Lockboxes have become standard for most real estate professionals. You've become accustomed to seeing them on your own listings and those of others – but are you really taking advantage of what this technology has to offer? A lockbox can be so much more than a mere security and accessibility tool. It gathers valuable data that can be used to make important strategic decisions about your listings. By doing your research and being selective, you can unlock the possibilities of this new technology.

Choosing the Right Tool

If you're in the market for a lockbox, there are questions you can ask to evaluate which option is right for you, like:

• Is there a preferred lockbox provider in my MLS or Association? Does my broker have a preferred lockbox provider?
• How will the lockbox perform in adverse weather?
• Does the lockbox require batteries? If so, what type and how long will they last?
• What tracking and reporting tools are available?
• What showing software integrates with the lockbox?
• Do I need a specific phone or specific software running on my phone to use the lockbox?
• How easy is it to schedule privacy times when the lockbox will not allow entry?

Find more questions to ask in our 2014 Technology Guide. It's a free resource for real estate pros who want to learn more about the technology products available to them.

Here is one lockbox highlighted in the Tech Guide:

• SentriLock: Owned by the National Association of REALTORS®, SentriLock is on the leading edge of the real estate industry. Their NXT Lockbox allows REALTORS® access to advanced logs and reporting tools. Discover how to use them to your advantage with the award-winning customer support from SentriLock.

For more information on the option above, download the full guide. For a full list of Lifestyle Search solutions, visit our Product Directory.

More in the "Tech 101" Series

This is the latest in a series of articles that explores the spectrum of technology products available to real estate professionals. Each post covers what a specific type of technology does, how to evaluate solutions in that category, and available options. Here's what we've covered so far:

• CMAs
• Back office solutions
• Online Marketing
• Electronic Signatures
• Real Estate Websites
• Document and Transaction Management
• Virtual Office Websites
• Lead Generation
• Lifestyle Search
• Lockboxes
• Mobile Apps
  
• Website Analytics
• Market Analytics

Stay tuned for more!