‘There’s nothing quite like the panic of realizing you’ve locked yourself out while still standing in your pajamas.’ ~Unknown
Properly securing your holiday home provides peace of mind for both you and your guests! Choosing a suitable lock/lockbox for your property and providing clear instructions is crucial for smooth contactless guest check-in and check-out. Following best practices with your keys can prevent guests or cleaners from being locked out and avert expensive locksmith call-outs!
Key Safes
A traditional, combination key safe is a common option to provide property access to your guests. Similarly to smart locks, the safe combination is provided to guests with the check-in information. Key safes are straightforward for guests to use, and don’t require a power source like smart locks.
While key safes are a lower cost choice compared to smart locks (most coming in between £20-90), they do have some drawbacks! The primary issue with providing a physical key to guests increased rates of key loss; guests may lose the key or simply fail to return it upon departure! If using a key safe, it is important to have a contingency plan for this scenario both during and between stays. Unlike smart locks, they do not facilitate remote access. Keys can also get jammed if it’s a tight fit, so we recommend opting for a larger key safe to minimise this risk.
For a maximally secure key safe, The Travel Fox recommend choosing a police-approved option. This means that it will have UK Police Preferred Specifications and Secured by Design (SBD) certification (see here for more information) These key safes will be more expensive, but your insurance company may require a SBD lockbox to secure your keys. Please note that insurance approved lockboxes can also vary regionally, so when in doubt it is best to check with your provider!
- Masterlock 5426 (here) or Supra P500 (here) are both popular police-approved lockboxes with SBD certification. Both options cost around £90.
- Non-SBD approved manual key safes will be cheaper; for example, a Masterlock keysafe (here) will come in under £30. However, you should check your insurance before using these lockboxes at your holiday home.
Remember, when choosing your lockbox ensure it is large enough so that keys do not get stuck inside, compatible with your home insurance, and weatherproof if needed.
Smart Locks
Smart locks are electronic locks that provide keyless access to your holiday home by entering a code. Because they are keyless, smart locks are particularly good options for large properties where many guests would otherwise be sharing one key. They also prevent the headaches from your guests losing or failing to return their key when they check out! The code can easily be changed by the homeowner as needed as well, providing additional security.
Some smart locks have additional features, such as Bluetooth compatibility, and can send notifications or monitor access. While these capabilities may be appealing, The Travel Fox suggests choosing a relatively simple smart lock; for example, smart locks which connect to your smartphone may be problematic when WIFI is not available. If any issues arise, complex smart locks can be more difficult for a handyman to troubleshoot and may require more the property owner to be more “hands-on”. Importantly, these capabilities may also be difficult for a non-tech savvy guest to use!
Even basic models, however, do have their drawbacks! Smart locks are usually battery operated, which means you have to make sure the batteries will not run out during a stay. For this reason, it is always recommended to have a back-up method of entry established.
- Yale (here) is a good smart lock brand to consider. It is compatible with most doors and can be used to set temporary codes as needed. Selling for around £100, it has the qualities necessary to meet most property-owners needs and can be used with a Yale Access Module for additional features. Importantly the lock is certified by Police Secured by Design.
- Ultion (here) is another popular alternative which is police approved. Compatible with existing door fittings, you can send guests electronic keys to gain access. However, if you need a keypad so you can easily give guests an entry pin this will be an additional charge on top of its already its higher price-point (£259).
Whichever smart lock you have in your shopping basket, carefully consider which features you will and will not use before purchasing!
Key Exchanges
A key exchange is a service which can securely store keys at a convenient location near your holiday home, so that guests can access keys without being met in person. Key exchanges are a useful alternative when smart locks and/or key safes are not feasible or allowed. For instance, these services are useful for holiday homes which are flats in secure buildings, where there is nowhere to leave a lockbox.
When using these services, guests would go to the designated location nearby (usually a locker or local shop with long hours) and collect the keys using a code. They would then return the keys to the key exchange upon check out.
As you might have guessed, one of the primary issues with key exchanges is that guests may fail to return the key after their stay. For this reason, it is crucial to have spare keys available so that cleaners and/or maintenance can get the property ready for the next booking.
- KeyNest (here) is the top key exchange provider in the UK, which offers host notifications of key pick up and return as well as integration with several platforms including Airbnb and Booking.com. KeyNest costs around £20 depending on your needs.
- KeyCafe (here) is a similar service, which uses a SmartBox. Costing around £295 per year, you can share key access through the company’s app. However, KeyCafe is currently only available in London and Edinburgh in the UK.
Best Practices
‘The trouble with losing your keys is that you never realize they’re gone until you need them.’ ~Billy Collins
The Travel Fox always recommends at least two points of entry. This can stop guests from being locked out if a key is lost or lock is broken and cleaners from being able to do timely cleanings. Not only does this keep your holiday home running smoothly, it also reduces the likelihood of pricey emergency locksmith call-outs.
For example, a holiday home which has a smart lock on the front door should also have a spare key stored in a key safe at the rear. Guests should normally be given the smart lock code for check in, but the key safe combination can be provided in the event that the smart lock breaks and the guest cannot access the property. Even quality locking systems can fail! General wear and tear, the battery falling out from closing the door too heavily, or an accidentally unplugged bridge are a few common culprits. In this scenario, maintenance can come in to repair the smart lock the next day, etc. versus an immediate call-out. As these issues can occur at any time of day, having a contingency plan saves both money and stress!
Whichever combination of locks and/or lockboxes you use, communicating clear instructions to your guests is vital. The last thing that a guest wants after a long day of travel is to struggle to unlock their home for the night! Not only is it inconvenient for guests to ring for assistance, but easy to-understand directions can save you the time and energy required of those requests.
One way that The Travel Fox recommends communicating with your guests, is by providing how-to videos with the check-in information sent to your guests. Videos to find the property entrance if it is tucked away, how to use the smart lock, or the location of the key safe can all be effective. Even videos of how to operate the lock can be helpful – remember that using your home’s door mechanism may be second nature to you, but unfamiliar to your guest! For instance, European locks can be quite different from those in the USA. When creating your check-in instructions, keep in mind that your guests could be traveling from all over the world!
Remember, if you need help securing your holiday home and streamlining guest check-in and check-out, The Travel Fox is here to help! As an experienced holiday home management company, The Travel Fox can improve your guest experience while making your life easier. Contact our team at 0800 808 5559 or info@thetravelfox.co.uk for more information!