SentriLock Gen II REALTOR® Lockbox

Sentrilock and RPR Team Up to Offer Easier Property Access
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM PDT As a Sentrilock customer, you know the importance of quickly and easily accessing a lockbox when your client needs to see a property. As an RPR user, you know the importance of sharing accurate, insightful property data with your clients. What a great pair Sentrilock and RPR make together! Open a lockbox and instantly get a property report to share with your client. It's a seamless way to help your client review a property's features as you tour the property with them. In this webinar, expert trainers will: Show you how to make sure your Sentrilock App is properly set up to integrate with RPR. Review some of the key features of the Sentrilock app. Explore the components of an RPR Property Report and review some of RPR's top features. Register

6 Essential Privacy Settings for Your Smartphone
How would you feel if you lost your smartphone? It feels like your entire life is on your smartphone. That's because it's more than just your everyday tech device: it's your computer in your pocket. You use it to communicate with clients, access your transactions, schedule appointments, navigate to showings, and generally manage your business on the go. But just like you lock up your physical office to secure sensitive client information, you must also lock down your digital data. After all, we don't leave a key under the mat for clients to access a home! Safe and secure Because smartphones these days are incredibly powerful mini-computers, that computing power comes with privacy risks, especially if you don't have the proper settings in place. You would never want a client's personal information to fall into the wrong hands, but if you don't have the right privacy settings on your phone, you're taking that risk. Fortunately, with a few fundamental privacy tweaks, you can secure your smartphone and protect your clients and business. Here are 6 essential privacy settings that every real estate agent needs on their smartphone: Screen lock: Securing your front door Think of your smartphone as if it were your home. Just as you wouldn't leave your front door unlocked, securing your smartphone with a screen lock is critical. This feature is the first barrier against unauthorized access. A strong PIN or password can be likened to a high-quality deadbolt — difficult for intruders to bypass. Biometrics, like fingerprints or facial recognition, offer convenience and an additional layer of security, acting as personalized, uncopiable keys to your digital home. Pro tip: Regularly updating your screen lock settings ensures that your first line of defense remains impenetrable. App permissions: Who has the keys? Granting app permissions is akin to handing out keys to your home. It's essential to periodically audit these "keys" to ensure only the necessary apps can access your data. For example, a mapping app may require your location to function effectively, like giving a gardener access to your backyard. However, a simple note-taking app requesting access to your contacts or location might raise red flags — why would the app need that to function? Regularly reviewing and revoking unnecessary permissions is like changing the locks after a key has been lost; it's a crucial step in maintaining your privacy. Multifactor authentication: The alarm system Two-factor or multifactor authentication (or MFA – read more about it here) acts as an advanced security system for your digital property. Even if a hacker manages to guess your password, using an additional verification step, such as a code sent to your phone or email, keeps them shut out. Think of MFA as an alarm system that notifies you of an intruder's presence and stops them in their tracks, providing an additional layer of security. Implementing MFA, especially for email and social media, is akin to installing motion detectors and cameras around your home, offering you peace of mind that an extra layer of defense is in place. Location services: The privacy fence Your smartphone's location services can be incredibly beneficial but pose a privacy risk if not managed correctly. Think of location as your digital property's boundary. Just as you construct a fence for privacy, it's wise to control which apps can access your location and when. Adjusting these settings to "While Using the App" ensures that your location is shared only on a need-to-know basis, like opening your gate for guests during a visit and then securely closing it afterwards. Public Wi-Fi: Leaving the door unlocked Connecting to public Wi-Fi without protection is like holding an open house without leaving the front door open so anyone can enter, as it poses potential risks to your privacy and security. A solution is to use a virtual private network (VPN). It encrypts your data, effectively creating a private viewing for your online activities. This ensures that your digital communications and activities remain confidential even in a public setting, safeguarding sensitive client information and your personal data from digital eavesdroppers. Software updates: Home renovations Regular software updates are the renovations and repairs of your smartphone. These updates patch security holes and enhance functionality, like fixing a sticky door or replacing a broken window: both can make a home more secure. Neglecting software updates can leave your device vulnerable to new threats, like letting a property fall into disrepair, which can lead to more significant issues. Setting your device to update automatically ensures that your phone remains in top-performing condition, safeguarded against the latest security threats. Protecting your – and your client's – privacy Remember, remaining vigilant and proactive to protect sensitive information is the best way to keep your client's trust. Implementing these six essential privacy settings will fortify your smartphone against potential breaches, ensuring that your digital device remains a secure and private environment for conducting business. This protects you and solidifies your reputation as a diligent and conscientious agent in the eyes of your clients. Finally, if you need help with any of these steps to make your phone more secure, just reach out to the Tech Helpline for support! Related reading Top 5 Ways for Real Estate Agents to Protect Their Data and Personal Privacy 4 Ways to Improve Your Cybersecurity 6 Reasons Not to Use Similar Passwords and the Best Alternatives To view the original article, visit the Tech Helpline

