I've used those magnetic key holders before—honestly, mixed bag.
I've never had much luck with magnetic holders either, but honestly, I think placement isn't the only factor. Even if you get it perfectly secure, there's always the worry it'll get knocked loose or discovered. I've switched to combination lockboxes instead...no magnets involved, just bolt it somewhere discreet (like behind a fence post or under your deck). Way sturdier and less anxiety-inducing than wondering if your spare key vanished somewhere on the freeway, lol.
I feel you on the magnetic holders...tried one myself a while back, and it was okay-ish until a heavy storm knocked it loose. Ended up crawling around my driveway in the rain looking for my spare key—not fun at all, lol. The lockbox idea sounds solid though; I've seen a few neighbors using those combination ones, and they do seem pretty sturdy.
Personally, I switched to smart locks a couple years ago and haven't looked back. Sure, there's always the risk of tech glitches or dead batteries, but honestly, it beats fumbling around outside at 1 AM trying to remember where I hid the spare key. Plus, you can give temporary access codes to friends or family if you're away—which saved me big-time when I was traveling last year and needed someone to check on the house.
Anyway, your concerns about magnets are totally valid...it's hard to relax when you're always wondering if your backup plan is still in place. Lockboxes or smart locks just feel way more reliable overall.
I've thought about smart locks too, but honestly, the upfront cost and battery replacements put me off a bit. Went with a combo lockbox instead—cheap, reliable, and no crawling around in storms...lesson learned the hard way, lol.
"Went with a combo lockbox instead—cheap, reliable, and no crawling around in storms...lesson learned the hard way, lol."
Haha, been there! I once had a smart lock battery die during a snowstorm—ended up climbing through the kitchen window. Combo lockbox ever since...cheap and storm-proof beats fancy tech any day.
Haha, kitchen window entry sounds familiar...I had to squeeze through the doggy door once when my keypad froze solid. Not my proudest moment.
"cheap and storm-proof beats fancy tech any day."
Exactly why I switched too. Combo lockbox is simple, no batteries, no fuss. Sometimes low-tech really is the smarter choice.
