- Gotta admit, those magnetic key holders always make me nervous. Had one under a flowerpot once—my neighbor’s kid found it in about two minutes.
- Combo lockbox is decent, but I’ve seen folks forget the code or leave it open. Human error’s a thing, right?
- I keep a backup key buried in a mason jar behind my garden shed. Not exactly Mission Impossible, but it’s worked for decades.
- Tech’s great until it isn’t. Power outage last winter? Keyless entry was just a fancy door knocker.
- Old houses teach you to expect the unexpected... and to never trust a single lock.
I’ve seen a lot of folks get excited about keyless entry, but I always recommend having a mechanical backup—either a hidden key or a manual deadbolt. Battery failure or power outages can turn those sleek systems into a real headache. Layered security’s the way to go, especially in older homes where quirks are the norm. Even the best tech can’t beat a good old-fashioned contingency plan.
Even the best tech can’t beat a good old-fashioned contingency plan.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I love my keyless, but I’ve definitely had that “uh oh” moment when the battery died. Nothing like crawling through a window to remind you why backups matter...
I hear you on the backup plan. I went with keyless mostly to avoid losing my keys (again), but now I’m paranoid about the battery dying at the worst time. Do you keep a spare battery somewhere, or just trust your luck? I’ve thought about hiding a physical key outside, but that kinda defeats the point, right? Still beats climbing through a window, though...
I’ve thought about hiding a physical key outside, but that kinda defeats the point, right? Still beats climbing through a window, though...
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. I keep a spare battery in my car’s glove box just in case, but I’ve also debated the whole “hide a key” thing. It does feel a bit like cheating the system, but yeah, it’s way better than breaking a window or bothering the neighbors. Have you had any warning when your battery gets low, or is it just suddenly dead? That’s my biggest worry.
