A few years ago I was showing a home to a young man and his girlfriend. There was one home in particular that they really liked. They wanted to go back for a second look, but I could not accommodate their time so he said to me "Can you just give me the lock box code?"
The answer then, now, and forever will always be "NO".
The above situation was at a time when we didn't have nearly as many short sales and foreclosures as we do now, with not nearly as many vacant homes. I see a growing attitude by some buyers that it's o.k. to enter these homes without permission, or to try to get the code and go in at their leisure.
A home is a home is a home and every home has an owner, be it a a normal seller, bank, estate, or corporation and as such, deserves to be respected in every way possible. Below is a recent warning issued by the Ohio Real Estate Commission.
Ohio Real Estate Commission issues warning
Warning from the Ohio Real Estate Commission: Never Provide a Lock-Box Code to a Potential Buyer
The Ohio Real Estate Commission considers providing a potential buyer with a lock-box code and allowing them to view a property unattended a serious offense. In fact, the Commission recently ordered a licensee to serve a 10-day suspension, pay a $600 civil penalty, and complete three hours of education in ethics for providing a lock-box code to a client which resulted in the client's unsupervised entry into the property.
A licensed real estate agent should always be present at showings and should never provide a lock-box code to a potential buyer. If you are unable to attend a previously-scheduled showing, you should have another licensed agent attend on your behalf or simply explain the situation to your client and reschedule the showing.
So if you ask me for the code to a lockbox and I say no you will know I have good reason for my answer.
If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate. Information is obtained from Neohrex (Northeast Ohio Real Estate Exchange) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale, rental, or other status changes. All properties that are advertised as being listed or sold by Barb Szabo are in conjuntion with ReMax Trinity.
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