Honestly, I’ve spent more time wrestling with sticky old doors than I care to admit. But here’s the thing—sometimes you swap out the jamb, fix the swelling, and then your fancy smart lock decides to go on strike. Ever had your phone die right as you’re trying to unlock the “efficient” door? Makes you miss those old skeleton keys... or maybe that’s just me.
Ever locked out by your own smart door?
Man, I hear you on the smart lock drama. Last winter, I’m standing outside in my slippers, arms full of groceries, and my “intelligent” lock decides it’s time for a firmware update. Meanwhile, my phone’s at 2% and the cold’s biting through my socks. I ended up using a snow shovel to prop open the back window and crawl in like a raccoon. Honestly, sometimes I think the old doors with their stubborn hinges and creaky frames had more personality—and at least you could always give them a good shoulder bump if they got stuck.
Anyone else ever try to outsmart their own smart home and lose? Or is it just me who’s had to explain to the neighbors why I’m climbing through the laundry room window at 7am...
Honestly, sometimes I think the old doors with their stubborn hinges and creaky frames had more personality—and at least you could always give them a good shoulder bump if they got stuck.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had my “smart” lock freeze up on me more than once—usually when my hands are full or it’s pouring rain. At least with the old-school locks, worst case you fumble with the key for a minute, not stand there waiting for an app to load. Gotta admit, sometimes the low-tech way just works better.
At least with the old-school locks, worst case you fumble with the key for a minute, not stand there waiting for an app to load.
Honestly, I still keep a physical key as backup for exactly this reason. If your smart lock has a manual override, it’s worth making sure it’s accessible (and that you know where the key is). Also, if you’re remodeling, maybe consider a hybrid lock—tech plus old-fashioned backup. Not as sleek, but way less stressful when tech glitches.
Not sure I’m sold on the hybrid thing. In my rentals, I’ve actually gone all-in on smart locks—no physical keys at all. Less hassle with lost keys, and I can reset codes between tenants in seconds. Sure, there’s the odd tech hiccup, but honestly, I’ve had more issues with tenants losing keys or getting locked out with traditional locks. For me, the convenience outweighs the rare app glitch. Just gotta pick a reliable brand and keep batteries fresh.
