Are you putting a smart lock on all exterior doors?

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Are you putting a smart lock on all exterior doors?

Christopher Oliva
TX 路 Member since 2016 路 48 posts 路 13 votes

Hi everyone, for those of you who use smart locks I'm curious if you're putting a smart lock on all exterior doors or just the front door? 

My STR has 3 doors leading to the exterior of the house (front door, back door, door in garage that goes to backyard). Right now I'm thinking of putting a smart lock on the front and back door and then putting a regular deadbolt lock on the exterior garage door and just keeping it locked all the time.

Thanks in advance for all comments! 

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John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor 路 Greer, SC 路 Member since 2014 路 13k+ posts 路 17k+ votes
4y

Just need the one.

Key in a hidden lockbox for emergency. 

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  • Alicia MarksPro Member
    Fort Worth, TX 路 Member since 2020 路 1k+ posts 路 2k+ votes
    4y

    I would just do two so you have a backup if a battery dies. 

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  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor 路 Greer, SC 路 Member since 2014 路 13k+ posts 路 17k+ votes
    4y

    Just need the one.

    Key in a hidden lockbox for emergency. 

    11Reply
  • Ken Boone
    Investor 路 Greenville, SC 路 Member since 2015 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    4y

    What @John Underwood said.

    2Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant 路 San Diego / Phoenix 路 Member since 2021 路 12k+ posts 路 15k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @John Underwood:

    Just need the one.

    Key in a hidden lockbox for emergency. 


     This^^^

    1Reply
  • Andrew Simms
    Rental Property Investor 路 Marietta, GA 路 Member since 2017 路 131 posts 路 101 votes
    4y

    We have 2 and the lockbox. We wanted at least one backup option without having to give guests access to physical keys. It was between $100-$150 for the additional electronic lock and I think that was money well spent. That said, I don't think any guest has had an issue with our main door lock so the backup may never get used. I've also never had to give guests access to the lockbox. 

    2Reply
  • Joel Case
    Rental Property Investor 路 Ocean Springs, MS 路 Member since 2022 路 349 posts 路 301 votes
    4y

    Just the front. Key in a lockbox in the garage which stays closed. Garage has exterior keypad if guest needs to use the backup method. 

    3Reply
  • Leslie Anne Morris
    Real Estate Agent 路 Smoky Mountains, TN 路 Member since 2022 路 1k+ posts 路 984 votes
    4y

    Smart lock on front door - keys go to cleaner for backup emergency

    1Reply
  • Jon Martin
    Member since 2022 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Andrew Simms:

    We have 2 and the lockbox. We wanted at least one backup option without having to give guests access to physical keys. It was between $100-$150 for the additional electronic lock and I think that was money well spent. That said, I don't think any guest has had an issue with our main door lock so the backup may never get used. I've also never had to give guests access to the lockbox. 


     Plus the peace of mind of knowing all the exterior doors are locked. 

    1Reply
  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA 路 Member since 2016 路 8k+ posts 路 7k+ votes
    4y

    I only have one. Extra key in the lockbox. Done tom turkey.

    2Reply
  • JD MartinBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Rock Star Extraordinaire 路 Northeast, TN 路 Member since 2015 路 10k+ posts 路 16k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @John Underwood:

    Just need the one.

    Key in a hidden lockbox for emergency. 

    My approach as well. Of course, my only other exterior door is a slider that leads out to the pool and deck, and I'm not aware of any smart locks that would work on it anyway. I maintain the garage for only my use/access (other than the PM) and the door to the garage is smart-locked from the inside. 

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  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker 路 Cody, WY 路 Member since 2010 路 28k+ posts 路 41k+ votes
    4y

    Just one.

    Like John, I prefer to have an electronic lock with a key backup in case the battery dies or the technology fails.

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    1Reply
  • Andrew Simms
    Rental Property Investor 路 Marietta, GA 路 Member since 2017 路 131 posts 路 101 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Jon Martin:
    Quote from @Andrew Simms:

    We have 2 and the lockbox. We wanted at least one backup option without having to give guests access to physical keys. It was between $100-$150 for the additional electronic lock and I think that was money well spent. That said, I don't think any guest has had an issue with our main door lock so the backup may never get used. I've also never had to give guests access to the lockbox. 


     Plus the peace of mind of knowing all the exterior doors are locked. 

    @Johnathan Williams we have 3 other exterior doors and a sliding glass door that do not have electronic locks. The electronic locks are at the main level (front door) and basement level. The 3 with mechanical locks are on the main level, back deck and lead to 2 bedrooms and living room. No plan to put electronic locks on those. 

    2Reply
  • Craig Glendenning
    Real Estate Investor 路 La Verne, CA 路 Member since 2008 路 16 posts 路 14 votes
    4y

    @Andrew Simms - another angle that I had not considered is when a guest forgets to lock the back door(s) - I have no visibility into that but if I had smart locks on all of the doors, I could lock them remotely. Thank you for stimulating that thinking!

    鈥urrently, I just have the front door + lockbox and I change the batteries monthly out of sheer paranoia 馃槀

    Craig

    1Reply
  • Ken Boone
    Investor 路 Greenville, SC 路 Member since 2015 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    4y

    Dude!!! That's a whole lotta batteries you are going through!  Can you not set a notification on your door lock to alert you when batteries are going low? 

    1Reply
  • Andrew Simms
    Rental Property Investor 路 Marietta, GA 路 Member since 2017 路 131 posts 路 101 votes
    4y

    @Craig Glendenning that's definitely a concern I have too, but it's a risk I take. So either (a) they've gone unlocked and our STR is in a good area where people are not looking to break in or (b) our guests have been good about locking them back. I figure if someone wants to break in, sure locks make it a little harder, but if they want in, they'll get in.

    Monthly on batteries! I thought I was a little nuts doing every 3 months. I always test them and they're still at 80-90% when I remove them. I save them for remotes and such. 

    1Reply
  • Paul Sandhu
    Investor 路 The worst town to live in, KS 路 Member since 2016 路 4k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    4y

    Sammy Hagar uses a 3 Lock Box with his STRs.

    1Reply
  • Jon Martin
    Member since 2022 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    4y

    Dude!!! That's a whole lotta batteries you are going through!  Can you not set a notification on your door lock to alert you when batteries are going low? 

    The August does that. Seems to need a new battery every 4 months or so. 

    1Reply
  • Joe Kvidera
    Member since 2022 路 7 posts 路 7 votes
    4y

    It depends on the configuration of the home and where people will be entering/exiting. One one of our rental, we use Remotelock and there are two entrances, both upper and lower level. Locks, automatically lock (non-deadbolt) after a few seconds. On another, rural location, we use deadlock remotelock's, but are dependent on the guests to lock them. 

    The more you can control remotely/automatically, the better is the position we take. 

    1Reply
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