We install a lot of smart locks, and we also get called out to fix them. Here’s an even-handed view of whether one belongs on your door.
What smart locks are genuinely good at
- Never carrying a key. Codes, phone, or a fob. Great if you run, cycle, or lose keys.
- Guests and trades. A temporary code for a cleaner or an Airbnb guest that you delete afterward — no copied key in the wild.
- Knowing the door is locked. The app tells you, and most will auto-lock after a set time.
- Kids getting home from school without a key to lose.
Where they fall short
- Batteries. They die. Good models warn you for weeks and have a physical key or a 9V jump terminal as backup — buy one that does.
- Florida weather. Direct sun and salt air are hard on electronics and finishes. A covered or shaded door lasts much longer.
- Wi-Fi dependence. If a feature you care about needs the cloud, an internet outage takes it with it. Bluetooth-only models are more resilient.
- They’re still only as strong as the deadbolt. A smart lock on a hollow door in a weak strike plate isn’t secure — the hardware and the door frame matter more than the app.
What we’d actually put on a door
For most homes: a well-reviewed deadbolt-style smart lock with a physical key override, from a brand a locksmith can service (August, Yale, Schlage Encode). Skip the ones with no mechanical backup. Pair it with a solid Grade 1 or 2 deadbolt body and a reinforced strike plate — that combination is both convenient and genuinely secure.
Fitting
Most retrofit smart locks are a 20-minute swap, but the door has to be hung true and the bolt has to throw fully or the lock will grind its motor and fail early. If your existing deadbolt sticks, sort that first. We supply and fit them, or install a unit you’ve already bought — see residential services.
Thinking about it? Call 561-200-2832 for a straight recommendation for your door.