When managing a short-term rental, many hosts initially hide physical keys under a doormat or place them in a lockbox. However, this often results in missing keys, causing considerable hassle when it comes to unlocking the door and replacing the keys. To avoid such emergencies, replacing traditional locks with smart locks is the best solution. Not only does this prevent the issue of missing keys, but it also enhances security, as you can easily change the code remotely from your phone each time guests check out.
We've tried many different brands and found that August and Yale locks fit our needs perfectly.
1. August Lock:
August locks are ideal for apartment units or homes governed by HOA rules that do not permit changes to the physical keys or the exterior appearance of the lock. August locks only change the interior half of the deadbolt, making it impossible to tell the difference from the outside of the door. For homes that allow changes to the exterior part of the lock and the physical keys, August locks offer the advantage of compatibility with "re-keyable" deadbolts. This means you can provide physical keys to guests in emergencies, such as when the smart lock's battery dies, and then easily change the physical keys afterward.
However, there are some drawbacks. August locks use a separate keypad connected via Bluetooth, which can cause the batteries to run out frequently. Sometimes, the August app does not detect low batteries in time, leading to the risk of guests being locked out in the middle of the night. Additionally, their keypads are not well-designed, making the buttons hard to press correctly and the batteries difficult to change.
2. Yale Lock:
Yale locks are designed to replace the entire deadbolt, requiring a change of the physical key or, alternatively, some types of their designs are not using a key at all. The advantage of Yale locks is that they are one-piece units with keypads on the exterior side of the lock. This eliminates the need for a separate keypad installation, and since the keypad connects to the lock through wires instead of Bluetooth, it saves power, making the batteries last longer. Moreover, Yale locks have a better-designed keypad, reducing guest complaints about difficulties unlocking the door.
For our single-family homes, we prefer using "re-keyable" deadbolts and handles on the back doors to maintain a consistent key system throughout the property, which reduces maintenance work.
3. Unified App Control:
A significant advantage we've discovered is that Yale and August locks now use the same app, allowing us to control all types of properties using a single application.
Referral Links:
August lock
August keypad
Yale lock
Re-keyable deadbolt and handle
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