I get the hesitation about burying keys, but honestly, I see more issues crop up with those realtor lockboxes than folks realize. I’ve had to cut a few off for clients after the combo mechanism jammed up, especially after a wet winter or if they’re cheap models. And if you’re in an area where folks notice every little thing, a lockbox can stick out like a sore thumb—basically advertising “Hey, there’s a key in here.”
I’m not saying burying a key is foolproof, but if it's in a waterproof container and you don’t pick an obvious spot (under the only rock in the yard, etc.), it’s pretty low-risk. Just don’t tell half the neighborhood where it is. I’ve even seen people get creative—like screwing a fake sprinkler head into the ground with the key inside.
Neighbors are great if you trust them and they’re around, but I’ve seen that backfire too. Folks move, lose the key, or forget they even have it. Or worse, you’re locked out at 2am and they’re out of town.
At the end of the day, every method has a weak spot. I’d lean toward redundancy—maybe a lockbox and a buried backup, just in case. The goal is not to be the easiest target on the street, but also not to be the one calling a locksmith for $200 at midnight because the battery died on your smart lock.
Redundancy is definitely the name of the game. I’ve tried those combo lockboxes too, and let’s just say they don’t always hold up to Midwest winters—frozen solid more than once. I do like the fake sprinkler trick (clever and cheap), but I’d be nervous about forgetting where I put it after a few years. My compromise has been a decent-quality lockbox that’s tucked out of sight, plus one key with a neighbor who actually lives here year-round. Not perfect, but beats paying for a locksmith at 3am... which, unfortunately, I have done.
Not perfect, but beats paying for a locksmith at 3am... which, unfortunately, I have done.
I've had a combo lockbox freeze up on me too—Midwest winters are no joke. I keep a spare key in a little magnetic box under the grill cover. Not the most high-tech, but it's worked so far. Neighbor backup is smart.
I keep a spare key in a little magnetic box under the grill cover. Not the most high-tech, but it's worked so far.
Honestly, I’ve done the same thing—hidden keys in weird spots, hoping tenants never notice. It’s not foolproof, but sometimes simple just works. I’d argue investing in a smart lock with app access pays for itself after one midnight lockout, though. Those frozen combo boxes are brutal... nothing like standing outside in January, cursing your own shortcuts.
I hear you on the frozen combo boxes—been there, shivering and regretting every life choice that led me to that moment. I’ve tried the magnetic box trick too, but I always worry some raccoon’s gonna run off with my key or something. Smart locks are tempting, but I get paranoid about batteries dying or the app glitching at the worst possible time. Guess it’s a trade-off between old-school and tech headaches...