The Difference Between Electronic and Combo Lockboxes
Just like real estate agents who have achieved the title of REALTOR®, there are certain lockboxes that are held to a higher standard and can be a game-changer for agents. Lockboxes might not always get the spotlight, but they're incredibly important. They serve as the gatekeepers to your listings, and they not only protect your client's interests and help facilitate successful showings, but they can also help establish the important element of trust between clients and agents. But here's the thing – with so many lockbox choices out there, it can be tough to spot the ones that truly bring something special to the table. Let's explore the different lockbox options and explain the most important features to look for when investing in a lockbox. Combo boxes vs. Electronic Lockboxes Real estate lockboxes can essentially be boiled down into one of two basic categories: combo box or electronic. A combo box refers to the simple, manual devices agents can use to secure the keys to gain entry to a listing. These types of lockboxes typically operate with a code entered into a numeric keypad or padlock that opens a door to reveal a house key inside. Combo boxes have multiple disadvantages Added Risk: Once set, the code will open the lockbox until the agent visits the property to change it, costing the agent valuable time. Less Control: Agents also have no control over access hours or knowledge of who visited the property. Not Secure: Many combo boxes are known to be easily breached with hand tools, posing further vulnerabilities to the security of the home. How Electronic Lockboxes Are Changing the Game Enhanced Security: Where combo boxes rely solely on physical keys or combinations, electronic lockboxes offer additional security features such as encryption, unique access codes, and audit trails, all of which provide greater protection against unauthorized access. Real-time Activity Tracking: Real-time activity tracking and reporting features allow agents to monitor who has accessed the property and when. Remote Access: Grant access to the property from anywhere, at any time, with remote access. With electronic lockboxes, there's no need for physical presence. This flexibility is especially valuable for agents managing multiple listings or conducting showings outside regular hours. While electronic lockboxes often cost more than their mechanical counterparts, agents will quickly recoup this investment in the time and energy saved by not having to visit properties to change manual access codes, allowing them to focus their efforts on selling. Choosing the Best Electronic Lockbox: 3 Key Features to Consider 1. Battery Life While clearly a more advanced and secure option, electronic lockboxes have their own set of challenges. A dead battery could cause major issues since it needs power to open the door. That's why the SentriGuard® lockbox from SentriLock offers the longest-lasting battery on the market, which is easily replaceable by the agent and supported by a backup battery, just in case. Unlike other lockbox solutions available, these batteries are replaceable so that the lockboxes can last for years. 2. Durability and Weather Resistance Your lockbox is going to spend a lot of time outside. Make sure it can handle whatever the weather throws at it—rain, heat, cold, you name it. A tough, durable design is a must. The best electronic lockboxes will come with credentialed security and durability. 3. Access Control Being able to track who accesses the box and when is super useful, too. Look for lockboxes that let you create custom access codes or use an app to control entry. Through the SentriConnect® app or FlexCodes™, you can provide temporary access to authorized guests. It's safe and convenient, allowing you to focus on selling. Need to control access around showing schedules? Easily set up appointment times to restrict when properties can be accessed. Lockboxes perform an incredibly important task by securing access to what is often clients' largest asset. Likewise, it's well worth agents' careful consideration to do their homework and select the best tool for the job. This is not only for the safety and security of their listings, but also to ensure they can focus their full attention on achieving success in the hyper-competitive real estate industry. To view the original article, visit the SentriLock