Meet TOOR, The Smart Real Estate Lockbox

Billed as the “world’s smartest lockbox,” you can use TOOR in many ways. Backers pledged a combined total of over $100,000 to help bring it to life.

A lockbox is a small, storage device that is usually attached to the front door of a home. Inside, holders place a key to the home and secure it using a custom passcode. Lockboxes do not use any kind of digital technology.  Instead, they open via a combination lock.

Generally, realtors are the only ones who have the combination to the lockbox, and they must be present to show a home. Otherwise, visitors cannot gain access. Since the combination cannot be easily changed, they don’t give it out freely to interested buyers. Often, realtors must provide proof they’re involved in the industry before they can even access a home.

TOOR is different from a typical lockbox, as it’s controlled via a mobile app. Whether you need to give a house key to your real estate agent, your best friend or your mother, TOOR’s the convenient solution.

[tweet_box] Meet TOOR, the smart lockbox that lets you give friends, family or realators access to your home. via @TheGadgetFlow [/tweet_box]

How Does TOOR Work?

Like a regular lockbox, you can use TOOR to store keys or other items.

Thanks to Bluetooth and mobile technology, you can locally or remotely open TOOR using its companion mobile app. You can also provide keys — and track them — using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. This allows you to monitor who is coming or going while you’re not there.

Imagine this: You’re selling a home, and a potential buyer contacts you to arrange a showing. They don’t have a realtor, your realtor isn’t available and you’re busy at work. With TOOR, you can arrange a showing time, provide access to your home and track that access in real time — all remotely.

Or, let’s say a family member comes to visit unexpectedly. You’re still at work, so they have no way of getting inside your house. Luckily, you’ve stored a spare key inside the TOOR lockbox and left it on a side door. You can provide your family — or a trusted individual — access so they don’t have to wait around outside.

Although it’s meant for the real estate industry, TOOR has many unconventional uses too. You can use it to store important items like notes or delivery instructions. It’s also useful for securing gates, sheds, barns and other locations as well.

There are so many possibilities, all thanks to TOOR’s integration of technology.

What Does the TOOR App Offer?

From within the TOOR app, interested buyers can also search for properties, schedule appointments and locate nearby agents for an ‘escorted tour’ if need be. It’s a full-featured solution for the real estate market.

Considering 80% of all home buyers search online and 52% of all home buyers used an iPhone in their search, embracing modern technology is necessary to take full advantage of the market. Especially in areas like Chicago where real estate is investments are booming, TOOR could help expedite the showing and selling process.

The TOOR app also handles security and personal verification. Before you can use the service, you must take a clear picture of your government-issued ID. This will be used to hold people responsible in the event something unsavory happens.

TOOR is valuable for much more than just real estate. For example, say you’re an Airbnb host and you want to provide your guests with a key for a remote property. You can verify their identities, add users to a guest list, chat with them directly and grant access to the property, all from within the TOOR app. If you’re always on the go, you can use TOOR to safely grant access to contractors, pet sitters, visitors, maids or cleaners, appraisers, inspectors and more.

We think it’s safe to say TOOR will single-handedly revolutionize the real estate industry. Why? It does away with janky lockboxes and allows for seamless interactions between parties. What more could you ask for?

Image by Eduard Militaru