It’s September and that means RMLS™ fourth quarter subscription dues and key fees will soon be invoiced.

But wait! Won’t there be a conversion this fall to SentriLock, you might ask? Why, yes there will.

What does that mean for your bill? Let me give you a little bit of information.

Since we are converting mid-quarter, fourth quarter invoices will look a bit different.  Subscribers will still have two invoices on their statement—but if you pay for a key your key invoice will have two lines for key service instead of one:

1. Supra Key Lease charge for October (the rate will vary based on your key type)
2.  $22.00 SentriLock service charge for November and December 2013.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2014 (which will be invoiced December 1, 2013) the new quarterly cost for SentriLock service will be $33.00.

If you have any questions, contact RMLS™ Accounting at (503) 872-8003 or leave a comment!

John Ayers, RMLS™ Vice President of Subscriber Services, provides subscribers additional details about the SentriLock lockbox system RMLS™ will be converting to this fall. Watch the video to learn about securing replacement batteries for your new lockbox, various ways to access the lockbox at a showing, and important conversion preparation information. (Note: no equipment is being exchanged at this time!)

A few highlights:

• Subscribers should have recently received an email containing a list of the Supra lockbox numbers registered in their name. Make sure this information is correct! At SentriLock events this fall, we will be unable to exchange lockboxes that are not registered to you. If you find you have some lockboxes that are not registered in your name, submit a Lockbox Transfer Form to RMLS™ in advance of your exchange event.
• SentriLock will provide replacement lockbox batteries to RMLS™ free of charge, and recommends that subscribers use these commercial-grade batteries rather than similar ones found in retail establishments. If you are unable to make it in to an RMLS™ office, we will be able to mail batteries to subscribers as well.
• Smartphone access will be available in time for our conversion. Details about this exciting development will be shared when they become available.

Need help determining which lockboxes are registered to you? Contact the RMLS™ Help Desk by phone at (503) 872-8002, (877) 256-2169, or by email at helpdesk@rmls.com.

Planning to exit the real estate industry? Need to unload extra lockbox inventory?

Hurry in to RMLS™!

RMLS™ will be ending its standard buyback of used Supra lockboxes on August 1, 2013, as part of our upcoming transition to SentriLock. RMLS™ currently buys back Supra lockboxes at a rate of $40 per lockbox, with a check issued to the subscriber one or two weeks later.

All Supra lockboxes (new or used) sold by RMLS™ after September 1st will be priced the same as a new SentriLock lockbox—$89.

RMLS™ will switch to SentriLock this fall. Events will be held around the RMLS™ region in October and November, allowing subscribers a one-for-one exchange on Supra lockboxes registered in their name. We are currently in the process of finalizing the venues for these exchange events, and subscribers should expect email invitations in early September to register.

Subscribers should also watch for an email from RMLS™ with information about which Supra lockboxes are currently registered to you. Pay attention to this information: at these exchange events, only lockboxes registered to you will be allowed for a one-for-one exchange! (Download a Lockbox Transfer Form here.)

Our trainers and staff have been giving SentriLock demonstrations at offices around the region. If you haven’t been able to see it in person, view this SentriLock demonstration video online!

The RMLS™ Board of Directors recently set the price of a new SentriLock lockbox at $89, effective when RMLS™ transitions to the new lockbox system later this year.

Key prices for the SentriLock system have been set at $33 per quarter.

RMLS™ will be holding one-for-one lockbox exchange events in October or November, and details will be made available as they are finalized. Subscribers are advised to start preparing for these fall events now by determining the location of all their lockboxes, making sure the lockbox is registered to the correct individual or business.

Trainers and other RMLS™ staff have been demonstrating the new SentriLock equipment during scheduled office visits and Broker Education Series events. Subscribers are highly encouraged to request a demonstration when scheduling RMLS™ training at their office. Alternately, visitors may get to know the SentriLock equipment by visiting their local RMLS™ office. If both these options are unavailable, watch our SentriLock demonstration video online.

RMLS™ hopes to make the transition to the SentriLock system a smooth one for all subscribers. We will continue to pass information along as it develops. If you have any further questions along the way, never hesitate to call the RMLS™ Help Desk at (503) 872-8002 or (877) 256-2169.

“I have gone through many lockbox changes in my 35 years in real estate—but this is the first one I’m looking forward to. I believe the multiple features of the REALTOR® NXT lockbox will make our job easier: the Remote Access Device (RAD), larger key compartment, customized showing notifications and reports, and not having to cut a dead lockbox off a property, just to name a few!”

George Perkins
20/20 Properties, Inc.

Later this year, RMLS™ will be transitioning from the Supra lockbox system to the SentriLock system. We’ve put together a brief video with John Ayers, Vice President of Subscriber Services, walking through the equipment and how to perform basic functions:

RMLS™ SentriLock equipment will include the following:

SentriLock Lockbox (NXT wireless model)
SentriCard

Remote Access Device (RAD)

Card Reader

As John mentions in the video, each of the RMLS™ offices now has demo equipment available. We encourage subscribers to visit their local office and test it out!

UPDATE (April 29, 2013)
We’ve taken some photos of a Supra lockbox next to a SentriLock lockbox so subscribers may note size differences. As for weight, using the same scale at the RMLS™ office in Portland, the Supra lockbox is 2.2 pounds, and the SentriLock lockbox is 2.4 pounds.

UPDATE (April 30, 2013)

Subscribers may view a sample SentriLock showing report.