Looking for remote lock recommendations, in Germany

[Margit1]

Hi,

We are new here and saw the airbnb recommendation for remote locks (here in germany): RemoteLock 500i

As an alternative i found the Yale ENTR or the August Smart Lock (and the startup Nuki)

But the reviews i found on amazon for example are mostly poor...

Has somebody here real hands on experience with any kind of remote lock and wants to share the experience with the community?

many thanks,

Michael

[Kellie38]

I own 12 remotelocks/lockstate locks.  I've used resort locks for about 3 years.

I have 3 RL-2000 locks

I have 3 LS-5i locks

I have 1 LS-6i

I have 5 - Ls-7i

Here is my personal experience with locks including customer experience (read below)

1.  RL-2000 Algorithmic Lock

This lock is awesome however this is not a wifi lock.  As a host I found that wifi locks work best which is why I've replaced all my RL-2000 locks with wifi locks now.  With wifi you can change things from the computer such as codes, check in time/check out times, you can see battery levels, you can see if guests are putting in wrong codes, and so much more. 

For this lock Codes that are self-generated are 10 digits long which can be a hassle for guests however guests have the option of changing the code at the door to shorten it to 4 digits.  This lock autolocks but guests can leave it  in an unlocked position from the interior of the door.  As a host I prefer so that guest cannot leave the door unlocked as they please for security purposes in case they check out and leave it unlocked.  

Ls-5i lever Lock

This is a wifi lock.  It is the cheapest wifi lock I have.  Codes created are 4 digits followed by # sign which is easier than a 10 digit code.  I have no issues other than that guests can leave the lock in a unlocked position as mentioned in RL-2000 review

LS-6i  

This is a also a wifi lock.  To me this and LS-7i are pretty much the same except the sales person told me that the battery lasts longer with LS-7i.  Guests can't leave it in an unlocked position as they please if you set it to autolock

LS-7i

Wifi lock.  This is $10 more than the LS-7i lock.  It does everything that LS-6i does and vice versa.  Personally I like the look of LS-7i better than the LS-6i also I like the feel of pushing the buttons on the 7i more than the LS-6i.  This lock cannot be left in an unlocked position if you set it to autolock compared to RL-2000 and LS-5i.  I set my doors to lock automatically after 5 seconds so unless my guests leaves the door open it will always lock and I love it.  LS-7i model is my favorite so far

My Issues with remotelock-

1.  If you have cohosts on your Airbnb account your locks could be disconnected at any given time meaning if guests book your place and you have a remote lock codes are supposed to be self generated.  But because there is a cohost issue between Airbnb and Remotelock if your integration gets disconnected codes will not be generated.  They've had this issue for at least half a year now.  From time to time it will disconnect and when it does it happens a lot.  We have lots of Airbnbs and it is quite a hassle for me to self - generate codes.  I had to create 10 codes this past week because of this issue

2.  Similar to the issue above - this past week my codes weren't automatically generating even though I was connected through integration.  This is a whole new problem I have never experienced and have created a ticket

3.  For my one of the RL-2000 locks I ordered they sent me defective lock that didn't lock.  Dealing with technical support was a pain because the process is so slow.  I got like 1 response a day from customer service and finally she set up a phone appointment with me.  The first phone appt she didn't want to give me technical device unless I was at the door...(so why didn't you say so in the email??) ok so set up a new phone conference and I had to wait  a week..Her phone advice was so sometimes the screw is too tight especially if you used a drill.  (why couldn't she have gave me this advice over email? I waited like 2 weeks for this stupid advice? and no I did not use a drill and no it did not work) anyways they sent me a new lock after all that headache

4.  For my Ls-6i lock that I received the serial # on the box was incorrect which is why the wifi portion of the lock was not working.  I dealt with the same technical support from above and she thought I was talking about my RL-2000 lock which doesn't have wifi even though in my support ticket I said I was dealing with a LS-6i lock.  

Overall their technical support isn't the best.  To contact them it takes several tickets before they get back to you and it feels like you have to re-explain yourself in the same support ticket everytime a new email is sent But their product works great when it is working.  I like that I can create a email template that sends out with the code and you can write anything you want in it. 

Their technical staff seems small since I've dealt with the same person 99% of the time unless you request for someone else haha.  I've had other minor issues that I did not post on here and I feel like Jill is getting better at her job.  

[Mike865]

Hi Kellie, 

I appreciated your thorough description of your experience with RemoteLocks in 2018. I've had 2 airbnb units for 3 years and am adding 2 more units in the next month or so. Currently, I'm using August and IglooHome. I'm going to replace August and would like to do so with Igloo, but I'm disappointed that I can't modify access for codes that a reservation prompted or codes I've created amongst other limitations. Generally, I'm looking for a system that auto-generates access codes once a reservation is received and allows for access modifications and, of course, reliability. So, I'm hoping that RemoteLocks can offer me the best of both systems.

Are you still using RemoteLocks and their wifi enable locks?

If so, do you still have problems with loss of connectivity? 

Any advice you can offer best options for creating my overall airbnb lock system would be much appreciated. 

Thanks, Mike 

[Joao145]

Good day, I am using https://homeit.io/en/

I have 2 properties, with european safe like deadbolt and system works , now installed since 2016 and quite happy with their hosting app and mobile app for android and iphone.

A contract is required for use of their management portal which can manage multiple properties and access codes for each lock. 

[Alfonso4]

Primeramente dar las gracias por vuestras aportaciones,

Gestiono un edificio de Apartamentos en Valencia ( España) y estoy buscando una caja con casilleros donde guardar las llaves para que los huéspedes pueden tener acceso a los casilleros y poder coger las llaves de los apartamentos de edificio.

La caja con todas las llaves de los apartamentos la puedo colocar dentro del edificio y he estado en contacto con empresas como Keycafe, AHB, Locktec, Traka 21 pero no me acabo de decidir por ninguno de ellas porque no tengo opiniones  sobre el uso de estas cajas que comercializan

Alguien trabaja con alguna caja electrónica donde almacenar y distribuir las llaves dentro de un edificio a los huéspedes?

Gracias por vuestras aportaciones y generosidad

Alfonso

---------------------------------------------------------------

First of all I would like to thank you for your input,

I manage an apartment building in Valencia (Spain) and I am looking for a box with lockers where to keep the keys so that the guests can have access to the lockers and be able to take the keys of the flats in the building.

I have been in contact with companies like Keycafe, AHB, Locktec, Traka 21 but I haven't decided for any of them because I have no opinions about the use of these boxes that they commercialise.

Does anyone work with an electronic box to store and distribute keys inside a building to guests?

Thanks for your contributions and generosity

Alfonso

[Larry496]

Has anyone had any experience with the Schlage Encode Wi-Fi locks? Our rental is 4 hours from our residence, and we want to be able to send entry codes remotely.

[Ryan111]

After years of use with Schlage, I ditched it for the Yale lock.  wifi bridge works perfectly.  

[Ross869]

Yale locks are pretty good. I haven’t had any issues with mine so far. I know August locks have the ability to change codes automatically and send to guests.