Smart Lock Systems

Most smart locks support several entry methods at once.

• Code: a number entered on the keypad. For children and older relatives this is often the easiest option.
• Card or key fob: hold an RFID card near the lock. A lost card is deleted from the system and a new one is added.
• Fingerprint: nothing to carry or forget. Good readers cope with wet or cold fingers; cheaper models can be less reliable.
• Phone: Bluetooth when you are nearby, and remote opening over the internet if the lock has a gateway.
• Mechanical key: most models keep one as a backup, so a flat battery or an electronic fault does not leave you stuck outside.

A smart lock records every opening together with the code, card or fingerprint that was used. You can check in the app what time your child got home from school or when the babysitter arrived. You can also ask for a notification when particular people open the door, and set alerts for a door left open or for several wrong codes in a row.

It depends on how the door is built, so the first thing we do on a site visit is look at the door.

Steel doors

Most flats in Turkey have steel security doors that lock at several points. On these doors the lock case, the cylinder and the bolts all work together. Some smart locks keep the existing lock case and replace only the inner and outer panels; others need a new case as well. Door thickness, cylinder size, lock case type and which way the handle turns all affect the choice of model.

Timber doors and garden gates

Timber doors and garden gates come with different options. A lock that sits outdoors has to cope with rain and moisture, and in Samsun's damp climate we look closely at the ingress protection rating of outdoor locks. For garden gates, an electric lock or a control unit that works with the gate motor is often the better choice.

Installing without changing the door

Some retrofit locks fit on the inside without any drilling and simply turn the existing thumb-turn. They are a reasonable start for tenants or for anyone who does not want to modify the door. Without a keypad or fingerprint reader on the outside, though, the phone is your only way in.