I’ve tried the fake rock thing before—let’s just say my dog figured it out faster than any would-be thief. I agree, most of them look like something out of a cartoon. I’m a fan of hiding lockboxes in plain sight, but painting them to match the trim? That’s next-level. Ever had a tenant lock themselves out and try to MacGyver their way in? I’ve had one use a credit card and actually succeed... made me rethink my door hardware choices real quick. Anyone else have horror stories about creative break-ins or lockouts?
Had a tenant once who locked herself out and tried to “pick” the lock with a bobby pin. Ended up snapping it off inside the cylinder, which made things a whole lot worse. I’ve seen folks try the credit card trick too—honestly, if that works, it’s time to upgrade the deadbolt. Those fake rocks are a joke, though. I’ve seen squirrels mess with them more than people. At this point, I just recommend keypad locks. Less drama, fewer calls in the middle of dinner.
Had to laugh at the fake rock thing—my dog figured it out before I did. I’ve tried hiding keys, but honestly, it just stressed me out. Keypad locks sound great, but they’re a bit pricey. I just give a spare to my neighbor and hope for the best.
Keypad locks sound great, but they’re a bit pricey. I just give a spare to my neighbor and hope for the best.
I’ve been in the same boat with the cost of keypad locks—some of them are surprisingly expensive for what they do. I did a fair bit of research and ended up finding a mechanical push-button lock (no batteries or wiring needed) that was a lot more affordable than the smart ones. Installation took maybe 30 minutes with just a screwdriver. Not as fancy, but it’s reliable and I don’t have to worry about losing keys or batteries dying.
Giving a spare to a neighbor works, but I always get a little anxious about whether they’ll be home when I need them. If you’re handy, you could look into those lockboxes realtors use. They’re not too expensive, and you can mount one somewhere discreet. Just make sure it’s a good brand—some of the cheap ones are pretty flimsy.
Honestly, hiding keys never worked for me either. My kid found the “secret” spot in about five minutes... so I figure a thief could too.
Locked Out Drama—What Would You Do?
I hear you on the neighbor key thing. I tried that for a while, but my neighbor travels more than I do, so half the time I’d be standing on my porch like a lost cat, hoping they’d come home before I had to crawl through a window (which, by the way, is not as easy as it looks in movies—especially when your house was built before indoor plumbing and every window sticks).
I looked into those realtor lockboxes too. Ended up with one hidden behind a very suspicious-looking fake rock. My wife still laughs about it—she says it’s the only “boulder” in our entire yard and even the squirrels give it side-eye. But hey, it works.
Keypad locks are tempting, but I’m always worried about them clashing with my old door hardware. Plus, if my house survived 120 years without WiFi, maybe I can too... at least until I lock myself out again and have to explain to the neighbors why I’m shimmying up the drainpipe in broad daylight.