Frequently Asked Questions: Regional Lockbox Consortium Conversion to Sentrilock: Impact on DAAR members

 


Background: The Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® was part of a Regional Lockbox Consortium comprised of 21 REALTOR® boards throughout Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. organized for the purpose of upgrading their lockbox systems. At the end of 2007, the consortium made the decision to select SentriLock over competing lockbox solutions, including Supra. Each individual REALTOR® Board or Association within the consortium has the option of participating in the Consortium agreement with SentriLock. Due to an existing contract with Supra, DAAR will not participate at this time.

Why is DAAR staying with Supra while associations serving Northern Virginia and the Greater Capital Area selected Sentrilock? First, DAAR is under contract with Supra through 2011. We extended our contract when Supra issued the new blue infrared boxes. At that time we had reason to believe that our neighboring associations in Northern Virginia were also following on that path. There was no consortium, so we went ahead with the latest technology available. Second, it is the belief of the DAAR leadership that Supra has the most highly sophisticated technology and security and is backed by GE, a company known for its technological advances and the capital to back it. It is too soon to say what decision will be made and what lockbox company will be used when that contract is up. Staying with Supra will allow members to continue to use the lockboxes we currently have, and keep reciprocity with neighboring regions such as Fredericksburg, Clarke County and Frederick County, Virginia as well as Jefferson County, WV. The Northern Virginia, the Greater Piedmont area and Prince William County Associations are scheduled to convert in early 2009.

How can I show houses that are on Sentrilock boxes in Northern Virginia and the Greater Capital Area (Montgomery County and Washington DC)? You will need to purchase a Sentrilock key from those associations. We are endeavoring to work out an agreement with Sentrilock that would enable DAAR to issue Sentrilock keys to our members. It is unknown at this time what that cost will be.

If I purchased my Suprakey in Maryland, will it still work in Virginia? If you purchased a Suprakey in Maryland but programmed it through DAAR for Virginia you will need to surrender it and purchase a new Suprakey from DAAR if you need access to properties in Virginia.

Upon the conversion of neighboring associations to Sentrilock, should I surrender my Supraboxes? If you plan to continue to list properties in the Dulles and Loudoun area, you should keep the Supra lockboxes otherwise you will have to purchase new ones from DAAR.

What is the best way to purchase a Suprakey? Since some neighboring associations are converting to Sentrilock, it is more cost effective to purchase Suprakeys from DAAR. For instance, if you purchase a Suprakey from NVAR or PWAR, you will need to surrender it per their Sentrilock conversion plan in 2009.

As a non-member, how do I purchase a Suprakey from DAAR in the future? At this time there is a $100 additional non-member key fee. You also have the option of joining DAAR as a secondary member and then paying the member fee for your key and boxes. In the future, neighboring associations will discuss reciprocity agreements.

Why did the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® renew their contract with Surpa? Supra furnished us with some great reasons why their product has excelled over the competition:
  1. Beam a signal to the box to open it. You don't have to stand in the rain, fiddle with a card and punch in numbers. Just point and shoot.
  2. Security. No box has been proven more secure that the Supra I Box.
  3. Notification. You get an email announcing that your client's home has been shown.
  4. The Future. We are excited about what the future has in store. The new Active Key, which is being Beta tested by our members is the wireless wave of the future. No longer will you have to be at the mercy of your computer or phone. Every day, your key will receive an update code over the airways. You can leave it in your car, plugged into a cigarette lighter and that is all you need.
  5. Safety. The Active key of the future will have a "hot button" which you can press in the event you find yourself in danger. The pressing of this button will trigger a phone call to a person you have designated to indicate you are in trouble. They will be given the location of the last lock box you entered. No other key system can provide this kind of safety in these times when real estate agents are at risk.
  6. It's secure and reliable. Members know what to expect with the Supra system and how it performs in the field. Sellers deserve a UL listed KeyBox.
  7. eKEY users will continue to grow. As we continue to build our list of Smartphone devices to work with the iBox, the list of eKEY users will continue to build.

 


 

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