Agent-to-Agent Closing Courtesy

While the Seller is busy passing house keys, garage door openers, etc. to the Buyer at closing, guess what the Buyer’s agent often gives the listing agent (representing the Seller)?

No, the correct answer isn’t, “a flask of whiskey”.

Rather, it’s the listing agent’s lockbox.

As a courtesy, Buyers’ agents will often ask if ” at the conclusion of the Buyer’s walk-through inspection ” the listing agent wants them to remove their lockbox and bring it to closing.

That saves the listing agent one last trip to the home ” doubly appreciated when they may be scrambling to review the final closing numbers and do any other last-minute, pre-closing prep.

Creative Lockbox Placement

Of course, that assumes the lockbox is attached to the home’s front door.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option on a recent listing of mine, because the front door handle had an open loop, meaning the lockbox could be easily slipped off.**

Instead, I looped a bike chain around a column in front of the home, and attached the lockbox to that.

The Buyer’s agent brought both items to closing, which went smoothly and uneventfully.

**While I’ve seen lockboxes simply placed on the ground near the front door, I certainly wouldn’t risk it, especially in the city.

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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