Hey, Gang -
Just posted, on the Windy City Group, my thoughts about using Lock Boxes (manual or electronic) to handle your showings, rather than personally accompanying every showing. This issue seems most highly charged in larger cities, where clients may be concerned about security.
Here in Chicago, the issue is highly charged. Many agents that accompany every single showing blame those who use lock boxes to show as being lazy, or not in tune with the City of Chicago market.
I was one of the skeptics, but now use lock boxes extensively, especially in the City of Chicago. The boxes allow our Team to accommodate every showing. They also free us up more to do the additional important service work, needed especailly now in this challenging market climate.
Esepecially those of you that work in larger cities, would love your take, thoughts, and input on this.
See my Active Rain Windy City Blog Posting, including information on our showing service, Centralized Showing Service at showings.com, by clicking here.
Thanks!
Dean & Dean's Team, Chicago
You are, Karen! For many years, ALL co-broke showings in the City of Chicago, with few exceptions, have been accompanied by the Listing Agent or their assistant. Even vacant properties!
This is not a RULE of the board, by any means, just a custom. As you know, sometimes customs are as hard to break as the rules!
Often times, when I would go into a listing, "Will you PERSONALLY accompany all showings?" is one of the first questions potential listing clients ask. Virtually every other potential listing agent WILL, EVERY TIME! It takes a lot of discussion on our part to get them to see that this may actually be hurting them.
To this day, on our listings, even within my Keller Williams office on the North Side of the City, other agents look at me funny when I say to use the lockbox to view.
Electronic SUPRA is allowed in the City of Chicago, but I rarely place a SUPRA in the city, because most city agents do not rent Supra e-keys! I use to old-fashioned push-button or dial combo boxes, which, as we all agree, could be less secure - but I have never had a problem with security, ever. In a few cases, I still place courtesy keys in our office, or in another office close to the property.
Many of today's agent were trained by the Old Guard - and, as you know, old habits die hard. Our Team needs to break out of the box, however, and do what makes the best sense for our clients - to service their business, and accommodate all showing requests.
Again, Karen, I appreciate the quick reply, and your thoughts!
Dean & Dean's Team, Chicago
Dean: Hi Dean. What a great, and very thorough response. But, after reading it, and mulling over the "habits" of the old guard... it appears that many of the agents up there may actually have been trained by the grandparents of the Old Guard.
Before my current work in the Fort Worth market, I also sold in the DC/Virginia/Maryland market, and also in the mid to late 70's in the Cleveland market. Those were the days when we did not have electronic MLS, but the MLS listings were hand delivered to each Realtor office every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
But even then, we kept keys for the seller's home in each listing office, and the showig agent drove to the listing Broker's office to pick up a key, drive over to the seller's home, show the property, and then return the key to the listing Broker's office.
But... even back then... the listing agent did not accompany each showing... except for huge mansion-type properties... where the showings were few, and it actually benefited all parties... seller, buyer, listing agent and selling agent... that the listing agent be at all showings... mostly to explain the ins and outs of these estate-like mansions I mentioned.
I never showed one in eight years in Cleveland, but the listing agent not being present was common practice even then. Dean... I invite you to visit my blog. Thanks for sharing... Karen Anne