Hotels and office buildings moved to key cards years ago and now the trend of going keyless is finally catching on in the home front.
The locksmiths at The Lock Doctor have seen a steady growth in the sale of electric keypads, as homeowners enjoy the convenience of going keyless.
“We have one customer who installed them [on every access] to his house,” said key master Nic Rahn of The Lock Doctor. “His grandkids visit often and that way there’s no worry of keeping track of keys.”
Some expected numbered keypads to find their way onto the front doors of all residential homes by now, but there’s still a chance it could trend that way, Rahn said.
“Right now the entry point for residential keypads are about $174 to $250 and the install time is nearly the same as it is for a traditional deadbolt.”
People are enjoying the freedom, he added.
Keys break, they get lost, and keychains quickly grow to a cumbersome size. What’s changed about the keyless keypads is the battery life and durability of the locks, Rahn said.
“The batteries now can go for years, but we recommend replacing them when you replace the battery in your smoke alarm, just to be safe,” he said.
Electric keypads do come with a manual key entry should the battery die.
“One of the benefits is some of electric keypads can be programmed to carry 19 entry codes at a time – a handy thing for contractor or other workers that need access to the home,” Rahn said.
A best seller is the Schlage BE 365 series, a durable keypad starting at $174. Prices vary on the style and finish of the keypad, such as the Emtek touchscreen model.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
Q: What should I consider when purchasing an electronic keypad?
Residential keyless entry systems don’t necessarily offer any greater or inferior security, they are a choice. Options that include key fobs instead of, or in addition to, the keypad can greatly increase convenience when opening your door.
Consider the challenge of opening the door with a heavy bag of groceries or a child on each arm when deciding which way to go. When it comes to electronic residential locks, convenience is part of the commodity but there are considerations with all residential entry systems including keys.
While tried and true, and likely already outfitted at your home, keys can be copied or lost for others to take. They also cost money to replace and new phone apps now even scan keys so they can be reproduced. Just like a password can be found, so too can your keys if they fall into the wrong hands.
Whatever the choice, these systems are becoming much more popular and as technology grows, so do your options. It is just a matter of choosing what is right for you and your family.
GREATER VICTORIA MARKET UPDATE » MONTH TO DATE Nov. 16/15 COURTESY VICTORIA REAL ESTATE BOARD
» 270 / 465 -- NET UNCONDITIONAL SALES / TOTAL, NOVEMBER 2014
» 426 / 682 --NEW LISTINGS / TOTAL, NOVEMBER 2014
» 3,029 / 3,631 -- ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS / TOTAL, NOVEMBER 2014