Modern technology has made it possible to do pretty much anything from our phones. We can check our bank statements, video chat with people across the globe or even adjust our home thermostats from the office. The advent of this impressive technology has made our lives easier and made everyday activities just a little more luxurious. 

If you’ve already adopted new ways to remotely manage your life, why not take it to the next level and bring your home security into the palm of your hand? Smart locks operated locks by your phone or other device are the wave of the future. What is a phone operated lock? Here’s what you need to know. 

What is a Smart Phone Operated Lock? 

A smart lock is a lock that is operated on your phone and also called a phone operated lock. These locks function exactly like their name—the locking mechanism can be controlled by your phone or through a web application.

Depending on the model you get, you may be able to keep your existing locks and simply have your locksmith install a smart device over it. Once the device is installed, you simply connect to it from your phone via Bluetooth or WiFi and sync them together. 

Features of Smart Phone Operated Locks

There’s a wide variety of phone operated locks available on the market today and each have some pretty impressive features. Here’s a list of the things that smart phone operated locks can do. 

Automatic Entry

If you’ve got your phone on you and the phone lock device you’ve chosen includes this feature, you should be able walk right through your front door without skipping a beat. The device will recognize your phone as soon as you’re close enough and automatically unlock itself welcoming you home with open arms.

Security Snapshots

Some systems give you the option to take a quick photo of whoever is accessing the entrance using their phone. This is a great way to monitor the comings and goings of people at your home or office, and a helpful way to monitor employee theft.  

Remote Control via Bluetooth or WiFi

This feature is particularly handy if your kid forgets their keys one day and you’re stuck out and about and get locked out of your home or business. Phone operated locks have the ability to remotely unlock doors from anywhere and depending on your system, you can also use Bluetooth or WiFi to lock and unlock your doors. 

Notifications

Another feature of remote or phone operated door locks is that you’re able to set notifications on the door. Notifications will let you know anytime a smart lock has been activated by yourself or someone else. This is a great way to keep tabs on who is going in and out of your home or business.  

Regulate Access

Some of the more intelligent phone operated lock models all you to dole out as many “keys” as you’d like. What’s more is they’ll even allow you to put a time limit on how long that key will be granted access so that you can make your home or business more secure. For example, if you’re going out of town for a week and have hired someone to feed your cat you can give them access to the home only for the duration of your trip and not have to worry about getting your keys back from them when you return. 

Smart phone operated locks are not only secure, but they offer great flexibility and control over your homes safety. Looking for help installing a new smart phone operated lock for your home or business? Contact us to get a quote or schedule an appointment today. 

We all want to feel secure and be able to relax in our own place at night without worrying that our car will be gone in the morning. There are several things that you can do to make your home more secure, but of chief importance is making sure that the
neighborhood you live in is safe. 

We’ve done a little legwork for you and compiled a list of the safest neighborhoods to live in Boston. Take a look, you may find that you should be living on a completely different side of town or that you should be looking for a safer apartment.

Safest Neighborhoods in Boston

According to a local Boston rental placement company, West Roxbury, the Allston/Brighton area, and Dorchester are in the lead with the lowest crime rate per capita. 

While these areas have the lowest overall crime rates, it’s worth a second look at which types of crime are most rampant. While, Allston and Brighton are the second safest overall area on the list, the number of burglary and attempted burglaries is high. This is important data when you’re talking about home security! 

It’s also important to note that while many neighborhoods with a high crime rate are the ones that are most heavily frequented for sporting events like Red Sox and Celtics games.

Where in Boston Should You Live?

When figuring out the right neighborhood for you to live in Boston, there are several things you should take into account. The types of people who live in each neighborhood are different and can impact how safe you feel in your home. 

Young Professionals flock to Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Downtown, East Boston, Charlestown, South Boston, the South End, Fenway area, Back Bay, and Allston/Brighton. 

Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, East Boston, Charlestown, and South Boston are more common for young families, as the prices of these areas are lower than their surrounding counterparts and are relatively safe. 

College students folk to Allston, Brighton, the Fenway area, South End, Back Bay, and South Boston. These are areas that are near some of Boston’s colleges and universities and, as a result, may have a high incidence of petty crimes like theft. 

How to Safeguard Yourself

Whichever neighborhood is the right fit for you, there are ways you can make your home safer on your own. One of the first things to consider is that no matter how locked down you make your place, there’s unfortunately always a chance someone will know how to get around your best laid plans. In which case, do your best to secure your belongings inside your home. Purchase a safe to hold important documents and most valuable possessions.

Another tip? When you get into your new place, whether you’re renting or purchasing, get the locks changed. It’s so important to know that you and only you are holding the keys to your home.

If you’re a renter, ask the landlord if you can choose your own locksmith. Without having the information on the company doing the work, you could unknowingly be putting yourself at risk.If you need a locksmith, contact us today to see how we can help you out with all of your locksmith needs.

