  It is not used here only when the seller or tenant refuses to have a lockbox and for most commercial buildings.  

"They are also much easier for showing than the combo ones. I do not like having to write down codes to open the combo boxes."

What is the problem with writing down a code?  Don't you write in right on the MLS print out sheet you take with you for that property?  Or don't you print out a printout for your own sake of being able to answer questions when you are standing right there in the house with your buyer?

"We could always go back to  leaving the keys for the property in the "brokers" office to be picked up prior to showing."

Sorry, but I'm not driving from office to office to pick up a key and then driving back to return in, nor do I ever expect an agent showing one of my properties to do that.  Now, that is one way to NOT get any showings on a listing!!

Last Summer I made an appointment to show a house with the listing associate, per instructions on MLS.  My prospects and I were at the house precisely on time and I did my normal thing...rang the doorbell, then used my Supra key to obtain the key to the house.  I waited a few beats then unlocked the door.  We all walked in, looked at the formal dining room and formal living room and were just walking into the kitchen when a young woman shrieked from the hallway.  She was in the shower when I rang the doorbell and had heard a noise.  She was only wearing a towel.  I immediately said who I was and that I had an appointment, which I made with her Realtor and she proceeded to tell me that her Realtor had not called to tell her about our appointment.

We scooted out quickly after she told us to give her 30 minutes.  I immediately got in my car and called the listing associate to tell her what had happened and she flippantly said, "Oops, I forgot to call her to tell her you were coming...oh well, at least you made arrangements to go back"!!!  No apologies, no sincerity.  What a disservice to HER prospect.  My prospects didn't want to go back because they didn't like what they had seen so far in the house, so I had to call her back to tell her we wouldn't be returning and she just said, "oh well, OK thanks".  I take the listing of an occupied house VERY seriously, whether it is mine or yours.  I've had my own home listed as "occupied, call owner" before and know how it feels!

jeeez...this is a no brainer

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT ENTERING A PROPERTY WITHOUT A CONFIRMATION FROM THE LISTING BROKER!

We don't use lockboxs in my office, we accompany all showings.  Agents almost never give any type of good feedback.  We perfer to get it from the buyer at showing.

I worked at Coldwell Banker before this office and we used supras.  I noticed I now sell my listings in half the time I did with Coldwell.

I would have the seller on call to answer any questions or make the deal while the buyer is still there.

I also normally win listings, just because I accompany.

It does take more of my time, but I do this full time.  I almost never miss a showing.

In our area, not all agents use lockboxes.  Steve and I have them on all our properties to save the agents from running for the key.  We buy them ourselves (about forty dollars).  But most agents don't want to spend the money and use the old method of "the key is at the office".  

Running around for keys is a royal pain but we can't force other agents to use them.  We just have to do the running.  If our clients wants to see a home and the key is at the agent's office, we can hardly refuse to show the home.  

Yes, I've suffered the same abuses like most of you.  Doesn't matter what the showing instructions are, if they see a Supra, it amazes me that there will be an inevitable abuse here and there.  Supra was meant to provide additional security over combo lockboxes, and I believe the overall benefits outweigh a few (but growing) number of agents that lack basic professionalism.  The local boards need to take a much stronger stand and fine agents per occurance.

At least with Supra it's much easier to track which agent forgot to turn off the lights and lock the door...but that's a whole different story.

Our MLS provides and an agent comment area, I use this area to put any additional comments about showing intructions, it does help a little, with these type of problems, but they still occur.

I have went to the extend of posting notes at doors please turn out all lights and lock doors.

I don't think there is an answer to your question other than the obvious "we wish all agents conducted themselves as professionals".  I have tried CBS codes (99% agents use the Supra box in my market) and all that does is confuse the duty agent making the reservation and complicates the process for agents who do not know how to follow instructions.  I've been forced to "look the other way" when non-appointment showings have taken place but I do always call the offender and let 'em have it!

Sheryl Lynn, The showing agent was an idiot to show the listing without calling you first.  The showing agent's broker displayed gross ignorance by indicating the lockbox was tacit approval for showing.  Both of these licensees displayed moronic, mindless, misdirected, and inexcusable behavior.  The public deserves better.

In my area (Florida Panhandle) We put specific instructions under Agent Notes concerning the showing. If the property is occupied, an appointment is always required. Often, the agent will have the sellers or renters phone number under agent notes with a request to call as well as, how much noticed will be needed before showing and instructions to leave their business card.

If the property is vacant and I see "Call Listing Agent", that normally means call with feedback after showing not before.

Personally, I want my listings shown as often as possible and I try to make each one very easy to show. I tell the sellers at the listing appointment that we need to make their home a no hassle showing. I find more agents tend to show properties that are easy without a lot of calls to make. I have passed by listings that say call agent, then call seller, then call renter ..... too exhausting when you have several homes to schedule and show. As far as picking up keys, thats unrealistic in high traffic areas.

Many Times in the past, I have been with buyers when we happened onto a home that they wanted to see right then. If it is vacant and on a supra, I do not remember ever reading "Appointment Only" and I show it. Many, many sales have happened just like that. Thank goodness I have not offended any other agents and vice versa. The bottom line is that sellers want their property to sell and by making it as easy as possible to show, we get more showings and faster sales.

In general we have a pretty polite group down here in Lower Alabama *smile*

It's very easy and courteous to just call and ask to show the property right now. We use centralized showings so it's even easier but in the old days, you call the listing office, give the address, find out it is vacant on lockbox and you have permission to go in. Permission is the important word. A smart card, code or whatever to a lockbox is not permission to enter.

Unfortunately, there are some agents (thankfully very few) who do not feel they require permission to enter PRIVATE property. As you do not seem to be getting any satisfaction from talking to the REALTOR or their broker, I would suggest the following. Have your seller call your local Real Estate Board. Boy, do they react promptly to public complaints.

I have been unable to show homes because I could not get pemission to enter but that can happen and the seller loses a possible sale because their REALTOR doesn't respond to requests in time. I can always find another home for my buyers

I've never interpreted it this way: "If the property is vacant and I see "Call Listing Agent", that normally means call with feedback after showing not before."  

To me if it says "Call listing Agent" that means before you show it not a feedback request.  Sometimes the lock can't be placed on the front door and may be on a hose bib, sometimes there are important details that need to be relayed to the showing agent.

"Vacant/SUPRA/Go Show" is the only open invitation I see.

Mary

My problem with having to call to show a listing is most agents aren't calling back. I leave a message and no return call. If the listing doesn't state "appt only" then I show if the agent won't call. They will call back if you call with an offer. The purpose of Supra is to allow others to show your listings. I check Supra nightly to see who's shown what. It is part of my schedule of things to do. I have listings with "call agent" and very seldom ever get a call. I don't freak out about it, I just call or email the agent the next day for feedback.

Rhonda,

I hope you never go into the wrong house at the wrong time without permission. When I list, I tell the owners that "No One" including myself will ever go into "THEIR" house without their permission.

A few phone calls and a little effort will get the showing without creating any potential problems arising due to an unannounced visitor.

Remember, it is not our home we are letting strangers into. Seniors are very nervous for the most part to begin with.

Freeman