Best electronic door lock?
Kanani LeePro Member
Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 0 votesHi, first post and relatively new REI. I just closed on a SFH in Springfield OR that I'm still contemplating on if I want to make it LTR or a MTR (it works both ways). I need to change the locks on the door and am considering one of those locks that has a key pad where a combo can be inputted to unlock the door. What's the best one and why? Do I need a wifi signal for it to work? How reliable are they? I like that I'm able to change the codes remotely and seems like it would be ideal for a STR/MTR, but what about a LTR? The LTR property manager I've been interviewing says that they change the locks every time they put in a new tenant (after showings by lockbox). Thinking have an electronic lock might be less hassle and less expensive over the long term. What am I missing?
Hi, first post and relatively new REI. I just closed on a SFH in Springfield OR that I'm still contemplating on if I want to make it LTR or a MTR (it works both ways). I need to change the locks on the door and am considering one of those locks that has a key pad where a combo can be inputted to unlock the door. What's the best one and why? Do I need a wifi signal for it to work? How reliable are they? I like that I'm able to change the codes remotely and seems like it would be ideal for a STR/MTR, but what about a LTR? The LTR property manager I've been interviewing says that they change the locks every time they put in a new tenant (after showings by lockbox). Thinking have an electronic lock might be less hassle and less expensive over the long term. What am I missing?
@Kanani Lee, I think a keypad lock could be a good option for either a long term or midterm rental. You don't necessarily need WiFi for the keypad to work, but some models need it for remote code changes. I'd also make sure you can remove old access codes when tenants move out and have a backup way to enter if the lock stops working.
I'm a real estate attorney and investor based in Maryland, and I work with landlords on leases and property matters. I've seen how important it is to have clear procedures when tenants move in or out, especially when it comes to property access and security.
Congrats on your new property, @Kanani Lee! It's a good question to ask before choosing a lock. Happy to stay connected!
Congrats on the new place, Kanani! One thing I'd look at with any keypad lock is what happens when the battery dies, so find one with a backup key or a way to power it from outside. Most of them don't need wifi to work, the wifi part is mainly for changing codes from far away....
Randy, Bunklow
Thanks for the feedback. Great points!
Hi, first post and relatively new REI. I just closed on a SFH in Springfield OR that I'm still contemplating on if I want to make it LTR or a MTR (it works both ways). I need to change the locks on the door and am considering one of those locks that has a key pad where a combo can be inputted to unlock the door. What's the best one and why? Do I need a wifi signal for it to work? How reliable are they? I like that I'm able to change the codes remotely and seems like it would be ideal for a STR/MTR, but what about a LTR? The LTR property manager I've been interviewing says that they change the locks every time they put in a new tenant (after showings by lockbox). Thinking have an electronic lock might be less hassle and less expensive over the long term. What am I missing?
@Kanani Lee, I think a keypad lock could be a good option for either a long term or midterm rental. You don't necessarily need WiFi for the keypad to work, but some models need it for remote code changes. I'd also make sure you can remove old access codes when tenants move out and have a backup way to enter if the lock stops working.
I'm a real estate attorney and investor based in Maryland, and I work with landlords on leases and property matters. I've seen how important it is to have clear procedures when tenants move in or out, especially when it comes to property access and security.
Congrats on your new property, @Kanani Lee! It's a good question to ask before choosing a lock. Happy to stay connected!
I really like the Schlage Encode locks. They’re worth a look if you want to manage access remotely. Wi-Fi is built in, so you don’t need a separate hub, and you can add or remove codes through the app. You do need Wi-Fi at the property for those remote features, but the keypad can still work with existing codes without an internet connection.
I think they make sense for a long-term rental, too—not just short- or midterm stays. Being able to give someone their own code and remove it when they no longer need access is convenient.
The things I’d plan for are battery changes and backup access. The Encode has a physical backup key, so remember that deleting someone’s code doesn’t address any copies of that key they may have. I’d also talk with your property manager about who handles the app, code changes, and batteries so everyone’s on the same page.
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll take a look at Schlage Encode.
Kanani, congrats on the closing. I'll second Ryan on the Schlage Encode. I love those locks. The hardware advice here is solid, so I'll add the part that matters more once guests are actually checking in: how the codes get managed.
On furnished stays, every guest gets their own code that turns on at check-in and turns off at checkout. Ideally it's set automatically by your booking software, not typed in by hand. That's where Wi-Fi (or a hub) really earns its keep. It isn't just about changing codes remotely. It's about the lock talking to your calendar so you're not managing access in your head.
On 30+ night stays, make sure changing a code's end date is easy. I keep the 60 days after each mid-term stay open so a guest can extend, and one construction crew extended four times and stayed 90+ days. Every extension meant pushing their code's end date out. If that's a hassle, it's the kind of thing that eventually gets missed.
A few other things I'd do either way:
- Rekey the physical cylinder now. You don't know who has keys from the previous owner, and a keypad doesn't change that. Your PM's rekey-every-tenant habit is really about the physical key, so if you go keypad on an LTR, limit how many physical keys exist.
- Have a backup way in that doesn't depend on you being there, like a lockbox with a key or a local person, for the day the batteries die or the lock acts up.
- Turn on low-battery alerts if the lock has them.
For an LTR, a keypad is a convenience. For an MTR or STR, it's part of how the business runs. So I'd settle the strategy first. Use the LTR rent as your floor and only go furnished if a slow month still clearly beats it after utilities, furnishing and empty days. Also check how Oregon and Springfield treat 30+ day furnished stays, since landlord-tenant rules can apply at certain stay lengths.
What's pulling you toward MTR in Springfield? Is there a hospital or major employer nearby driving the demand?