locked out drama—what would you do?

- Magnetic boxes are useless here—my porch is all wood, nothing for them to stick to.
- Tried the “taped under the gutter” trick once. Squirrel chewed through the tape and the key dropped into the flower bed.
- Ended up just giving a spare to my neighbor. Not fancy, but at least I know where it is.
- Honestly, most “hidden” spots are only hidden if you never look at your own house from a stranger’s perspective...

Honestly, most “hidden” spots are only hidden if you never look at your own house from a stranger’s perspective...

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen folks get real creative—fake rocks, hollow fence posts, even one guy tried hiding a key in a birdhouse. Problem is, if you can think of it, so can someone else. Personally, I just recommend a good quality lockbox bolted somewhere out of sight. Not perfect, but at least the squirrels can’t run off with it. Neighbor’s spare is solid too, as long as you trust ‘em not to lose it.

I get the logic behind a lockbox, but honestly, those things stick out like a sore thumb on an old house.

Neighbor’s spare is solid too, as long as you trust ‘em not to lose it.

Locked Out Drama—What Would You Do?

Neighbor’s spare is solid too, as long as you trust ‘em not to lose it.

I’m with you on the neighbor key swap. Here’s how I look at it:

Step 1 – Figure out if your neighbor is actually reliable (like, do they remember to bring their trash cans in? That’s usually a good sign).
Step 2 – Give them a spare, but also keep a backup hidden somewhere only you’d think to look. Not the classic under-the-mat spot, but maybe inside a fake sprinkler head or tucked behind an old brick.
Step 3 – If you’re worried about them losing it, maybe swap keys every year or so just to be safe.

Lockboxes seem practical, but I agree they kind of mess with the vibe of an older house. Plus, everyone knows what they are now... feels like hanging a sign that says “spare key here.” I did see someone paint theirs to match their siding once—looked better, but still not invisible.

I guess nothing’s perfect. At least with the neighbor method, you get some peace of mind and keep things looking original.

I get the appeal of the neighbor key swap, but honestly, I’m a little too cheap (and paranoid) for that. What if they move? Or worse, what if they accidentally give it to someone else thinking it’s their own? I actually went the lockbox route, but I snagged one of those combo ones on sale and tucked it behind a bush. Not the prettiest, but it’s out of sight and I don’t have to bug anyone if I mess up. Plus, way less awkward than knocking on someone’s door at midnight in my pajamas...