By Lita Batho, July 8, 2024
What’s With the Special Lockboxes?
What are they?
A Sentrilock lockbox is typically installed (with your permission) on your property by your listing agent for the duration of your home sale. This provides access to contractors/photographer (if needed, with your permission) prior to going on the market, to agents while on the market, as well as while your home is pending sale, after you’ve accepted an offer. These lockboxes are integrated with the MLS, which means the lockbox is specifically assigned to your home. They are also connected to an app which allows licensed agents to access keys via these boxes. They were a new innovation about 20 years ago, and are now ubiquitous in the industry.
Are they secure?
There are some features of these lockboxes that make them especially secure and useful for real estate!
- The data from the lockbox is transmitted to the mobile app, allowing listing agents to keep track of who is accessing your home, and when. This proves especially helpful in the rare case when an agent accidentally walks away with your key in their pocket, since we can easily see who last accessed the box. It also makes it simple to follow up with agents who have shown your home to buyer clients.
- It is easy for a listing agent to provide a ‘one day code’ to allow someone not licensed as an agent to open the box, like a contractor or cleaning service. This date specific code will only work on that occasion, and new codes will be generated if needed. This is safer than having one code that many parties may have used and may use again.
- Sentrilock boxes in each region provide general information on how often lockboxes are accessed, how long buyers stay at homes, etc. to provide unique data on the current market and activity, which helps us to be responsive to the market.
- These lockboxes are designed to be difficult to remove, and difficult to break into. While not impossible, they are tough. While you may typically see them hung on doorknobs, they can also be installed in another secure location on your property, if the front door knob is not your preference.
Lita Batho
Broker | OR & WA
She/Her
Lita has a genuine enthusiasm for navigating home purchases and sales with the intention of outperforming the market and making the process stress free and transparent for her clients.
"I began real estate as an independent agent, however during the pandemic, decided to accelerate my experience and build skills more quickly by serving as a listing specialist for a highly productive, all-female team. Even though there were only 5 of us we were one of the busiest teams in the city, and over 2.5 years, I helped over 60 sellers successfully navigate the sale of various property types throughout the Portland Metro area. From condos and fixers to bungalows and homes with million-dollar views, I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with a diverse range of clients, including seniors downsizing, young families seeking more space, and single women embarking on their next step.
While this experience was rewarding, having accelerated my experience, deepened my knowledge, and honed my skills, it felt natural to return to solo agency in 2024. I'd missed the autonomy and agility that come with being a solo business owner, considering that I've been a business owner for the majority of my working life, and I was eager to leverage these qualities to further benefit my clients.
I firmly believe that whether you're buying or selling a home, you deserve genuine and excellent representation. My consistent client feedback highlights my strengths in setting proper expectations, negotiating, timely communication, and efficiency -- all while being kind, direct, and a dedicated advocate.
My goal extends beyond successful sales and purchases, however; I aim to earn my clients' trust, leading to their recommendations. The highest compliment I can receive is that a past client trusts me with their own friends and family."
Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lita relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 1995 and has lived in Portland since 2001. She has an small business background, and a zest for negotiation, having grown up in her mother's retail shops and selling Christmas trees for her dad. Lita spent several years as a steel sculptor and public artist in Seattle, as well gaining extensive experience as a yoga teacher. When not working, you’ll find her cultivating an ever-expanding flower garden, doing home improvement projects, making art, or hiking in Forest Park or the gorge.
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- litabatho@livingroomre.com
