What makes Canada different from the United States? It’s cold because its near the North Pole, it is mountainous and it’s the northernmost of countries in North America. Well, all of this is completely true. Despite the cold nature and locale, Canada does have prairie lands, some beach areas and has the largest freshwater reserves in the world.
Other than that, with Canada slightly ahead of the United States of America in human development; it has a lower crime rate. However, it started rising but only in select cities; like Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto. Yet, they all are safer than most Latin American, Asian, and African cities. Both Canada and America have safe cities.
Speaking of safety; Toronto is one of those large cities that is quite safe. It is safer than Beijing, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Istanbul, Cairo, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Dubai, Riyadh, Baghdad, Damascus, Tehran, Kabul, Mumbai, Bangkok, Jakarta, Sydney, and New York. Other than that, its police force is one of the best in all of North America and the world.
Yet, non-violent crimes like theft, burglary, and larceny take place in Toronto. Torontonians are allowed to take all needed measures to protect their homes.
A unique aspect of the city’s urban planning is that the city council mixed apartment buildings in residential plots to curb suburban sprawl. Yet, suburban homes are growing in number and so are the condos.
Speaking of Condos, Etobicoke Condos rank among the best in Condo especially for their picturesque location on the shores of Lake Ontario. New developments are an improvement not just in their architecture, layout, and planning but also in terms of construction, plumbing, materials used, and of course, security.
Which kind of lock is suitable for Torontonians living in condos?
These days, consumer smart locks are becoming quite popular in both suburban homes and condos (especially the expensive ones). This is particularly due to their convenience for deliveries and shipments, providing children access to home after combing back from school and for those who don’t like carrying house keys all the time.
A lot of real estate agents wonder how the use of these locks impacts the need for electronic lockboxes. Though electronic lockboxes are not as smart as their modern counterparts, it is time to examine how smart locks compare with them in managing access to any home that is listed for sale.
Some factors need to be considered when it comes to using any of these locks on residential properties. They are discussed briefly as under:
In terms of central control and security
When a home is available for sale and is placed on the market with the electronic lockbox in place; the business model for the security credentials is contained in its system. The real estate agent’s authorization status is updated regularly and their admission to the property is managed in a closed security system.
The agent’s access is tracked and is reported daily to a central control system. Thus, the agent’s authorization (as well as the removal of authorization) are managed automatically.
When it comes to a consumer product, its security model has no interface. It has no concept of the loads of real estate agents who may try to access the residential property nor would it allow any one or more of such agents without authorization to get access.
The difference in technology and products offered
Most electronic lockboxes conform to uniformity in features and functions. When a real estate agent comes to a property for sale which has an electronic lockbox, a single access device (like an app present in the agent’s smartphone) can facilitate access to any of the properties listed on sale.
Let us now imagine loads of different consumer smart lock products and each one having its distinct app to access home for sale. What does this result in? Real estate agents were unable to access it. Add the element of inconsistency in features of these locks and the outcome is 90% of real estate agents either pulling their hair or hurling curses due to their inability to access a property for sale.
Another fact worth noting; a showing agent might not be able to identify a consumer smart lock. They also may not know how to use it once they arrive at a residential property for showcasing.
Responsive support from security and support teams
All electronic lockbox systems come in with centralized support. This helps real estate agents when problems arise in showcasing a home for sale. During this process, agents and prospective buyers must access the home and see it. Hence, no agent has the time to research loads of vendors to contact for help.
In comparison, some realtors have customized lockboxes having code functionalities lasting for a limited timespan to ensure agents can showcase homes for sale seamlessly. It also ensures authorized access even when the lockbox faces problems. These realtors also offer good support to their agents and the homeowners.
With consumer smart locks, homeowners get wholesome support when the locks fail or break down. For real estate agents, these locks may not be friendly to them.
Reporting and data aspects
Consumer products often facilitate recording events of access, but such information is often reported to the homeowner (consumer) instead of the agent. Also, consumer smart locks do not provide market-level information to agents.
Electronic lockbox systems often provide this information to listing agents (when the home is for sale). They also provide market statistics and information on housing activity on a common platform.
Which one offers more peace of mind?
Some informal surveys found out that clientele of real estate companies is often reluctant to sharing access to their smart locks. There was also a concern about them being able to completely block third parties from accessing their properties once smart lock access was shared with their respective real estate firm.
Electronic lockboxes on the other hand give clients of real estate firms more peace of mind. Once it was removed from the property, no third party would be able to access the home for sale.
Conclusion
It is evident that electronic lockboxes and consumer-level smart locks are created differently and serve distinct purposes. Despite the latter becoming more popular with homeowners, the former continues to be favored by real estate agents.
Smart locks are also favored heavily by residents of condominium complexes across the city. Also, those having electronic lockboxes are in good luck thanks to the control condominium corporations have over their functionality and access.
