Wow, what a turn around at the old Larkspur Landing! We recently stumbled upon the Farmers Market, open every Saturday between 9am and 2pm. It’s the perfect place to bring the kids, eat lunch and let them run around the open grassy area or lounge with friends on the large picnic tables and benches. The vibe was amazing. There was live folk/bluegrass music and really yummy food, and the kids went on a pony ride and fed the ducks in the pond. It’s a great place to check out on a Saturday and meet up with your friends for lunch.

The mall has an open, family-friendly style, with a great combination of artisan foodie shops, high end boutiques, restaurants, and a yummy yogurt shop. Marin Brewing company is still there and a great place to sit out on the patio and have a beer and lunch. There are many new shops coming soon and I have a hunch this will be the new cool place to hang out and shop like it used to be 25 years ago. Check out their website for more info.

If you are selling your home, one of the considerations will be whether or not to include a lockbox on your house.

What is a lockbox?

A lockbox is a metal box that typically attaches to the door of a home.  House keys are placed inside to allow another real estate professional to access the property.  Lockboxes are only accessible by agents who subscribe to the mulitple listing service and have a code to access the home.  They either have an electronic key or an application on their smart phone.  Once they enter the code they can open the box and remove the house key.

Are lockboxes safe?

The lockbox key codes update each evening, so any agent who loses their “key” or is removed from the system will not be able to open the lockbox.  We used to leave keys at the office for agents who wanted to show a home.  Lockboxes reduced lost keys and the expense involved in rekeying a property.  Lockbox showing information can be downloaded by the agent to track who views the home and how often.

Should you use a lockbox?

Well, that depends!  Lockboxes allow for tremendous flexibility for showing agents.  Homes that use lockboxes are more likely to be shown because of the their ease of use and showing hours can be set up so an appointment is not necessary.  Sad but true, many agents won’t show an appointment only listing because it requires too much advance preparation to set up the appointments.  Additionally, many buyers feel more comfortable viewing homes when the listing agent and home seller are not present.  Buyers are more likely to spend more time at properties where they feel they can view and talk freely.

What if someone steals my stuff?

Even with an agent in the property, theft could still occur. The best way to prevent theft is to remove valuables and prescription drugs before you put your home on the market.

When shouldn’t I use a lockbox?

We do not use lockboxes on many of our luxury properties (2+million).  We want to make sure prospective buyers are qualified and we  require a personal walk through with a member of our team to explain all of the unique features of the home.  Additionally, the quantity of showings on a multi-million dollar home is significantly lower, making it easier to accommodate scheduling requests.

In general, we are strong believers in the use of lockboxes.  The more showings you have, the greater opportunity you have to sell your home.  If you are considering selling, please contact us!