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MLS PIN vice chairman influences technology to better serve home sellers
MLS Property Information Network recently returned from a unique meeting in upstate New York, where they investigated new ways to use technology to better serve area homeowners. The meeting, hosted by GE Security, took place at GE's corporate-learning campus in Crotonville, New York and was attended by MLS PIN Vice Chairman, Carolyn Chodat (Owner/Broker of Classic Properties, Medway) along with other top agents, Brokers, Association and MLS executives.
The 3-day event focused specifically on a new technology that both manages access to keys of homes on the market and tracks and shares information about showings and other sales related data. The technology builds on the foundation of a high-tech lockbox designed to be secured on, and hold and safeguard the keys to, properties for sale, ensuring they are accessible only to authorized real estate professionals possessing a special equally high-tech key. These electronic lockboxes allow real estate professionals to easily bring potential buyers into homes offered for sale by other agents, eliminating the low-tech process of picking up house keys from the selling agent's office.
This technology also includes a sophisticated Web-based information network that tracks showings and other sale-related information that allows listing agents to better inform and serve their customers - the home seller.
The high-tech solution, GE Security's Supra iBox system, is already recognized as providing the highest level of security available today while also providing programmable options for greater homeowner privacy. MLS PIN has offered the Supra iBox as an option to its customers for the past 3 years. Approximately 10,000 of the more than 30,000 MLS PIN subscribers are currently utilizing the system.
Chodat was able to provide feedback on ways to further enhance the Supra iBox system in order to make it even more useful and effective for real estate professionals. Instant showing notification enabling listing agents to have up-to-the minute information on who is showing their properties was the top priority. Eliminating key renewal requirements while providing the MLS with instant deactivation capability also received high marks.
The iBox is opened with an electronic key card or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) that, like a bankcard to an automatic-teller machine, works only when an agent's personal identification number (PIN) is keyed in as well. Without the personal identification number a lost or stolen key card is useless. In addition, users must reauthorize their card through the information network where a record of every home access is uploaded.
The electronic key cards and PDA's are linked to a central computer, which records the name, brokerage affiliation and telephone of the agent, and the date and time of entry. Agents can easily obtain the showing activity by registering for email notification or calling a toll-free number. With the Supra iBox, real estate professionals can report to homeowners all viewings of their property, along with the exact dates and times.
The Supra system further protects homeowners as agents must reauthorize their key through the network. If agents fail to do so, the key becomes inactive.
This state of the art electronic keybox system is the real estate industry standard, with over 6,000,000 already in use on homes across the United States and Canada. Electronic keyboxes are just another way your local real estate professionals are working to assure area homeowners increased privacy during the sale of their homes.
MLS PIN is a privately REALTOR® owned multiple listing service. It is the largest MLS in New England, and one of the top ten in the nation providing services to more than 90% of Massachusetts, as well as areas of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
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