Interesting points about the hybrid locks. I've installed quite a few of these smart locks for clients, and honestly, I'm still a bit skeptical. Sure, the keypad backup helps when Wi-Fi goes down, but have you thought about long-term reliability? I've seen some models start glitching out after a couple years—keypads getting unresponsive or the mechanism jamming randomly. And yeah, the battery thing is real, but even the better brands can chew through batteries faster than you'd expect, especially in colder climates.
I usually suggest clients consider mechanical push-button locks as a solid alternative. No batteries, no Wi-Fi worries, and they last forever. I get the appeal of smart tech—it's convenient and flashy—but sometimes simpler is just... better. Have you noticed any signs of wear or performance drop-off after two years? Curious if your experience matches what I've seen in the field.
I'm with you on the mechanical push-button locks. My house is over 100 years old, and honestly, the simpler solutions have always lasted longer and caused fewer headaches. Tried a smart lock out of curiosity a couple years back—worked great at first, but after about 18 months, it started acting up. Keypad got sluggish, batteries drained quicker, and cold snaps made it even worse. Switched back to mechanical, and haven't regretted it... sometimes old-school just works better.
Yep, been there too. When we first started renovating, I got caught up in the whole "smart home" wave and installed a fancy thermostat and lights that you control with your phone. Cool at first, but then came the software updates, connectivity issues, and the weird glitches—like lights randomly turning on at 3 AM (creepy much?). Eventually, I scaled back to simpler setups. Honestly, tech is nice for convenience, but reliability is king, especially in an older house... learned that one the hard way.
I feel this. When we moved into our fixer-upper, I went all-in on smart locks and security cameras. Seemed great until the day my phone died and I got locked out in the rain for an hour... not my finest moment. Now I keep a spare key hidden just in case. Tech is awesome when it works, but having a backup plan is priceless, especially in older homes where wiring and Wi-Fi can be sketchy. Lesson learned, haha.
Been there myself—I totally get the frustration. When I started renovating, I had this grand vision of a fully automated house. But then reality hit me pretty quick when my Wi-Fi kept dropping out (old wiring is no joke). After a few too many resets and troubleshooting sessions, I realized it's all about balance. Now, whenever I set up something new, I always walk through a little mental checklist: what's the main benefit? What's the worst-case scenario if it fails? And how can I work around it if things go sideways?
Honestly, your spare-key idea is spot-on. It's smart to have low-tech backups for critical stuff like entryways or heating controls. Tech glitches are inevitable—especially in older homes—but they don't have to be show-stoppers if you're prepared. Sounds like you've figured that out already, so you're definitely on the right track.