I hear you on the fake rock—my dog figured that one out before any burglar ever could. I’ve had a lockbox tucked behind a gutter downspout for years, and honestly, I’m more worried about forgetting the code than someone actually finding it. Maybe that’s just me being paranoid, but I do check every now and then to make sure it hasn’t rusted shut or anything.
The garage keypad thing is a lifesaver, but yeah, I’ve had the “locked from the inside” fiasco too. My teenager once flipped the deadbolt without thinking, and I ended up sitting on the porch for an hour waiting for someone to come home. At least it wasn’t raining that time.
I get what you mean about smart locks. They’re cool until they decide to update firmware at 2am or just randomly stop working. Sometimes low-tech really is less stressful. I guess there’s always a trade-off—convenience vs. peace of mind. For now, I’ll stick with my old-school backup and hope my memory holds out longer than the batteries in those fancy locks.
I’m more worried about forgetting the code than someone actually finding it.
That’s honestly my biggest issue with lockboxes too. I’ve started keeping a backup of the code in a password manager, but then I worry about getting locked out of that as well... kind of a never-ending loop.
On the smart lock front, I’ve had a few installs where the firmware update bricked the lock for hours. One client had to climb in through a window because the app just froze mid-update. It’s wild how something meant to make life easier can backfire so fast.
Have you looked into mechanical keypads? They’re not as “smart,” but there’s no battery or software to fail. Downside is you have to remember the code, but at least you don’t wake up to a deadbolt that’s suddenly “offline.” I guess nothing’s perfect, but I’ll take a stuck code over a stuck firmware any day.
I hear you on the code anxiety—honestly, I’ve had to write mine down and stash it in a spot only I’d think to look. Password managers are great until you forget that password too... it’s a rabbit hole. I’ve stuck with a mechanical keypad for the same reason you mentioned. No batteries, no software updates, just a code. Sure, it’s not as flashy, but I’d rather deal with a forgotten number than a lock that decides to update itself at the worst possible moment. Sometimes simple really is better, even if it means sacrificing a few “smart” features.
I get it—simplicity wins sometimes. I once had a client who insisted on a “smart” lock for their front door, and it locked them out during a firmware update... in the rain, with groceries. Mechanical keypads aren’t glamorous, but at least they don’t have opinions about when you can come home.
Had a similar situation last winter—my neighbor’s smart lock froze up during a power outage, and he ended up sleeping at my place. I’ve stuck with a basic deadbolt and keypad combo. Not flashy, but it’s never left me stranded or needing tech support. Sometimes low-tech just makes more sense, especially when you’re watching your budget.