OK let’s begin with, (for those that don’t know) what is a lockbox? A lockbox is large gray or black metal box that hangs from the front door knob at the entry to a condo or townhome or single family home . Inside this lockbox is a key to the property. If you a licensed REALTOR in good standing with your local Board or REALTORS, or an appraiser or other affiliated industry like a home inspector, you can obtain a card that looks like a credit card to access the key that’s inside the lockbox.

It’s pretty cool actually. The listing agent for the property can go on line anytime and check to see who has been to the condominium. They can tell the person’s name, their company, the date and time that they entered. I personally think it’s more secure then handing out keys.

Now that I told you all the good things about a lockbox, I’m going to tell you what you shouldn’t do with a lockbox.

When a listing agent removes (we call it unshackling) the lockbox from the door handle we enter a specific code…and presto magic, the box becomes unfixed from the handle. Here’s the heads up part. These handy dandy boxes weigh a ton. DON’T drop it on your foot. I did, and it felt like someone threw a brick at my foot. I learned a valuable lesson. Put your one hand under the box before releasing the shackle, thereby eliminating all the hopping around and occasional not nice word I may have uttered during that time. Plus my nicer shoes definitely weren’t happening until the swelling went down much much later.

So to sum this story up. If I was a seller, I would want my listing agent to put a lockbox on my property for the ease of use and security purposes. If I was a buyer’s agent, I would want the lockbox there to facilitate me being able to show my perspective buyer that particular property. But the real moral of this story is to “Not Do” what I did…..don’t drop that dead weight on your foot. You’ll be really sorry.