Should You Allow a Lock Box on Your Sarasota Florida Home for Sale

What is it and why is it useful ?

    A "Lockbox" is a "locked box" containing a key to your home. Lockboxes come in a variety of types from mechanical types to electronic units that provide your Realtor® with information on who showed your home.

    Only the electronic types are in common use in the Sarasota real estate market today. They are generally placed somewhere easily located by a Realtor® who wants to show your home. Only those with a Realtor's "electronic key" can open the lockbox and enter your home. These "electronic keys" are closely controlled by the local Real Estate Board to assure that only active Realtors have them. "Having a lockbox on your home for sale makes it convenient for other Realtors® to show it. And that is exactly what you want." says Connie Belmont, a Sarasota Florida real estate expert.

    Without a lockbox, a Realtor representing a buyer would need to arrange to have you or your Listing Agent meet him at the property to show your home. That may not sound like a big deal, but a Sarasota Realtor cannot know in advance just how much time his Buyer will spend at each home he shows them. &So, while he may arrange with your Listing Agent to be there within a 2 hour window, he cannot be more specific. You, or your Listing agent is forced to stay at the home for awaiting the Realtor and his prospect(s). That is not very convenient for you or your Sarasota real estate Listing agent.

    "Most other homes for sale in the Sarasota real estate market will have a lockbox," according to an experienced Sarasota real estate expert, "so if you don't allow one, most Realtors will simply not show your property."

    Your Listing Contract specifies whether or not you'll allow a lockbox. If you still have concerns about allowing a lock box, ask your Sarasota real estate agent to demonstrate one for you.