Should I Get A Smart Lock For My House?

Is It Worth Getting A Smart Lock?

One of the best smart home upgrades you can make to your house is installing a smart lock. These can be standalone locks, or integrated in your smart home system. Smart locks are also an easy DIY install.

Gone are the days of fumbling with keys when your hands are full or trying to find a spare key to let in a friend or family member. With a smart lock, you can unlock your door easily. Just tap your smartphone, use a voice command, or scan your fingerprint, depending on the model. Depending on the manufacturer, there are several ways to lock your door. 

 

So should you invest in a smart lock? Here are some scenarios where it’s worth it to install a smart lock:

 

Here are some scenarios where it’s worth it to install a smart lock:

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• Letting in a dog sitter or a babysitter. You can assign digital keys to people who need access to your house.
• Good for being away from home, either at work or on vacation. You can unlock or lock remotely.
• Letting in grandparents or other family members. You trust them, but how many spare keys can you make?
• Giving your kids access to the house (without the fear of them losing keys). Smart locks can help families with kids. They remove the need for many keys. This way, everyone can enter and exit easily.
• Letting in your plumber or electrician at a specific time. You can control the exact time they can have access to your house. Once they finish, delete their access code.
• Owners of rental properties. Smart locks are an excellent idea for cottages or Air BnBs. You don’t need a lockbox, and you don’t need to track down the key return.
• Homeowners looking for a convenient way to monitor whether they remembered to lock up their home. I’m forgetful, so it’s convenient for me to lock my door through my phone.
• People with accessibility needs. Give your guests an access code and you don’t need to walk over to lock or unlock your door.
• Managing your trades during a renovation. Keep track of who is coming and going. As a contractor, this is a huge plus for me.
• Families with a routine. You can do a setup such that you can unlock the door when your kids are about to come home. Lock the door when you leave the house in the mornings. You can schedule your day easily. 

 

Adding a smart lock to your front door provides convenience. This is an awesome way to ensure that you always lock your doors.

 

Standard Deadbolt or Smart Locks?

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Smart locks are designed to be more secure than traditional locks. With features like auto-locking, remote access, and real-time monitoring, they provide better protection for your front door. 

With a standard deadbolt, only the person with a physical key can access the house. The concern is that you can easily lock yourself out or lose your keys. I’ve lost my house keys twice, and it is a pain. 

Now, think about how many spare keys you have. Did you give one to your neighbor? Perhaps you have a spare under the mat for your cleaners?

It’s not easy to keep track of the spare keys. It’s even more difficult to try to get them back if you have given them out.

With a smart lock, you can easily delete an access code. No more hiding spare keys in your planter!

Some smart lock brands have an alarm. If someone tries to tamper with your door, the system will notify you.

 

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What To Look For In A Smart Lock

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Not all brands are built equally. Here is your smart lock buying guide. Besides the obvious, which is providing remote access to your home, there are other considerations. Look for these features when shopping for a smart lock.

 

 

Multiple Ways To Unlock

Look for smart locks that can be locked and unlocked several different ways. This can include voice control with devices such as Alexa, Google Home, an app, touchscreen or keypad. 

 

Full Control Over Access Codes

Your smart lock (or app) should make it simple for you to set up access codes.

 

Security Features

I often get asked if smart locks are easy to hack. Look for a manufacturer that has safety features built into the smart lock, such as a built-in alarm or touchpads that don’t show fingerprints.

 

RELATED: Are Smart Locks Safe?

 

Integration With Other Devices

If you have smart features or devices in your house, you want a smart lock that can work with them. “Alexa, unlock my door!”

 

 

Styles and Finishes

Door hardware can make a big difference on your curb appeal. Look for a brand that offers different finishes and styles to match the look of your house.

 

Easy installation of your smart lock

Installing a smart lock should be fairly simple. With the Schlage smart locks, all we really need is a screwdriver.

 

Easy set-up

Look for a smart lock that makes it simple for you to connect to Wifi and set up the access codes. I’m not the most tech savvy person out there, so ease of set-up is important to me.

 

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The Best Smart Lock

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For years, we have been trusting Schlage to secure our front doors on our jobs. Here’s why it checks all the boxes:

• Schlage smart locks have the highest level of security available on the market.
• You can set up hundreds of access codes.
• There’s a temporary code feature which I love. This feature enables the code to be “active” for a period of time and then “deactivated”. Awesome for rental properties, or your cleaners!
• The tamper-resistant built-in alarm is a fantastic feature. You will be notified right away if someone is trying to mess around with it. I love the added protection.
• Durable, fingerprint-resistant touchscreen for added security and convenience.
• The Schlage Encode™ family of locks has built-in alarms. You will be alerted if there is a disturbance at the door. 
• For doors with no deadbolt, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Lever is a doorknob replacement lock that works well.
• Apple users, listen up! The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt now works with Apple’s Home Key. You can unlock the deadbolt by tapping it with your iPhone or Apple Watch.

A smart lock isn’t just a convenience—it’s an upgrade to your home’s security. With advanced features, ease of use, and peace of mind, investing in a smart lock is a step toward a safer, more connected home. Interested in installing a smart lock? Here are 8 features to consider.

 

About Sherry Holmes:

Sherry Holmes is a Canadian television personality and contractor, best known for her role on the popular HGTV series Holmes on Homes and Holmes and Holmes. The daughter of renowned contractor Mike Holmes, Sherry grew up in the construction industry and followed in her father’s footsteps , using her expertise to help homeowners with home improvement projects.

As a skilled tradeswoman, she is passionate about promoting quality workmanship and educating homeowners about proper construction techniques. Sherry is admired for her strong work ethic, commitment to excellence, and dedication to helping people make their homes safer and more functional.

*Disclaimer: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links. 

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