It's a good option for both renters and anyone who lives somewhere with housing rules, like a condo HOA, or anyone who wants to keep their smart lock a secret to outside observers. It's also called a retrofit lock, since it can be added onto the existing lock. Luckily, Abode’s Smart Lock is a deadbolt replacement, meaning it swaps out only the back of the lock, letting my key (and the landlord's) work normally when we aren't using the smart features. Swap It OutĪs renters, there are several smart locks that we can’t use in our door, because we aren’t allowed to completely remove or change out the lock. But it did take a monthly subscription to get the most out of the lock. I could lock the door from the car after battling my toddler into his car seat or check whether the door was locked from the gym or bed.

It was easy for both of us to use and was handy in so many situations. It’s designed to work with existing locks I slapped it onto the back of my triple-paint-layered crappy renter door and waited to see whether it reduced the paranoia that ruled my husband’s life. Smart locks have been around for years, but Abode’s is one of the newest on the market. The solution is simple, though, thanks to smart home technology: a smart lock. It (almost) always is, but the fear is built-in now. (We're on the ground floor! People will see I'm not home and break in!) My husband, on the other hand, always thinks he hasn't locked the door, which leads to us constantly turning the car around or getting out of bed at 11 pm to double-check that the front door is indeed locked.

I refuse to leave any blinds open when I leave the house.

I worry that I've left my hair curler on and will set my house on fire.

Hbodier smart door lock