I hear you on the convenience—being able to buzz in a dog walker from halfway across town is pretty slick. My only beef is when the batteries die at the worst possible time. Happened to me once during a rainstorm, groceries everywhere, and I’m standing there like a soggy burglar. Now I keep a 9V battery in my glove box just in case (some locks let you jumpstart them). Not glamorous, but it beats climbing through a window... again.
Honestly, I get the appeal of smart locks, but I still trust a good old-fashioned deadbolt more. Batteries and tech just add another thing to go wrong. Had a client who got locked out mid-reno—cost them hours. Sometimes simple is better, you know?
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. I’ve installed a handful of smart locks for clients, and I always warn them about the battery thing. It’s one more thing to keep track of, and if you’re not the type to set reminders or check your phone for low battery warnings, it’s only a matter of time before you’re locked out. Saw a guy once try to “hack” his own front door with a power drill because he left his phone at work and the keypad was dead. Not pretty, and not cheap.
That said, I’ve also seen plenty of folks lose their keys or lock themselves out with a regular deadbolt. At least with a smart lock, there are usually backup options—a hidden key, or some of them have a 9V battery jump just in case. Doesn’t mean it’s foolproof, but neither is a regular lock if you’re forgetful.
Curious—do you ever install those keypad deadbolts that don’t need batteries? I’ve put in a few mechanical ones for people who want keyless but don’t trust tech. They’re bulky but reliable. Wondering if anyone’s had issues with those jamming up or wearing out after a few years.
Mechanical keypads are underrated, honestly. I’ve specified them for a few projects where clients didn’t want any tech at all—no batteries, no apps, just a code. They’re chunky, sure, and the finish can wear if people are rough or use lotiony hands a lot (seen some numbers fade). But I’ve never had one jam outright unless someone tried to force it. If you keep them clean and don’t slam the door, they’re pretty much set-and-forget. I’d take a clunky mechanical over a dead smart lock any day, especially for rentals or older folks who hate fiddling with their phones.
- Had a smart lock on a flip once—thing died during a showing because the batteries were toast. Super awkward, standing outside with the agent and potential buyers just... waiting.
- Ended up prying open a window to get in.
- Never had that issue with a mechanical keypad.
- Only thing I’ve noticed: sometimes folks forget the code if they don’t use it often, but at least it’s not a tech fail.
- I get why people like the fancy features, but honestly, for rentals or places I’m not at all the time, low-tech just feels safer.