The Fredericksburg area is on the “fringe” of three different regional ML systems (MRIS, Richmond & Charlottesville). Two different lockbox providers are used – GE’s Supra & NAR’s Sentrilock. Each association (FAAR, PWAR, NVAR, RAR, etc) has its own contract with the lockbox provider of its choice and controls its own lockboxes and keys. So, someone with a Supra key issued by FAAR would not be able to use it to access a Supra lockbox issued by CAAR or RAR unless it was programmed by that association to do so.
The following is a breakdown of which area association is using which type of box and what areas they cover:
* PWAR – Prince William Area (Sentrilock)
* NVAR – Northern Virginia Area (Sentrilock)
* GPAAR – Greater Piedmont Area (Sentrilock)
* DAAR – Dulles Area (Supra)
* FAAR – Fredericksburg Area (Supra)
* CAAR – Charlottesville Area (Supra)
* RAR – Richmond Area (Supra)
County breakdowns (other than PWAR, DAAR & NVAR which are obvious):
Warrenton, Rappahannock, Culpeper – GPAAR Sentrilock
Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, King George – FAAR Supra
Caroline – A mix of FAAR Supra and RAR Supra
Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene, Nelson, – CAAR Supra
Madison and Orange (including Lake of the Woods) – a mix of FAAR Supra, CAAR Supra and GPAAR Sentrilock
Louisa – A mix of FAAR Supra, GPAAR Sentrilock, CAAR Supra, and RAR Supra
What lockboxes you buy and which key you will use – or multiples thereof – is a business decision YOU need to make.
Where do you do business?
What areas do you cover?
Will you be showing a lot of property in an area not covered by your key system?
If you are not going to buy lockboxes in another coverage area, are you willing to meet agents to give them access to the property?
If you list a property in Warrenton and use a FAAR lockbox, are you adequately representing your client?
Those of you working with REOs may want to check your zip code lists to make sure you really do “cover” an area.
Would it be more prudent of you to refer your client to an agent who covers that area?
And, before you throw up your hands and declare war against electronic lockboxes and vow to only use combo boxes, think again. The NVAR listing agreement (ERS – section 9, item F) states “that the Broker will install an electronic keybox on the Property to allow access and showings by real estate licensees who are authorized to use the electronic keybox system by area REALTOR Associations.”
Also, when showing property, you will want to closely check the MLS sheet before going. The showing instructions are supposed to note whether it is on a Supra or Sentrilock system. If the showing instructions are not clear, you may want to call the agent to verify.
There will be some confusion in the upcoming months as the conversions take place but things WILL settle down eventually. Stay tuned to the FAAR Forum – you can find it, and other timely announcements, at www.FAARmembers.com.
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