Keyless Entry - The Pros and The Cons
September 19th, 2007 by TJ Mahony tj@flipkey.comI recently traded emails with Secure Lodging, Inc. Secure Lodging specializes in ‘keyless’ entry systems. There are several keyless home providers, but I like the Secure Lodging folks, so I will focus the discussion on their specific product.
Keyless entry systems aren’t new, but they are getting more sophisticated compared to the static button system I grew up with. Secure Lodging’s Oracode 660K product allows managers to remotely program access codes from their web browser. Since the lock does not require an internet connection I assume the Oracode lock receives transmissions via a radio signal - very cool.
In addition to remote updates, Secure Lodging allows you to control access levels. This means you can make sure a guest’s code is only active during a specific period of time (ie. the days they have reserved the unit). Oracode also allows you to monitor and control times of access for cleaning service staff and maintenance contractors. Again, very cool.
So why hasn’t keyless entry taken off?
It’s not entirely cheap. The cost of a keyless entry is $400-500 per home, with prices going down with bulk orders. Installation is easy enough to do-it-yourself - the manufacture provides a video walking you through the process. Given the security and convenience advantages of keyless entry I think many owners would be willing to foot the bill, but I admit others will not.
Speaking with various industry pundits, rent-by-owners are the primary customers of keyless entry systems. It makes sense. Rent-by-owners cannot be on-site to manage key exchange and mailing keys is a disaster waiting to happen. Keyless entry solves one of the rent-by-owners largest management challenges.
The benefit to owners underscores the lack of adoption by property managers. Installing a keyless entry system potentially disintermediates property managers from one of their key functions (pardon the pun).
Yet, I tend to have a positive outlook on the vacation rental world and the services that surround it.
- Yes, keyless entry enables an owner to control home access remotely. With a phone and some dedicated efforts an owner can effectively manage guests, cleaning and maintenance remotely.
- However, if I’m about to spend $2,000 on a weekly vacation rental, I don’t care if the owner has a StarTrek teleporting system….. I would feel more comfortable if there was a human being within 10 miles to ensure my stay is seamless and enjoyable.
- As an owner, I would be ecstatic if my property manager offered to install a keyless system for me - I would even pay them to do it!
- The value of property management is much deeper than the process of key exchange. It’s about making sure both parties - guests and owners - have a seamless and comfortable experience. It’s a juggling act of coordination, hospitality, and PRESENCE.
I emphasize PRESENCE, because it’s arguably the most important service provided by property managers and it can never be replaced by technology.
September 20th, 2007 at 12:23 am
We are in the process of switching our inventory of homes over to this system. We have been using it in a group of twelve properties for over a year now.
It is an algorithm based system and does not communicate with the web at all. You simply tell it the dates and times you want a code for and the database gives you the proper code for that period. The codes are already programmed into the locks algorithm.
I highly recommend the system and believe it to much more secure than traditional keys. You can get the entry history from the lock using a PDA.
I am suddenly wondering if I should buy the domain flipcode.com
September 25th, 2007 at 10:10 am
[...] week I wrote about the value of keyless entry systems. The analysis highlighted the pros and cons of enabling owners to go keyless. The main con cited by [...]
December 11th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
VillaDirect has just completed installation of over 550 of the Oracode/Kaba keyless lock systems in to its managed portfolio of vacation homes, condos and town homes in the Disney area of Orlando, Florida.
The latest version of the lock system also stops the (ever-increasing) risk of “bump-key” unforced entry, and has been endorsed by local sheriffs offices. VillaDirect has also developed additional software code to ensure that each person granted access to the property has their own unique code for that specific entry, and we can even audit the entry history if required. This meeans that guests get their own unique, secure code for the duration of their stay - and they can even change the code to a more memorable number sequence if they wish.
We strongly advocate that keyless entry code systems should be adopted by vacation rental industry leaders so that guests will quickly recognize their benefits and choose those companies which have installed such locks.
The locks are a MAJOR benefit tot he guests, and we were able to make the initial capital investment in the lock systems and pass on the costs to our owners over a time period to recover our investment on their behalf.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I can understand why at $400-$500 the locks are four times more expensive than other key-pad entry locks.
However, I don’t believe the locks provide enough of a benefit to pay an ongoing “use tax” of $240 per year, ongoing, in perpetuity, just to use their “algorithm based” software to calculate programmed lock codes.
When I multiply $240 per year times many rental properties, I’d rather continue locking the way that’s worked for the past many years and spend elsewhere the thousands of dollars each year I’d be spending to use Oracode’s online calculator.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
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