I know this opinion will probably make some real estate agents roll their eyes, but I hate lock boxes.

For those who don’t know, a lock box is that little box attached to the front door that holds the house key. An agent schedules a showing, punches in a code, grabs the key, walks the buyer through the house, and leaves. It’s convenient. It’s efficient. And in my opinion, it’s one of the most overused tools in real estate.

Now before anyone gets upset, I understand why lock boxes exist. They make scheduling easier. They allow more showings. They let agents get buyers into homes quickly. There is definitely a place for them.

But if I’m selling one of my properties, I don’t just want someone opening the door, handing over the key, and letting buyers and their agents wander around for fifteen minutes.

I want someone selling the house.

Now before the buyer’s agents get upset, let me be clear. I absolutely understand why buyers often want time alone with their agent. They need the opportunity to speak freely, ask questions, discuss concerns, and decide whether a property is right for them without feeling pressured. I think that’s important and buyers should have that opportunity.

What I’m suggesting is that either before or after that private tour, the listing agent should spend a few minutes walking the buyers through the property’s key features and benefits. That way the buyers get the best of both worlds: time alone to evaluate the home with their agent and the opportunity to learn about features and advantages they might otherwise overlook.

Every property has strengths and weaknesses. A good listing agent should know them better than anyone. They should know why someone would want to live there. They should know what makes the property different from the dozens of others a buyer may be looking at that week.

When a buyer walks through a house with only their own agent, there is a good chance they miss things. They may not know the history of the property. They may not know about recent improvements. They may not understand the zoning opportunities, rental potential, parking arrangements, or neighborhood advantages.

A good listing agent can point those things out.

Maybe the house has a brand-new roof, plumbing, electrical system, or heating system. Maybe it has a high-efficiency heating system that saves hundreds of dollars a year in utility costs. Maybe the property has unusually low taxes compared to similar homes. Maybe it has a permitted in-law suite. Maybe it sits next to municipal parking. Maybe it is located in a district where certain live/work, office, studio, or commercial uses are allowed. Maybe it has features that are perfect for one type of buyer but easily overlooked by another.

Buyers don’t always see those things on their own.

I have always believed that the listing agent’s job is to identify the property’s strengths and weaknesses, market the strengths to buyers who value them, and make recommendations on improvements that can reduce or eliminate the weaknesses. That’s how houses get sold.

Too often today, it feels like some agents rely heavily on lock boxes, online listings, and automated showing systems. The house becomes a self-service product. The buyer walks through, looks around, and leaves.

In my opinion, that’s a missed opportunity.

In fact, I think one of the biggest mistakes sellers make is assuming that every buyer automatically sees the same value in a property that they do. They don’t. Sometimes buyers need someone to connect the dots. That’s where a good listing agent earns their commission.

If I hire an agent, I want someone who knows the property inside and out. I want someone who can answer questions. I want someone who can explain benefits the buyer may not immediately recognize. I want someone who can point out things that make the property unique. Most importantly, I want someone who can sell.

A lock box may be convenient, but convenience doesn’t sell houses. Knowledge, effort, and good marketing sell houses.

Call me old-fashioned, but if I’m paying a commission, I’d rather see an agent walking a buyer through the features of the property than carrying a key in a little metal box hanging from the front door.