Lock the Door and Throw Away the Key with Smart Technology
We’ve all been there—you leave a key under the door mat for a friend, babysitter, or relative who needs to visit while you’re away. But it seems too obvious right? If everyone left a key under the welcome mat for emergencies, it would just be too easy for a person to break in and steal your belongings. You could get creative hiding the key in plants or lawn decor, but leaving it out is still a risk. Smart locks not only eradicate this problem, but they also offer a lot of other practical benefits related to home security. Read this blog to learn more.
SEE ALSO: How to Protect Your North Carolina Home with Security Cameras
How to Use Smart Locks
Most smart locks have a numerical keypad that enable you to unlock the door with a personalized code instead of a physical key. You can create a code for each member of your family, and even temporary codes for guests. The Integrated Home can even connect these smart locks to your control system, allowing your family to open and close doors at any time with mobile devices. For example, if your spouse forgets his or her code, you can simply open the door using your smart phone. Smart locks can also send you an alert if the door is ever left open, or when anyone comes inside your home. You can stay informed of when your kids come home from school and also if anyone leaves. If you have a full smart home automation system, these smart locks can connect to your Away and Welcome scenes. For example, press “Away” using the Control4 app on your smartphone and all the doors will lock, the security system will arm, the thermostat will adjust to an energy-saving level, and all the lights will turn off.
Connecting Your Gate or Garage
About 70 percent of Americans use the garage door as their primary entrance. If you are one of those people, you should definitely consider automating it. The fact is, garage doors are easy to leave open by accident. Since many garages only have remotes that work a few feet from the home, you’d have to drive all the way back in order to close it. A smart garage door opener connected to a security system addresses this issue. Just like with the other smart locks, you’ll get a notification if it’s left open and you can close it any time and from anywhere. If you want to know what’s going on at all times, you can even get notifications every time the garage door closes or opens (helpful for parents of teens who may try to take the car out late at night).
The Integrated Home also has smart solutions for homeowners that have a front gate. We can connect your front gate to the house so you can quickly let people in or out—whether you’re at home or not. You’ll get an instant notification on your phone that someone is there, and then you can press a button to open it. If you don’t know who it is, use the intercom system to speak to the person, or get a good look at them using a surveillance camera.
Video Doorbell Integration
The smart locks we install can also become a part of a complete front door solution. It will allow you to visually verify every person who comes to your front door and let them in easily whether you are right there or in another state. As soon as the doorbell rings, you can see who is there using a surveillance camera with a live video feed and then press a button to welcome them inside. HD intercom systems also allow you to have a conversation with the person. So if it’s FedEx dropping off a package, you can tell them to leave it there or come back tomorrow.
If you are interested in adding smart locks, or any other security feature, to your home, contact us online!
