Been there myself, and it's definitely a frustrating experience. Smart locks sound great in theory but the tech glitches can be brutal. I had a similar issue with a rental property—tenants got locked out after an update went sideways. Ended up driving over at 11 pm with my toolbox and spare keys. Felt like a step backward for sure, but honestly, sometimes the tried-and-true methods just have fewer headaches. Don't beat yourself up over it; we've all had those midnight flashlight moments.
"sometimes the tried-and-true methods just have fewer headaches."
Couldn't agree more with this. I've done my fair share of remodels and upgrades, and while smart tech is appealing, I've learned the hard way that simpler is often better. Had a similar incident myself—got locked out after a firmware update bricked my lock. Ended up climbing through a window at midnight (neighbors probably thought I was robbing my own house...). Tech is great, but reliability trumps convenience every time.
I get where you're coming from, and your midnight window-climbing escapade definitely gave me a good laugh (sorry!). But honestly, I think smart locks aren't necessarily the villain here—it's more about how we approach them.
When I first installed mine, I was paranoid about exactly this scenario. So, I made sure to pick a model that had a physical key backup. Sure enough, about two months in, the app glitched out and wouldn't unlock the door remotely. But instead of scaling walls or breaking into my own home ninja-style, I just pulled out the trusty old-fashioned key from my wallet. Crisis averted.
The thing is, tech isn't inherently unreliable; it's just that we sometimes rely on it too exclusively. A smart lock can be incredibly convenient—letting in guests remotely, checking if you remembered to lock up when you're halfway to work—but it shouldn't completely replace traditional methods. Think of it as an enhancement rather than a replacement.
Also, firmware updates are notorious for causing headaches (as you've unfortunately discovered). My advice: never update firmware right before bedtime or leaving the house. Do it when you're home, awake, and have plenty of coffee on hand to deal with any unexpected hiccups.
So yeah, simpler might mean fewer headaches overall, but smart tech doesn't have to be a headache if you plan ahead and keep a backup handy. After all, even traditional locks can jam or keys can snap off in the lock (been there, done that...). Nothing's foolproof—smart or otherwise.
"tech isn't inherently unreliable; it's just that we sometimes rely on it too exclusively."
Exactly. I live in a historic house and tried a smart lock for convenience. Worked great until the power went out during a storm... ended up climbing through my basement window (not fun). Went back to old-school keys after that—simpler suits me better, but I get why people like the tech. Just gotta have a backup plan ready.
I've seen this happen quite a bit, actually. Smart locks are convenient, but they're definitely not foolproof. One workaround I've recommended to friends is choosing a model that also has a physical key option built-in—best of both worlds, really. Still, even traditional locks can jam or keys can break off inside... Have you considered keeping a hidden spare key or installing a lockbox as a backup measure?
