Sentrilock

[lklein1976]

Hello everyone. Out here in Illinois they are apparently making it mandatory to have a Sentrilock key to access lock boxes. Do any appraisers pay for one? My feeling is that we have enough expenses to have to pay for an agent not wanting to meet you. Am I off on that and should I just suck it up and get one?

 

[grondoline]

Sentrilock is owned by NAR. Their website states that 250,000 members use their services. At $179.90 per year, they pull in about 45 million or so per year in subscription fees. Hardware such as the card reader and lockboxes are not included. Comparatively, their costs are next to nothing, as the Sentricard is re-used year after year.

Appraisers could use the equivalent of the NAR.

 

[Spartagirl]

I am in Michigan and we used to have sentrilock and I paid for it and now we have supra and I pay for that and it is an app on my cell phone....I find it well worth as many of the homes I go to are vacant and I don't want to have to schedule an Appt and wait around when they are late....vacant properties make my schedule so much easier and I prefer to view the property without a realtor trailing behind me trying to point out all of the positives....

 

[Elliott]

I'd never "join" sentrilock. If the realtor wants to let me in, they can do a one day text with an entry code.

 

[BigJoe]

A realtor here in Illinois told me they are not allowed to give out one day codes any more. She asked me if I had a sentri card. I said no. She seemed annoyed because that meant she would have to actually meet me at the property to let me in. I remember back in the day the realtor would always meet me for an appraisal for a purchase transaction. Now a lot of realtors feel it's some sort of burden to meet an appraiser.

 

[Spartagirl]

In my area the Realtors will call the lenders and complain about the appraiser for not having it...The lender complains to AMC and I lose far more work than the low cost of the electronic key card system...it is the norm and expectation in my area that a professional RE appraiser will be able to access a board lockbox. ...

 

[BigJoe]

The price of a card is irrelevant to me. What bothers me is that realtors don't want to "waste" their time by meeting an appraiser at one of their listings. Then God forbid an appraisal comes in is less than the purchase price, they throw a fit.

 

[Lee Lansford]

Unless the dwelling is vacant, I am not accessing it without someone being present to let me in.

 

[Digger88]

you will make far more money in the long run by having a sentri card by being more efficient. the amount of time you will save versus trying to schedule with a realtor, waiting more because the realtor is running late etc... far outweighs the minimal cost.

 

[William K]

They had a special last month for $45 for the sentricard and you are then able to download an app for your smart phone.
I considered the "one-time" $45 fee a cost of doing business. I will only use a lock box or sentribox if the home is vacant.