locked out drama - what would you do?

Plus, I'm not sure I trust myself to keep batteries fresh... knowing me, they'd die at exactly the wrong moment.

I installed one about a year ago - honestly, it's been pretty solid. Batteries last longer than you'd think (mine are still going strong after 10 months), and most models have a backup key anyway. But yeah, Wi-Fi dropouts can be annoying. I went with a Bluetooth-only model to avoid that headache. If you're worried about reliability, maybe skip the fancy Wi-Fi features and stick to something simpler? Less drama, fewer midnight lockouts...

I've been tempted by these smart locks, but honestly, I still prefer my old-school deadbolt. My house is over 100 years old, and I've learned the hard way that simpler usually means fewer headaches. Batteries dying at the worst possible time sounds exactly like something that'd happen to me too... Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I'd rather fumble with keys than deal with tech glitches at midnight.

Totally get the hesitation, but have you considered a smart lock with a physical key backup? I've got one, and honestly, it's saved me more than once when my phone died or the battery got low... kinda best of both worlds, no?

"kinda best of both worlds, no?"

Yeah, I see your point, but honestly, I've had a smart lock glitch out on me before - tech isn't always reliable. Now I just stash a spare key somewhere safe... old-school, but hasn't failed me yet.

I get the hesitation with smart locks - had one act up on me too. But honestly, hiding keys isn't always foolproof either. I once had a raccoon (no joke) dig up my spare key from under a planter and drag it halfway across the yard. Took forever to find it! Since then, I've switched to a keypad lock powered by rechargeable batteries - still techy, but simpler and hasn't let me down yet... raccoon-proof at least.