Vancouver Homes Secured
Posted October 13th, 2009 in Real Estate, Sharing the Experience | 
Nothing is Forever
©Yattermatters
Like so many things they are replaced, disposed and forgotten faster than the time it takes to toss them in the bin. Numbering more than candies in store, once shiny bright, they now remain heaped as refuse to be recycled. Usurped they were by the newest latest better the ever version.
Can’t Live Without It
Lock-Boxes, an indispensable real estate tool help make the job of real estate manageable. A convenient and secure place to safely guard access keys, they alleviate a tremendous waste of time, allowing Buyer’s and their purchasers easy access to homes for sale.
In the ‘good ol’days’ when gas was cheap and time endless, Vancouver REALTORS who wished to show a home to a potential buyer, needed to arrange key pickup at any number of brokers offices spread across the city. When finished viewing the homes, the same steps in reverse were traveled as they returned the keys to each broker. From a viewpoint of security, strange were those days in the irony that few brokers would actually ask for identification other than a business card – if you had one!
Better than Ever
Previous lock-boxes used a ubiquitous key that was often lost or copied nullifying the level of security for the home owner. Often they were hung on the door and with continuous opening and closing would damage the area where they were placed. The newest version is constructed of incredibly strong materials that would demand any thief to have specialized tools to gain access. An on board key pad for code entry the combination of the chip card and the entry code for access. Additionally, heavy duty protective rubber backing precludes any damage to the home.
Courtesy of SentriCard
The latest incarnation offers more security than ever before. The new box incorporates a chip card much like your bank’s credit card, that uniquely identifies the user. Like the the bank it also requires a Person Identification Number in order to access the keys inside the lock- box.
Another new feature is for sellers wishing some guaranteed privacy. By entering a predetermined code given to them by their REALTOR, the seller can upon entering that code, block access to the box. This action will preclude anyone accessing the keys and subseguent entry to the home.
Who Goes There?
Via computers and the internet, each chip card must be reset every 24 hours. Doing so requires additional passwords further ensuring that the authorized party is the only person able to reset the card. As well the interaction between the card and the computer identifies to the card and lock box owner who accessed the box and the time and day they did so.
As with most technology, this daily ‘check in’ methodology will soon been replaced with live transmission. Anticipated sometime in 2010 is the ability of these boxes to stream via the internet live access information to our cell phones. Realtors will have up the minute knowledge of who has accessed the lock box bringing another level of trusted security to the home owner while allowing more buyers to see the Vancouver home more quickly.
