Last night, when I was waiting in the car for my wife and we realized after she got in that her bag, where the house keys were, was still inside. She thought I had the bag with me in the car. Had to call a 24/7 locksmith because it was late in the evening.
I can easily break into my apartment through the kitchen window, the only one that wouldn’t require a ladder, but then I’d have to replace the glass. We could get back into the building by waiting around for a neighbor, who would probably recognize us or at least not find the old couple with the wheelchair threatening. But we’d be late for wherever we were going, which is usually a medical appointment. When I go out alone I usually don’t lock the unit door because it’s more dangerous for my husband if I crash or something and nobody can get in to help him than the chances of someone breaking in with evil intent.
Well tbh the last time I got locked out was 1999 and I didn’t have a cellphone yet. I climbed over a railing (which now has spikes added) to access the pool area, went to our window, took off the screen and broke it such that the shards landed in the not-disposal side of the kitchen sink, boosted our toddler carefully into the other side, she climbed down and went to open our door while I carried the baby around to the hallway. My husband was home and okay but he’s a quad and couldn’t open the door. I suppose he could have called 411 to have them connect him with a locksmith…? We live in SoCal so just putting the screen back on (and cleaning up the shards of course!) was enough until we could get the glass replaced. And our toddler got to be the Houdini Heroine!
I was thinking of getting a keypad, but I’ll definitely have a manual deadbolt along with it because I’m paranoid of it failing, so I’ll likely still be locked out either way.
Edit: I realized a deadbolt has to be locked from the outside, so maybe I won’t be locked out in that case.
We’ve used kwikset dumb locks (no app) and never had one fail. We only had to change the batteries once and that was because I was paranoid that it had been 3 years, not because the batteries were dying. When it fails it is supposed to fail “locked” but again, we’ve never had it fail. We did discover to use the good name brand batteries though.
Don’t get me wrong, we still have keys just in case, but holy crap the freedom of mind is great. My partner has severe anxiety and used to check the locks 6+ times a day but it auto locks now and they don’t have to worry about it. I think they only check now before bed.
Last night, when I was waiting in the car for my wife and we realized after she got in that her bag, where the house keys were, was still inside. She thought I had the bag with me in the car. Had to call a 24/7 locksmith because it was late in the evening.
This is why my spouse and I both always take our keys when we leave the apartment.
Wait, you don’t know how to easily break into your own house. But it is your own house!
I can easily break into my apartment through the kitchen window, the only one that wouldn’t require a ladder, but then I’d have to replace the glass. We could get back into the building by waiting around for a neighbor, who would probably recognize us or at least not find the old couple with the wheelchair threatening. But we’d be late for wherever we were going, which is usually a medical appointment. When I go out alone I usually don’t lock the unit door because it’s more dangerous for my husband if I crash or something and nobody can get in to help him than the chances of someone breaking in with evil intent.
Would it be cheaper though to replace a broken window than to call a locksmith?
The locksmith is definitely less hassle and depending how busy they are a matter of minutes.
Well tbh the last time I got locked out was 1999 and I didn’t have a cellphone yet. I climbed over a railing (which now has spikes added) to access the pool area, went to our window, took off the screen and broke it such that the shards landed in the not-disposal side of the kitchen sink, boosted our toddler carefully into the other side, she climbed down and went to open our door while I carried the baby around to the hallway. My husband was home and okay but he’s a quad and couldn’t open the door. I suppose he could have called 411 to have them connect him with a locksmith…? We live in SoCal so just putting the screen back on (and cleaning up the shards of course!) was enough until we could get the glass replaced. And our toddler got to be the Houdini Heroine!
Sorry I did not read apartment. I guess I can understand if it is an apartment.
This is why we got keypads. Never getting locked out because of the I-thought-you-had-them or any other reason.
I was thinking of getting a keypad, but I’ll definitely have a manual deadbolt along with it because I’m paranoid of it failing, so I’ll likely still be locked out either way.
Edit: I realized a deadbolt has to be locked from the outside, so maybe I won’t be locked out in that case.
We’ve used kwikset dumb locks (no app) and never had one fail. We only had to change the batteries once and that was because I was paranoid that it had been 3 years, not because the batteries were dying. When it fails it is supposed to fail “locked” but again, we’ve never had it fail. We did discover to use the good name brand batteries though.
Don’t get me wrong, we still have keys just in case, but holy crap the freedom of mind is great. My partner has severe anxiety and used to check the locks 6+ times a day but it auto locks now and they don’t have to worry about it. I think they only check now before bed.
Was she driving?