SentriLock to Modify Process for Third-Party Showing Appointment Services to Provide Access to Lockboxes

Today, REALTORS^® across the nation rely on showing scheduling services to manage their showings. In the past, SentriLock has made it easy for these third-party services to generate and distribute One Day Codes to buyer’s agents on behalf of the listing agent/broker. However, with the goal of improving overall security and more secure access to listings (see Why Is the Change Being Made? below), SentriLock will discontinue providing third-party services with the ability to generate One Day Codes sometime during Q1-2024. Instead, the services will only be able to generate SentriConnect^® access -- so, access through the SentriConnect^® app.

For buyer's agents calling a third-party scheduling service to show a property, who are already using the SentriKey^® app, nothing will change. The buyer's agent will continue to arrange the showing appointment as they do today. For agents calling who are NOT using SentriKey^®, instead of that person receiving a One Day Code via email from the showing scheduling service, they will receive their mobile access permission through the SentriConnect^® app. The SentriConnect^® app is free and is the smart phone app designed for use by out of area agents and other authorized individuals. The app can be easily downloaded by these individuals from either the Google Playstore or the Apple store.

Listing agents will still be able to generate One Day Codes (the same ones that are available to you today) through the SentriKey^® Real Estate mobile app. You will still be able to text/email the codes to a buyer’s agent or other authorized/confirmed user.

If you are interested in learning more about what this means and how it might affect you, please review the below:

Benefits:

• SentriLock wants to ensure the best possible security and convenience for REALTORS^®. This change provides listing agents with even greater control, security, and a holistic view of all activity during the property’s sale. It also ensures immediate time stamp and access logs around access, which was not always possible when using codes. Utilizing this robust interface with third-party services is long overdue and will be a positive benefit moving forward.
• As REALTORS^® it is incredibly important to demonstrate the highest commitment to professionalism and doing the “right thing” for the homeowner. These changes will do just that.

What is Changing?
SentriLock will no longer provide integrations to third-party products that utilize SentriLock’s One Day Code API. This will affect any vendor that relies on this API to provide One Day Code-based access to properties using SentriLock’s lockboxes.

All future access facilitated by third parties will now require the person accessing a SentriLock lockbox to use SentriLock’s SentriConnect^® or SentriKey^® RE product to enable access to the property.

Also, all providers of secondary access through SentriLock’s API’s must deliver fully reciprocal data and functions in real-time, allowing the agent to select the best method for managing access to the property. This change ensures the ability to access a lockbox only around the pre-approved appointment time.

Why is the Change Being Made?
There are multiple business and legal reasons for this change. Here are the primary driving factors:

• These changes provide a better experience for agents by more tightly tying the appointment scheduling functions with property access. SentriLock believes this will benefit all parties, including those third-party vendors who integrate with SentriLock.
• SentriLock continues to identify some third-party providers that are issuing codes to individuals who are either not licensed (such as prospective buyers) or worse – criminals who have figured out a way to trick service providers call center staff to provide access, resulting in theft from the property. When these events occur, SentriLock ends up having to defend itself, as the blame is often placed on SentriLock for the access, when in fact our lockbox has worked as designed and the third-party is responsible for insufficient security policies and controls.
• In the past, some showing services used their call center to validate agents accessing the lockbox were licensed to conduct business. That is often no longer the case. Some showing services are sending codes to anyone upon a showing request. SentriLock’s commitment to securing the property is highly compromised by this.
• When codes are used, there is no way for the agent to end property access when the property status changes, a homeowner no longer wants to allow access, or the agent determines the person who has been granted access should not be allowed. Through the SentriKey^® and SentriConnect^® Apps – access can be revoked up until the last few minutes before access is scheduled.
• SentriLock is adding the requirement for all appointment based showing data to be sent to SentriLock in real-time to enable full utilization of “Access by Appointment” features in the SentriLock platform. This approach significantly curtails agents not conforming to the showing policies and ensures homeowners can trust that property access is only occurring during approved appointments.
• When codes are used, vital diagnostic and event data from the lockbox is not being provided back to the SentriLock management platform, thus devaluing it to members using the system and increasing SentriLock’s support costs.
• When devices need to have a software update installed, that activity requires a Bluetooth^® connection to the lockbox. Someone using codes does not facilitate the opportunity for SentriLock to ensure the best possible customer experience and product reliability.
• On non-FlexCode^® capable lockboxes, people can return and reuse the One Day Code after the showing for a period of time. SentriConnect® accesses can only occur once.
• SentriKey^® and SentriConnect^® accesses report the showing event data back to the lockbox platform, providing the listing agent valuable data on the activity occurring in the home.
• SentriKey^® and SentriConnect^® provide a more traceable access event to the user. Codes can be shared but using the apps would require someone to give their phone to someone.
• SentriLock will be enhancing the traceability of people utilizing temporary access in the future as part of our goal to ensure the highest level of security and safety. The transition to SentriConnect^® is part of this initiative.
• SentriLock will be required to maintain greater records on property accesses to ensure it can demonstrate compliance with any Federally mandated access requirements provided to non-REALTORS^®. This compliance data supports the entire REALTOR^® family.

Next Steps:
SentriLock has been communicating these changes and implementing new service API’s in relation to enhancing security. Vendors using these interfaces have been advised of the change and the cessation of older code-based services. These programmatic changes are thought to be minimal and accomplished in a short amount of time. SentriLock is working with these companies to ensure that the upcoming transition is smooth and timely. We will keep you posted regarding this implementation.