Spirit Bear Realty Mandates Use of Electronic Lockboxes
CORRECTION: Since this article was published, it has come to our attention that several other DMAR brokerages also mandate the use of electronic lockboxes for their agents. These offices include: Aspen Grove Real Estate Group: Denver, CO; Denmon Realty; K.O. Real Estate; and Redfin.
Last week, Spirit Bear Realty became the first DMAR brokerage (that we are aware of) to mandate the use of electronic lockboxes for its agents. This is a big step forward in transforming the outdated practices of the Denver market.
Across the country, most REALTOR® Associations have made the use of electronic lockboxes mandatory. The DMAR Board of Directors, along with neighboring Associations, decided to make use of the electronic lockboxes voluntary and allow managing brokers to take the lead in determining how they would implement the use of this technology in their respective offices. While our Association made great progress in 2019 by distributing nearly 5,000 complimentary SentriLock lockboxes to our members, the rate of usage has not significantly increased in the Denver market.
While Denver agents seem somewhat hesitant to switch from mechanical lockboxes to electronic ones, Trisha Karstetter, Broker/Owner of Spirit Bear Realty, decided she had an ethical obligation to make a change where she was able: in her own brokerage. On January 18, 2020, she announced to her team that as of February 4, every one of their listings would be secured with an electronic lockbox, and that any agent found using a mechanical lockbox would be fined $200.
“As a member of DMAR’s Professional Standards Committee, I thought it was important to set the standard for my fellow members at DMAR,” she explained. DMAR is thankful for Karstetter’s commitment to the spirit of REALTOR® ethics, and is hopeful that this act of dedication will inspire others.
With technology designed to provide strictly secured access to properties, complete with tracking of each showing, we believe electronic lockboxes are a hallmark for professional REALTORS® in today’s market. Prove to your clients that their security is valued and protect them with modern standards.
