Mobile Access Made Easy

“Smart card” technology was developed 20 years ago and has reached the end of its life cycle. We have experienced numerous challenges as smart cards have approached the end of their utility, most notably:

• The hardware needed to support SentriCards® is no longer supported by the manufacturer.
• Smart cards do not support the latest highly desirable home access features that REALTORS® want.
• Bluetooth® technology and connectivity is the new standard for mobile business needs.

As a trusted technology company, SentriLock takes pride in always keeping a keen eye toward the future while staying firmly committed to providing the best overall customer experience and long product life. This means migrating to superior Bluetooth® connectivity and a robust smartphone “App”-based environment. The innovative features and functionality of the SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app offer the best customer experience and can be constantly enhanced with improved features that help real estate professionals.

Starting mid-January through the end of March, SentriLock will retire, or deprecate, the use of the SentriCard® for opening the lockbox key compartment. SentriCards® will still be used to take ownership of lockboxes, change your lockbox settings, and operate your own lockboxes.

If you own any non-Bluetooth® lockboxes, you will want to keep your SentriCard® to change the lockbox settings, reset the internal clock after a battery change, and to transfer ownership. Be sure to renew your SentriCard® in early 2022 to reprogram it to continue these functions!

Retirement of the SentriCard® means that it will no longer be supported as a means of access to other agents’ lockboxes. You will need to download and use the SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app to continue using the SentriLock system to show properties.

The SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app offers a wide range of benefits, including:

• Instant notifications
• Quick access tracking
• Customization of showing instructions
• Listing agent contact information
• Linking to third-party data integration resources
• Rapid generation of One Day Codes
• Automated renewal of credentials!

• Go to your app store (App Store or Google Play) and search for “SentriKey®.” Download the app.
• Use the same login information that you use to log in to the SentriCard® Utility program or the website to enter the app.
• Upon your first login, the app wizard will ask you to enable important features to get the most out of the application. You are then ready to perform all lockbox-related functions in one place!
  

The SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app will renew your credentials automatically every time you open it. To validate your credentials, we recommend that you open the SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app while in Wi-Fi or cellular signal before you open lockboxes using the app.

No, your existing lockboxes will continue to work.  SentriLock’s SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app is backwards-compatible with all lockboxes. To take full advantage of the features and functionality available through the app, we recommend using a Bluetooth®-enabled lockbox, but our app solution will work with all existing SentriLock previous-generation lockboxes.

SentriLock recommends a Bluetooth®-enabled lockbox for the best possible experience. The SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app supports non-Bluetooth® lockboxes, but special precautions are required in areas with poor cellphone or Wi-Fi coverage.

A Bluetooth®-enabled lockbox will appear as a cream/white-colored lockbox. The Bluetooth® indicator light will blink a blue light when the ENT key on the lockbox is pressed.

In today’s fast-paced market, your clients expect their home will be easy to show to potential buyers. The Bluetooth®-accessible lockboxes do not require any cellphone or Wi-Fi coverage to connect with the SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app. Therefore, if you are in an area lacking coverage, but you own a Bluetooth®-accessible lockbox, you will be able to easily access your lockbox.

A non-Bluetooth® lockbox requires you to download a code on your phone before losing cellphone coverage. With this in mind, it is crucial to have the best lockbox technology to ensure a smooth showing experience.

Non-Bluetooth® lockboxes can ONLY have ownership transferred by using a SentriCard®. Due to the limitations of the non-Bluetooth® lockbox, SentriLock recommends that all sales and transfers of lockboxes include a Bluetooth®-enabled lockbox. This is especially crucial in areas with limited cellphone coverage.

• Open the SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app.
• Tap the View Nearby Properties button at the bottom of the page. The property list will be displayed.
• Tap the desired listing and authorize it with your PIN or Touch/Face ID. Tap OK.
• If a listing doesn’t show up, enter the lockbox serial number in the Search field.
• The SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app will present you with a code to key into the lockbox.

VIDEO: How to Open the Key Compartment on a Non-Bluetooth® Lockbox

• Open the SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app.
• Tap on the three lines in the upper left-hand corner.
• Navigate to My Lockboxes and tap Release Shackle.
• Select Get Shackle Release Code at the bottom of the page.
• Select the listing or lockbox serial number and specify the date.
• The SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app will present you with the shackle code to key into the lockbox.

VIDEO: How to Release the Shackle on a non-Bluetooth® Lockbox

Yes. Cellular service is not required to open a Bluetooth®-enabled lockbox. However, SentriLock recommends the use of a Bluetooth®-enabled lockbox in an area with limited to no cell coverage.

Watch this video: How to Access a Bluetooth® Lockbox Without Data or Wi-FI

Despite the retirement of the SentriCard®, all previous generations of SentriLock lockboxes can continue to be accessed – including those without Bluetooth® connectivity – by using the SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app. Non-Bluetooth® lockboxes can be accessed through app-generated codes entered via the lockbox keypad.

The process for accessing a non-Bluetooth® lockbox without a SentriCard® is the same in areas with no cellphone coverage; however, obtaining access requires more advanced planning, and you may not always know in advance if you are going to an area with limited or no cellphone coverage. A non-Bluetooth® lockbox can still be accessed through an app-generated code entered via the lockbox keyboard. Click here for a product brief that explains this process or watch the video below.

Watch this video: How to Access a Non-Bluetooth® Lockbox Without Data or Wi-Fi

A non-Bluetooth® lockbox requires cellular coverage to release the shackle. SentriLock recommends the use of a Bluetooth®-enabled lockbox in an area with limited to no cell coverage, as cellular service is not required to release its shackle.

There are several ways to get assistance or learn more when using the SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app.

• App School: Take a quick self-guided course that will walk you through the app setup and show you how to use it efficiently and effectively to take advantage of the robust features and functionality.
• How-to Videos: Watch SentriKey® Real Estate how-to videos to see how to enable key functionality within the SentriKey® Real Estate mobile app.
• Help Topics: Visit the help section for your specific mobile device:
  SentriKey® Real Estate: iOs Mobile App
  SentriKey® Real Estate: Android Mobile App

And, if you need immediate help or have questions, you can always call our Lockbox Customer Support Team at 1-513-618-5800 or email support@sentrilock.com from 8 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week. Or, visit our Lockbox Support Page at your convenience.