Keys are easily recognizable, been around for centuries. Key are such ordinary little things that are often glossed over, despite the fact that they’re built to protect the things we hold most dear to us. Oddly enough, although keys are meant to protect us and our valuables, more often than not, changing locks and rekeying entries is rarely done.

How often do you think about changing your locks or updating your locking systems? It probably doesn’t cross your mind too often. Slipping your house keys into the keyhole every night is so common place you forget just how important the quality of those keys actually is! If you’ve been looking to make your home more secure, here are some options on the key and lock front. 

There are several simple and innovative ways to update your current locking systems and improve the security of your home.

Rekeying Your Home

If you’ve just moved into an apartment or are renting space, first find out if you are permitted to rekey the unit. Rekeying does not involve replacing any hardware. Essentially, a licensed locksmith is able to change the tumbler configuration inside the existing lock making it incompatible with previous keys. Before giving your locksmith the thumbs up, be sure that your unit will still be accessible by the landlord with a master key in case of emergency. 

Changing the Locks

Your local hardware store should have a selection of quality locks that the clerk will say you can install yourself. Our advice is don’t do it.

Not only will a professional locksmith install the lock properly (there’s really no guarantee if you try it yourself) but they’ll also be able to make suggestions as to which type of lock is best for the job. Before hiring a locksmith, ask them these questions to make sure they’re a locksmith you can trust.

Use the best quality lock you can get your hands on. ANSI and BHMA ratings are helpful when shopping around. The ratings range from Grade One to Grade Three, with One being the best.

HiTech Locks

Modern technology has given the unassuming copper key a facelift. Home security systems now enable us to lock, unlock and alarm our homes remotely using our smartphones. So convenient and let’s face it, you feel a bit like Inspector Gadget!

These security systems allow you to monitor your home while you’re away. You’ll receive alerts if an alarm is tripped and, in most cases, they have add on services that will contact your local police department in the case of a break in.
Don’t be so quick to forget about how important the locks on those doors are. Solutions range from inexpensive to state of the art meaning there’s a right fit for everyone looking for added home security.

Need help rekeying your home or changing the locks? Let us help! Contact us to schedule an appointment to make your home safer. 

Moving day is around the corner in Boston. For many people it can be an exciting time, but it’s also stressful. There are hundreds of little moving parts and several people to manage in the process. Over the course of the day or so that it takes to fully transition from point A to point B, your most prized possessions are out of your hands completely.

Chances are, you’ve done some pretty extensive research before settling on your new home like ensuring that you’re choosing a safe apartment in a good part of town. But this careful planning needs to be applied to several other areas of your move. Here are some helpful tips to help you get through unscathed and arrive at your new home in one piece.

Moving Preparation

Packing has just begun which is the perfect time to guarantee the safety of your things. Starting with the small stuff, keep anything of value in a locked safe https://kennyslock.com/safes . If you don’t already own one, definitely look into purchasing a safe for your home. During the actual move, keep whatever jewelry and small valuables you can on your person. This will give you assurance that they’ll make it to their final destination.

Also, not everything that is valuable is tangible. If you’ve got a personal computer, backup your files prior to moving. It’s not unheard of for computers to fall off the back of a moving truck and you don’t want someone to have any of your personal information. So, back it up then clear its contents for the duration of the move. Make sure to keep track of your boxes too. You’re probably going to be surrounded by mountains of them so start numbering each before you lose track. This way, when you reach the other side if there’s a number missing you’ll know right away.

Hiring Movers

It’s very tempting to comb through Craig’s List for some cheap manual laborers but there’s no way to vet these people before allowing them into your home. A good rule of thumb when hiring a moving company is to first and foremost, choose a reputable business that performs background checks on their employees. If you can help it, don’t involve them in the packing process. It’s best that you are the one to put things in boxes. It’s much too easy for a trinket to walk out the front door if it’s loose when strangers arrive.

Locks and Keys

Think you should provide your moving company with a set of keys to the new place? That way you can stay at the old place and monitor some last minute packing, right? Wrong. Do not give anyone a set of keys. It’s much too easy to make an impression of your house keys to be copied later.

Instead, have a friend or two with you on the day. There should be at least one to two trustworthy people at each location to watch over things. Also, if you’re single or live alone this buddy system will provide some personal safety for you as well.
Another tip, before you move into the new place, be sure to get all the locks rekeyed. The only people who should have a copy of this new set is anyone living in the home and one trusted outside source, like a close friend or family member, in case of emergency.

Fail Safe

So, you’ve taken every precaution necessary, making sure you don’t leave yourself open to those who would take advantage of you. While you’ve made smart choices and have earned your “Smart Mover” badge, you should always do as much as you can to keep you and your loved ones safe at all times. After move-in there’s still work to be done so don’t lose your momentum before securing your current household.