With the big cyber-attack today, let’s touch on a local security issue that is hard to believe. It didn’t happen to me, but to a listing agent I know.
It involves the new mobile app for our MLS, which is touted as a more convenient way for agents to access the lockbox when showing the home at their scheduled time.
The mobile app allows a realtor to obtain an entry-code for any lockbox on the system – whether the agent owns the lockbox or not, which is a big change.
The breach of security happened when a buyer’s-agent obtained an entry-code to a lockbox on an active listing – but she wasn’t at the house, and didn’t have an appointment.
She gave the code to her buyers, who let themselves in when the sellers weren’t home – and the house was owner-occupied!
Then she did the same thing a second time, giving the potential buyers the code to enter the home on their own – when she is not physically on site and has not made an appointment.
The sellers came home while the buyers were in the house – it wasn’t pretty!
Realtors – digging our own grave daily!
How pretty wasn’t it? Don’t leave us hanging.
Have you made your reservations for Park City yet?
It was about what you’d expect. The sellers didn’t realize exactly what they were walking into until later. The buyers just apologized and high-tailed it out of there. When the buyer’s agent was confronted later, she gave a list of excuses a mile long, and tried to downplay it.
Giorgio says he has a rough cut! It needs to be submitted to Sundance by the end of August. The same trailer:
https://vimeo.com/193293842
What’s the name of film entry for Sundance, Jim? I have friends who live in Park City…
It’s still Cost Per Square Foot…..unless it changes.
There have been 268 homes sold over $5,000,000 this year in Los Angeles:
https://youtu.be/5aKorbwaErs
(Only 29 in SD County)
Smart phones are not secure. Anything a Smart phone connects to becomes not secure. Allowing a smart phone to be involved in letting strangers into your home is a very bad idea.
Just because you want something to be good, doesn’t make it good.
See: Google Glass.
Was the buyer’s agent new or old? Do they teach common sense anymore?
“It’s just sticks and stucco. You loved this house, you’ll love the next one.”
Jim, you told me this over the phone 14 months ago when I was upset to sell my dream home because of adventures with a crazy next-door neighbor. (You can’t call it an adventure unless something goes wrong.) So I sold and moved 1,000 steps to a more upscale subdivision.
As always you were right. Love the neighborhood (Homes have been selling in one day), my home and the neighbors.
Mahalo for the advice!
If something had gone missing, or worst case scenario the intruders were shot/injured, would the saleswoman be held responsible?
Does the local MLS or lockbox provider provide liability coverage for this?
Dont know about the US but where I live that is a certain recipe for prospective buyers to have 9mm holes in them. If they got through the electric fence, Electric Gate, Razor wire and jailhouse style locks and steel bars it is just naturally assumed they are up to no good.
Do you live in Folsom or Ossining?
Daniel, I think andrewa said he lives next to the Elks Club in Compton.