Man, I totally get the appeal of just punching in a code and rolling on with your day. Those lockboxes though... yeah, I've had one seize up on me in the middle of a rainstorm. Ended up whacking it with a hammer like some kind of home improvement caveman. Not my finest moment.
The newer keypads are definitely slick, especially with the backup battery trick. That’s saved my bacon once when I forgot to swap out batteries for, uh, a year and a half. Still, I keep an old-school lockbox as backup just in case—call it paranoia or just too many “locked out with groceries” stories.
Honestly, whatever keeps you from standing in the driveway cursing at 7am is a win in my book.
Locked Out Drama—What Would You Do?
Ended up whacking it with a hammer like some kind of home improvement caveman. Not my finest moment.
Been there, done that—except my weapon of choice was a rusty wrench I found in the trunk. Didn’t help much, but at least I felt like I was doing something. Those old lockboxes are like stubborn mules when the weather turns on you.
I’m with you on the backup paranoia. I’ve got a keypad, a lockbox, and a spare key duct-taped under a flowerpot (which is probably the first place any self-respecting burglar would look, but hey, it’s tradition). The battery thing is real though. Nothing like realizing your “smart” lock is just a fancy paperweight because you ignored the low-battery beep for three months.
Honestly, I’d rather look a little ridiculous with all my backups than be the person trying to MacGyver their way in with a credit card and a coat hanger. At this point, I think my neighbors just expect to see me crawling around the porch every few months...
Locked Out Drama—What Would You Do?
That “caveman” moment hits close to home. I once tried to pick my own lock with a bobby pin and a butter knife—felt like a spy until I snapped the pin and scratched the doorknob. Ended up waiting for my partner to get home, sitting on the porch with a mug of cold coffee and a blanket. I get the backup obsession, but I always forget where I hide the spare key... so it’s basically a game of hide-and-seek with myself every time. Maybe one day I’ll actually label it, but where’s the fun in that?
Locked Out Drama—What Would You Do?
Been there, done that—except I tried to jimmy the window open with a paint scraper and nearly broke the glass. Ended up calling my neighbor for a ladder, which just made me look even more suspicious. Ever thought about one of those lockboxes with a code? Or do you trust your memory more than technology?
Locked Out Drama—What Would You Do?
Tried the window trick once too—nearly pulled a muscle and got nowhere. I’ve actually installed one of those combo lockboxes outside my garage, just tucked out of sight. It’s not foolproof, but beats breaking a window or doing the ladder shuffle at 2am. Honestly, I trust my memory… most days. But backup never hurts. Technology’s fine as long as you don’t go overboard—some of those smart locks just seem like another thing to break down the line.