In recent months, the increase in real estate purchase and sale operations indirectly motivated another market linked to the activity of real estate companies:
the rental of safe deposit boxes and meeting rooms to carry out real estate operations.
The companies linked to the provision of this service explain that the greater activity in this sector is due to
the shortage of meeting rooms and real state operations in the banks,
as well as the limitation of days and hours. So, private company rooms and safe deposit boxes have a differential appeal for customers.
One of the companies that offer the service explains that, “the rooms
have greater privacy than a bank
, given that they are not usually on public roads, but inside buildings or shopping centers.” And that, in addition, "additional services are added such as the spaciousness and privacy of the room, as well as the counting machine, cafeteria, security and shelter space."
According to the experience of INGOT, one of the local companies dedicated to offering this type of service, in recent months
the firm registered an increase of more than 30% in the rental of meeting rooms
for operations in all its headquarters in the country. “Which shows the greatest movement in the real estate market,” the company explained.
Juan Piantoni, CEO of INGOT and president of the Argentine Chamber of Safe Box Rental Service Companies, says: “we see an increase in the use of rooms and the rental of safe deposit boxes for 24/48 hours, given the security that "They offer companies like ours that allow the entire operation to be resolved in one place, especially in
high-stress situations such as the purchase and sale of a property
," he says.
This company also made an agreement with the international RE/MAX network and also with other important local real estate agencies, so that brokers can use the meeting rooms free of charge. Additionally, as part of the service, they offer benefits and discounts for deed signings.
The automated vaults offered by the company have nine security rings during the process carried out by the client, which includes armored doors with a lock system - lock, high security turnstile, metal detector, sliding doors and biometric fingerprint and face recognition. and iris, along with ID and personal PIN. However, "the process takes a few minutes, streamlined with a shift system that allows no client to be delayed in operating or cross paths with other people, thus taking care of privacy and confidentiality," says Piantoni.
“Non-banking” safe deposit boxes are an international trend
that has been consolidated over the years and with virtualization, the incorporation of technology and, above all, due to the pandemic.
They are found in developed countries such as Europe, Asia and the USA, as well as in developing countries and even in neighboring countries (Uruguay and Brazil). In the US, for example, 50% of safe deposit boxes are outside the banking circuit. There are more than 2,300 robotic vaults in the world and 44 of these companies in the United Kingdom alone.
Companies began to appear in Argentina in 2014
and it is estimated that there are
about 800,000 safe deposit boxes
in banks alone and more than 50,000 in safekeeping companies, of which there are more than 16 in the market.
Given current demand, it is a figure that grows annually at a rate of 35%
. While in the country, it is estimated that
70% of clients still keep money among other values
, in the world the largest percentage is destined to the storage of materials such as jewelry, writings and works of art, among other values.
S.N.