Kept my old knob too, just tossed it in the garage. I’ve swapped out locks on a few properties and honestly, the first time was a pain but after that it’s pretty straightforward. I’m with you on the price—felt steep at first, but not having to deal with lost keys or late-night lockouts has paid off. Still, I always keep the old hardware... just in case the fancy stuff decides to quit on me.
NO MORE FUMBLING FOR KEYS: DID YOU KNOW THIS?
I totally get what you mean about keeping the old hardware. When I put in my first smart lock, I was paranoid it’d just stop working one day and I’d be stuck outside…so that knob’s still on a shelf in the basement, just in case. The install felt intimidating at first, but once you’ve done it once, it’s just a few screws and lining things up right.
Honestly, I’m with you on the price being a little hard to swallow upfront. But not having to dig around for keys when my hands are full of groceries has saved me a ton of stress. Plus, no more “where did I put my spare?” moments. Still, sometimes I wonder if the old-school stuff is actually more reliable—there’s something comforting about a regular key, even if it’s a pain sometimes.
Guess it’s one of those things where you don’t know how much you’ll use it until you have it. If anyone’s on the fence, I’d say don’t overthink it—just keep your old stuff as backup and give it a shot.
NO MORE FUMBLING FOR KEYS: DID YOU KNOW THIS?
I get the appeal, but I’m still on the fence. I tried a smart lock at my last place—worked fine most days, but there were a couple times it glitched and I had to wait outside until it reset. That kind of stuff makes me nervous, especially with the price tag. I do like the idea of not digging for keys, but honestly, I still keep a spare key hidden just in case tech fails me. Maybe I’m just old-school, but I trust metal more than apps...
I do like the idea of not digging for keys, but honestly, I still keep a spare key hidden just in case tech fails me.
That’s a fair point. I’ve seen smart locks work well in some energy-efficient homes, but reliability can be hit or miss depending on the brand and setup. Battery backups and manual overrides are must-haves if you’re worried about being locked out. Still, I get the hesitation—there’s something reassuring about a solid metal key. Tech is great until it isn’t...
I get where you’re coming from—there’s still a certain peace of mind in having a backup plan, even with all the new tech out there. I’ve seen a few projects where residents insisted on keeping a traditional key option, just for that extra layer of security. It’s not paranoia, just practical thinking. Sometimes, old habits are hard to shake, and honestly, redundancy isn’t a bad thing when it comes to home access.