What do you do when a lockbox won't open? Every so often, a Supra lockbox jams, and I get a call. Maybe the last agent crammed the key in sideways. Maybe it's moisture in the air or temperature changes that causes it. I don't know, but I know how to fix it because I've been down that road. The trick is to remove the lockbox by releasing the shackle. Then, holding the lockbox by its shackle, repeatedly smash it on a concrete surface. Trust me, it will unjam. You can't break a lockbox.
So, that's where I am headed this morning after the sun rises. Over to my listing in Fair Oaks to bash around a jammed lockbox. It's likely to be good therapy for me. Business has been so hectic lately.
You know what else is good therapy? Walking into a new listing that sparkles and is ready for showings. I appreciate it when clients listen to me by decluttering their homes and making those homes presentable for buyers to view.
Like this new Roseville listing in Crocker Ranch. This is a home built by John Mouier Construction in 2000. It's a one story with an open floor plan. The entry features ceramic tile, which also flows into the kitchen. I measured the kitchen, and it's more than 200 square feet. It has a breakfast nook, a ton of cabinets and lots of ceramic counter space, including a breakfast bar that is open the family room.
The master suite is remote from the other 2 bedrooms, located at the back of the home with outside access to the covered patio. At one time, the covered patio had been enclosed and turned into a sunroom; however, the sellers removed that structure and opened up the patio to the yard. Much of the yard is low maintenance. You'll also find a free-standing spa in front of raised garden beds.
There is a small structure the sellers are presently using for storage but looks like a changing room attached to the back of the home. It looks like a little house, and has a floor and sitting bench. To unwind after work, you could change your clothes inside this room, pluck an apple or plum from one of the fruit trees and hop into a steaming hot spa.
The family room has a wood-burning fireplace that is plumbed for gas but the sellers don't use the gas feature. There is also space for a dining room table and a chandelier.
This 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in Crocker Ranch also has an attached 2-car garage, which features a wall of cabinets with ample storage space. It's possible that if you made an offer today, even though it's a short sale, you could possibly be moving into this home before Christmas.
8956 Rising Mist Way, Roseville, CA 95747 is exclusively offered by Lyon Real Estate as a short sale at $230,000. For more information, call your Sacramento short sale agent, Elizabeth Weintraub, at 916 233 6759.
Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available at Amazon.com.
Lyon Real Estate is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.
The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.
Thanks for the advice Elizabeth, but what do you do if it's the shackle that won't open?
The shackle did open, fortunately! Did you know that you can pull the shackle handle right out of its slot when it's open? I discovered that today. I thought I had broken it. But the key box was jammed up inside, so I put a new lockbox on the home and hid the key drawer for the seller. She'll have to make a new key.
You make me laught, but it's true...those Supra boxes are like lead. I once used one to pound a sign into frozen ground. It was unharmed.
Elizabeth - I knew about being able to pull the shackle all the way out. I guess if you have a really tight spot you want to put the box that would help. I had one lockbox that when I tried to remove it from the house the shackle would click but not open. It was on a water pipe. I tried and tried to remove it and I guess I got a little bit too agressive. The water pipe was pretty rusted where it went into the ground and it broke. I had to turn the water off to the house and get a plumber out there to fix it.
So what was the original sale price on this home?
just interested on the market in your area
Your Friend in Charlottesville!