Hiding a key in the BBQ is genius until you forget to clean it and end up with a greasy spare. I tried taping mine behind a loose brick on the porch—worked great until the mason came to repoint the wall and found it. Smart locks sound cool, but my 1920s door barely tolerates regular keys, let alone tech. At this point, I just trust my neighbor with a spare and pray she’s home when I inevitably lock myself out in slippers.
I hear you on the old doors—ours is from the 30s and just laughs at anything fancier than a basic deadbolt. I tried one of those magnetic lock boxes under a garden gnome, thinking I was clever. Turns out, my kid’s friend found it during hide-and-seek and handed me the “mysterious box” like it was buried treasure. Now I just keep a spare in a ziplock tucked inside the shed behind some paint cans. Not high-tech, but it’s cheap and hasn’t failed me yet... unless I forget the shed key, too.
That’s classic—kids always find the “secret” stuff way faster than adults. I tried hiding a spare in a fake rock once, but my dog kept dragging it around the yard. Now I just keep a key with my neighbor, but I’m always worried I’ll catch them napping or in the shower when I need it. There’s no perfect system, is there?
There’s no perfect system, is there?
Honestly, I think you can get pretty close if you’re willing to put in a little work. Here’s what’s worked for me:
- Ditch the fake rock—too obvious, and pets just make it worse.
- Instead of relying on neighbors, I installed a combination lockbox (like realtors use) in a discreet spot. No batteries, no tech, just a code.
- For backup, I keep a spare in the garage, which has a keypad entry separate from the main house.
It’s not 100% foolproof, but it beats waking someone up or chasing your dog around the yard. The trick is balancing convenience and security... and maybe not underestimating how clever kids (and pets) can be.
That’s a solid approach. I’ve seen way too many people trust the classic fake rock, and honestly, it’s like an open invitation for trouble—especially if you’ve got curious pets or kids running around.
I like your point about the lockbox:
No batteries, no tech, just a code.
That’s key. I’ve had smart locks glitch out on me more than once, and it’s always at the worst possible time. Sometimes the simplest solutions really are the most reliable.
The garage keypad backup is clever too. Ever had someone accidentally lock that door from the inside though? Happened to me once during a showing—ended up climbing through a window in my suit. Not my finest hour.
You’re right about balancing convenience and security. There’s always going to be some risk, but thinking ahead like this definitely puts you ahead of most folks. Curious—do you ever worry about someone finding the lockbox, or do you feel pretty confident with your hiding spot?
