I get the hesitation with smart locks, but honestly, after managing a handful of rentals, I’ve come around to them. Had one tenant lose keys three times in a year—after that, I figured tech couldn’t be worse than my luck with spare keys under flowerpots. The keypad models aren’t perfect, but not having to drive across town with a crowbar or call a locksmith at 2am is worth it for me. Still keep a backup key somewhere, just in case the batteries die... but so far, it’s been a lifesaver.
I get the appeal, but I’ve had a couple of smart locks glitch out on me—one froze up in the middle of winter, and another just stopped responding until I did a full reset. Had to climb through a window once (not my finest moment). Maybe I’m old school, but there’s something reassuring about a plain old deadbolt. Tech’s great when it works, but when it doesn’t… man, it can be a headache.
I hear you—I've had my share of headaches with smart locks, especially in rental properties. One tenant called me at 2am because the keypad battery died and they couldn't get in. I like tech for convenience, but I always keep a physical backup key somewhere safe. At the end of the day, nothing beats the reliability of a solid deadbolt. Tech's great until it leaves you standing in the cold... literally.
Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. Here’s how I see it:
- Tech’s cool, but batteries die and apps glitch.
- I always stash a backup key in a lockbox—old school, but it works.
- Had a tenant once who locked themselves out with groceries melting in the car... not fun.
- Deadbolts just don’t quit. I’ll take a solid chunk of metal over a fancy keypad any day.
You’re not alone—sometimes simple is just better.
Totally get the appeal of a good old deadbolt—sometimes you just want something that works, no fuss. I’ve seen smart locks go haywire after a power surge, and it’s never at a convenient time. That said, I’ve had clients swear by their keypads for letting in dog walkers or cleaners without having to hide keys. Ever thought about combining both? Backup key in a lockbox, but still have the keypad for those “hands full of groceries” moments... Just curious if you’ve ever had a deadbolt jam up on you though? Even the classics can have their off days.
