Have you ever thought about the concept of keyless living? If not, take a minute to think about how much of your life revolves around that small piece of cut metal that unlocks the front door.
You fumble with your keys as you stand at the door with an armful of groceries. You hide a spare key under a loose garden stone for the dog walker but then spend the day worrying about burglary. And if your child gets accidentally locked out after school, you have to rush home.
Wouldn’t it be better not to have to worry about keys? Absolutely. That is the point of smart access control with an electronic smart lock as the foundation.
Keys Come With Security and Logistics Pitfalls
The traditional lock and key system has served humanity well for centuries, but in a modern household, physical keys have become outdated relics of the past. More importantly, they come with security and logistics pitfalls:
• Hard-to-Control Access – Controlling access to a traditional keyed system becomes more difficult with every set of keys issued. Giving a key to a contractor so work can be done during the day means turning access control over to someone who is essentially a stranger.
• Hidden Key Hazards – Hiding a spare key under a flowerpot or landscaping rock is almost an American tradition. It is also dangerous. Burglars know where to look for keys that homeowners are convinced are well hidden.
• Lost Keys – When keys are lost in public places, the only safe strategy is to have the locks replaced or re-keyed. Doing so can get expensive.
• No Audit Capabilities – A traditional keyed system offers no ability to audit who is coming and going. Audit capabilities aren’t necessarily a big deal, but it is hard to manage living without them once you’ve had access to them.
Vivint Home Security is one of many nationally known security providers offering smart locks with their systems. Smart locks solve all of these problems while simultaneously increasing convenience.
Smart Access Control and Daily Life
A modern smart lock replaces the primary lock you already have on your door. It integrates directly into your existing home security or automation system. Once active, it becomes a communication hub that coordinates everything from entry permissions to security system arming and automated household routines.
1. Streamline Family Schedules
Installing a smart lock reaps benefits almost instantly. For example, consider how smart access control could streamline your family’s schedule. Because every member of the family has a distinct PIN, each person can access the house at any time. You can also program your smart lock to automatically lock at bedtime so you do not have to remember to lock it on your way upstairs.
2. Manage Contractors and Guests
A smart lock makes it easy to manage contractors, service providers, and out-of-town guests. You can assign each person a temporary PIN and monitor when they come and go. You can even make PINs subject to certain time constraints, ensuring that temporary access doesn’t mean around-the-clock access.
3. Integration With Other Sensors and Functions
Finally, smart locks can be integrated with other parts of your home automation system. For example, you can tie a smart lock to your alarm system. When you leave and lock the door behind you, your alarm is automatically armed. When you unlock the door upon returning home, the alarm is automatically disarmed.
There is so much more to smart access control. But for now, it’s good enough to know that switching out your traditional locks for smart locks can revolutionize how you control access to your home.
