Keyless Smartlock Information
Cost savings (#1 Benefit) - Property owners no longer have to rekey between tenants. This is especially important. Saving the locksmith costs of $125 - $200+ to rekey locks between tenants makes this a no brainer. These locks should pay for themselves within at least 2 turnovers.
Security - There is no possibility of anyone losing or copying a key and the locks are 100% pick & bump proof.
Vendor Accountability - Each vendor will have their own log-in through the app so we can see, who and exactly what time they enter and exit the property.
Move-out Security - Tenants' access will be denied immediately after their lease expires.
Expedited maintenance, happy tenants - We'll no longer need to coordinate between multiple people to give a vendor access to complete a maintenance request. Happy tenants stay longer which saves money in turnover costs.
Marketing Tool - In a tough market, anything to give us a leg up over the competition helps. People love smart home technology. The tenants will each have the app on their phone which allows them to lock & unlock the door and send guest access that can be limited by the day and hour with just an email or text. Tenants will also have a key fob for quick entry.
In the case of an emergency call where a tenant may not be home (particularly flooded units from busted water supply lines) I'll be able to immediately grant access so damage can be swiftly mitigated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this lock only be placed on one door? Which one?
Yes. The Schlage Control Smart Deadbolt will be placed on the main entrance to the property. If the door handle is keyed, it will be replaced with a passage handle so it cannot be locked except with the deadbolt.
What if the tenant wants a key to the other doors
Keys to the other doors at the property will be given if requested by the tenant, but they will be made aware that there will be a charge for rekeying those locks upon move out.
Do these locks need wifi to work?
No they do not need special hubs, gateways, other devices, or the internet to work. These are bluetooth locks that communicate via a bluetooth connection on a smartphone or a key fob. When a person accesses the lock via their smartphone, the device communicates information back to the servers which can be accessed by the property manager via the Prempoint software.
What if the power goes out?
That's not a problem. These locks use batteries for power. According to the lock manufacturer, the batteries will last 18 - 24 months. Each time someone accesses the lock via their cell phone, the lock will communicate the battery life back to the software and alert the property manager when the battery life gets to a level that needs to be replaced.
What about security? Can these be hacked?
Because the locks are not connected to the internet they are very secure. In order for the locks to be hacked, someone would have to have the necessary hardware, passwords, etc and actually stand within so many feet of the front door, making it very difficult to be hacked.
What if someone steals a tenant's phone?
Most people lock their phones with a code or biometrics so this most likely wouldn't be an issue. We can require biometrics be used to access the app, which means a tenant would have to use facial recognition or fingerprint to unlock the door to their home.
What if a tenant's phone battery dies or they don't have it with them and a tenant gets locked out?
Each tenant will have a key fob they can use to access the lock. There would be an option for us to send a temporary access link to a nearby person via text, but this would only be done under very strict circumstances.
How long will these locks last?
The manufacturer gives a one year warranty. PremPoint says they have had very few problems with the Schlage locks. I have some properties with Schlage dumb keyless entry locks that are 7 - 10 years old and still working great so I hope these are the same. We originally tested locks with a different system that cost about $80 cheaper. Because we had concerns about the quality, we chose not to go with that keyless entry system.
Do I have to install one of these locks on my house?
Yes, we are moving all properties to this keyless smart deadbolt system. This is something we've researched for approximately 4 years now and we're confident this is the correct choice. Not only will it pay for itself within two tenants, but it will help with vendor accountability and control, maintenance request expedition, security, and give tenant's an amenity not offered by the competition.
What if I decide I don't want to rent my house in a year or two?
The lock can be used outside of our system or we will buy back the lock at a rate according to the remaining warranty that can be sold to another property owner.
What if my tenant doesn't have a smartphone?
It's very rare for someone to not have a smartphone, but if they don't, they'll have a key fob that operates like a key.
