Your Guide to Buying a Smart Locks

What kind of smart locks is right for you, specifically? There are dozens of models to choose from. This guide helps you think through and decide which smart locks to purchase for your unique setup.

1. Why Do I Need a Smart Locks?

This is the foundational question. The popular tech review site CNET points out five reasons why you might want to get a smart locks:

Convenience

Added style

Streamlined guest access

Improved security

Access to a physical key as a backup

Further, we argue that a traditional lock is “blind,” silent, and rudimentary. That is to say, it can’t “see” your guests; you have to physically operate it, and you can’t receive notifications if something unwanted is happening.

A smart lock might not be for everyone, but most consumers appreciate the added security, convenience, and control a smart locks can bring to your life.

2. Should Your Smart Lock Have a Video Camera?

We’re sometimes puzzled by the fact that most smart locks don’t come with a video camera—a smart lock isn’t that smart if it’s blind.

Very simply, video enables visual verification. You need to be able to take a visual inventory of your guests to authenticate them.

The best smart locks should come equipped with a motion sensor that triggers a live video stream to your phone when a visitor approaches your door. A high-definition camera allows you to see exactly who’s at your door.

A visual component of a smart lock is especially helpful for owners who:

Rent their homes and want to greet guests remotely

Need to let service people into their homes when they aren’t around

Want to keep track of their children entering in and out of the home

A video camera smart lock might be more expensive, but without it, you won’t have 100% confidence in knowing who’s at your door.

3. What Type of Access Should Your Smart Lock Provide?

Smart locks operate in many ways, some of which you might not expect. Here are some things to think about.

Failsafe and Backup

Ask yourself, will your smart lock continue to work if something goes wrong?

Power outage

Dead battery

Uncharged phone

Severe weather

All these occurrences are common, but if your smart lock lacks resiliency, you might find yourself locked out of your home. To avoid this, look for a smart lock that works in tandem with a physical key backup for added peace of mind.

In other words, a smart lock needs to be failsafe.

Flexibility

Will the unit adapt to the multiplicity of use-cases it encounters?

What we mean is:

Your arms could be full of groceries

Your kids could arrive home before you

You may need to greet guests without being home

Heck, you might be sipping a pina colada on the beach and receive a delivery.

Does your smart lock allow you to provide access when you need it most? The bottom line is, your smart lock should fit your lifestyle.

Simplicity 

The best products make tough tasks easy.

As such, your smart lock should make managing access to your property simple. So, when you’re picking out the best smart lock for you, try not to get distracted by all the bells and whistles, and focus in on what is going to truly make your life more secure and convenient. Is that access to an application? Or the ability to provide unique PIN entry on-demand?

Ask yourself: What do you want out of a smart lock?

4. Is Your Door Compatible With a Smart Lock?

Let’s talk about installation.

The last thing you want to do is buy a beautiful lock and find out it doesn’t fit on your door. So, it’s best to find answers to this question so you can avoid future headaches.

Be sure to research the door size requirements of your smart lock before purchasing, or find an option that works on all physical doors. 

While most smart locks are D.I.Y. installation, not all are compatible with every door. Save yourself the frustration by finding a simple installation solution.

Be sure to research the door size requirements of your smart lock before purchasing, or find an option that works on all physical doors. 

While most smart locks are D.I.Y. installation, not all are compatible with every door. Save yourself the frustration by finding a simple installation solution.

5. What Kind of Wireless Connectivity Should My Smart Lock Use?

There are different ways to network your home, including WiFi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and ZigBee.

Which makes sense for you?

We could spend time digging into the nitty-gritty details of how each of these technologies works, but it’s a serious rabbit-hole. For now, here are the main use-cases for each as it pertains specifically to smart locks. You can decide which is best for you.

       •      WiFi: access your lock from anywhere, but it requires the most amount of battery power

       •      Bluetooth: limited to close-range proximity, but operates with low energy

       •      Z-Wave and ZigBee: lower power than WiFi, bigger range than Bluetooth, but requires additional technologies to operate

(For an in-depth look at Z-Wave vs. ZigBee, read this.)

Lastly, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and ZigBee require an addition hub that you’ll need to purchase and position in your smart home set up.

So, for wireless connectivity, consider your preferences for range and power, and that should help you decide.

6. How Much Time and Money Will a Smart Lock Save Me?

Smart locks aren’t cheap, and that’s actually a really good thing. It’s the security of your home, after all.

Typically, you’ll see a price range from $99 to $999 for a smart lock, depending on the features and capabilities of the unit. Generally speaking, the “smarter” the lock, the higher the price.