There's a change coming.

The local REALTOR associations have negotiated new lockbox agreements with various suppliers.

If you're not familiar with what lockboxes are, it's what a real estate agent puts on your front door to allow other agents access for showing your home when it's for sale. There are a variety of these devices out there and, of course, they're completely incompatible.

For the last few years, all associations have used the same equipment. So, if I was based in Warrenton and had clients who wanted to see a home in Leesburg, there was no problem showing them that house.

All that changes in the next few months. The association I belong to GPAAR (Greater Piedmont Area Association of REALTORS) has chosen one system. The Prince William Area association and the Northern Virginia area will be on the same system. The Dulles Area and Blue Ridge Area associations have gone in a different direction.

It's not that agents won't be able to show homes in both areas. They can buy both sets of equipment and still be able to show anything, anywhere. But in a tough market where every cost is scrutinized, not every agent can or will foot that bill.

And, so, on behalf of my fellow REALTORS, I apologize to you our clients. This is clearly a disservice to all of you. I believe we need to keep out clients in mind as we make decisions and clearly you all were not our primary focus here. In a market where it's already hard enough for the average seller to get a buyer to come and look at their home, we've just added another obstacle.

I'm not pointing fingers at anyone association or at any group of individuals. We all share the blame here and should have found a way to get this right.

So, a big "I'm Sorry" and a promise to my clients that I'll do everything I can do to protect you from this mess!