How a Key Box Solved Our Airbnb Problem
My name is Sarah, and my husband Bill and I recently transformed our home in Maleny into a Bed and Breakfast. Maleny is about 100 kilometres north of Brisbane, in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. We both love the idea of living next door to nature, so we thought we could easily attract like-minded guests to our house, which has magnificent views of the coastline and the Glass House Mountains.
We went through a pre-planning stage, a planning stage, a decluttering stage and a restyling stage. We thought that we had thought of everything. We created our listing on Airbnb and were delighted when guests started to book with us right away. Within two weeks, all three guest rooms were occupied and the future looked very promising.
An Unexpected Problem – Keys
Then a problem came up – one that we were definitely NOT expecting. KEYS. Each of our three guest rooms has its own entrance. As we take the security of our home seriously, every guest is given a key to their room on arrival and is asked to lock the door to their room whenever they go out. They are also given a welcome pack with a reminder to return their key on departure.
Over a period of two months, we had four separate issues regarding keys. On two occasions, guests drove off with their door key without returning it. One couple said they left their key in a certain place in their room, but when we went to retrieve it, we couldn’t find it. And one family went to the beach, took their key with them, but then lost it in the sand.
We had to find a solution.
The Disadvantages of Using a Smart Lock
We seriously thought about installing smart locks on all our guest room doors. But there were several problems with doing that.
- Difficult to install
We heard from several sources that they can be a nightmare to install. Neither my husband nor I are particularly tech savvy, so we didn’t want the hassle.
- Glitch issues
We have also heard that sometimes a system cannot authenticate you because of a glitch. Also, a battery issue can cause a lock to fail.
- Vulnerable to hackers
This is probably unlikely – still, we think this is a legitimate concern and we don’t want our house vulnerable to intruders.
- Need a smartphone
We thought it was unwise to insist that our guests carry a smartphone with them at all times in order to unlock their doors. Besides, the signal in our area isn’t always the best.
- Becoming obsolete
The company that sells a lock is responsible for keeping their apps updated. But what if the company goes out of business, or doesn’t update their apps for certain lock models?
- The expense
This was by far our biggest concern. Putting smart locks on three doors was too expensive for our budget – we just couldn’t see that option being cost effective.
A KeepControl Smart Key Box Solved Our Problem
After doing quite a bit of research, we decided that installing key boxes was the best option. We then looked at several key box brands, weighing up the pros and cons of each one. When we came across the KeepControl Smart Key Box, we could see right away it was right choice for our needs.
- Guest friendly
Because guests get used to using them as soon as they arrive, keys don’t go missing.
- The best kind of storage
We wanted a storage solution with the same security as a locked safe. The body is made of an extremely strong and sturdy zinc alloy.
- Easy to install
The lightweight Smart Key Box is only a little over 1 kg and can be mounted anywhere – all you need to do is to screw the case onto the surface where you need it to be. It can be mounted indoors or outdoors.
- Multiple unlocking functions
You have the option of using an app your mobile phone – but you can just as easily key in your passcode yourself.
- Low maintenance
The Smart Key Box is water proof, anti-corrosion and can withstand extremely high (up to 60°C) and low (down to -45°C) temperatures.
- Choice of passcodes
You can grant your guests a one-time access or a periodic passcode for a set period of time.
- Never run out of batteries
The 4 AAA batteries inside the key box last for 12 months. When the batteries start to run out of power, you can recharge them via the port at the bottom of the key box.
Since we installed our guest key boxes a few weeks ago, we haven’t had any more issues. We have gotten a lot of very positive feedback – and nothing negative at all. Every guest has commented on how easy and convenient they are to use.
In fact, we were so impressed with the KeepControl Smart Key Box, we decided to get one for ourselves. We mounted our own key box on the wall near our front door and we can keep all our keys inside – it can hold up to 7.
We couldn’t be happier with our Smart Key Boxes – we’re sure we’ll never have a hassle with keys again!
Why Choose a KeepControl Smart Key Box?
KeepControl has the best security solutions. We offer Australia wide delivery to your door. Contact us today on 1800 654 919 or at info@keepcontrol.au.