We install smart locks across Seattle every week, on single-family homes, condos and short-term rentals. Here is what has held up and what has not, without the sponsored-review spin.
What to look for first
- Weather rating. Seattle doors get wet eight months a year. Look for an IP65 or better rating on the exterior keypad.
- A physical key override. Batteries die. A keyway means you call us for a rekey instead of a lockout.
- Fits your door. Standard 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backset, 1-3/8" to 1-3/4" thickness. Most do; some wide-trim models don't fit narrow stiles.
- How you'll share access. Codes for cleaners and guests, or app invites for family. Rentals need codes you can schedule and expire.
Locks we install most and recommend
Schlage Encode Plus. Wi-Fi built in, Apple Home Key, strong deadbolt, real keyway. The default choice for a Seattle front door.
Yale Assure Lock 2. Slim keypad, works with most hubs, good for condos with narrow doors. Choose the version with a key cylinder.
August Wi-Fi (4th gen). Fits over your existing deadbolt on the inside, so the outside of the door and your current keys stay the same. Ideal for renters who can't change hardware.
Kwikset Halo. Budget-friendly, Wi-Fi, rekeyable in minutes with SmartKey. Good for rental turnovers.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. Fingerprint plus keypad plus key. Popular with Airbnb hosts in Capitol Hill and Ballard.
What installation involves
If the door already has a standard deadbolt, a smart lock replaces it in 20 to 40 minutes: remove the old lock, fit the new bolt and strike, mount the exterior and interior units, pair with your phone, add codes and test. If the door has no deadbolt or the holes are the wrong size, we bore and align it. We also fix the thing that makes most smart locks "fail": a door that doesn't close square, so the motor stalls on the bolt.
Smart lock problems we get called for
- Dead batteries with no key override and no 9-volt jump terminal. We open the door without damage and recommend a model with a keyway.
- Motor stalls because the strike plate is misaligned. Five-minute fix.
- Wrong-size lock on a narrow door, installed by a handyman, so the latch never caught. We replace it with a model that fits.
Want one installed? See smart lock installation for pricing, or call 206-309-9023 with your door type and we'll tell you what fits.