8 Reasons to Consider Automatic Locks for Your Home

The front door unlocks without keys, the back door autolocks when you leave for work, and your mobile phone sends a notification when someone checks in at home.

Controlling your home remotely from the palm of your hand may have sounded like a scene from a science fiction movie a few years back, but today, we can't imagine living a day without our beloved smart home devices.

Smart locks are some of the most popular smart home devices. Automatic locks connect to your home's built-in Wi-Fi network to allow you to lock and unlock your doors remotely, adding convenience and security to your home.

Take a look at some of the benefits they provide over traditional key systems and find answers to the most commonly asked questions.

A view of someone's hand unlocking an automatic door lock.

1. Automatic locks provide extra security

A smart lock can be a worthwhile investment when it comes to keeping your home and family protected around the clock.

With an automatic lock, you can lock and unlock your doors from your mobile phone or the lock's keypad or touchscreen—all without a physical key in sight.

This means you can forget about making copies for everyone and hiding keys in the flowerpot, under the doormat, or below that fake rock.

2. Schedule times when doors are locked or unlocked

Amid a schedule full of work and family commitments, it's easy to forget to lock the doors when you leave home.

But thanks to Wi-Fi smart locks, you can schedule times when doors automatically lock and unlock. For instance, you can set your home security system to lock the doors at 8 a.m. (when you leave for work) and unlock them at 3 p.m. (when the kids arrive home after school).

Moreover, smart locks can send notifications to your phone if a door is left unlocked, lowering the chances of a home break-in while you're not home.

3. Better ease of entry and remote access

If you dread fiddling through your bag to find your keys while juggling kids, backpacks, and pets, then you'll appreciate the convenience that comes with a keyless entry.

With smart locks, you can lock and unlock your doors through your lock's keypad or mobile phone without a physical key. Plus, letting guests and family members into your home via remote control is as easy as tapping an icon on your smartphone.

This means you no longer have to worry about fumbling in your bag for your keys or wasting money to create spare keys for family members and guests.

Now that's something to smile about.

A teenager getting home from soccer practice letting herself in through the smart door lock.

4. Convenience when you're away from home

Securing your home when you're away isn't so hard anymore. With keyless door locks, you can control your front door whether you're at work, out of town, or on the other side of the world.

You can generate temporary access codes for babysitters, petsitters, and guests so they can check in and out when they want. For example, a Vivint Smart Lock can assign up to 50 individual access codes that you can change or delete when no longer in use.

5. Additional safety for Kids

Worried about kids arriving home safely after school? Thanks to Vivint's Kwikset Smart Locks, you're always in the know about who's coming in and out of your home, including your kids and babysitter.

Plus, you can stop worrying about young children losing their keys. Simply give them their own unique code for checking in and out of the house.

If you want to make it even easier for your kids, you can opt for a model with a biometric or fingerprint scanner for one-touch check-in.

6. Smart locks are more durable than traditional key locks

Traditional locks like door knob locks and deadbolt locks are made from metals like brass, satin nickel, and stainless steel.

Although these materials may last for years, traditional key locks wear out with normal use over time. We're often too late to realize it—standing at the front door calling the locksmith.

But here's the good news: With smart locks, you can forget about late-night locksmith calls and extra expenses on spare keys.

7. Protection from lock picking

Time is an important factor for thieves. According to research, no burglar will spend more than four to five minutes trying to break into a home.

Considering that the probability of someone guessing the correct four-digit PIN is 1 in 10,000 (the same as being struck by lightning), finding the right code combination in less than five minutes is almost impossible.

All of that is to say a password-protected entry is a great way to enhance your front door security and keep intruders at bay.

Front porch protected by Vivint Smart Locks and Doorbell Camera.

8. Smart locks connect to the rest of your home

Who doesn't love to unlock the doors remotely, turn on the lighting with voice control, and do other cool stuff using just their mobile phone?

Welcome to the world of home automation!

Vivint Smart Locks connect to your home's Wi-Fi to seamlessly integrate into your existing home security system, including other electronic deadbolts and keypad deadbolts.

For a fully automated home experience, you can connect your smart locks to other smart home devices, like your smart thermostat and smart lighting, or even to mobile apps like Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa.

Smart Lock FAQs

How does an automatic lock work?

Automatic door locks use your home's network connection to let you remotely lock or auto-unlock deadbolt locks through unique access codes or your mobile phone. Some include a door handle, and others are just the deadbolt portion.

This means you can lock and unlock the doors without a physical key, monitor who checks in and out of your home, and set custom rules for automatically locking your doors behind you.

Most smart locks are battery-powered; depending on your battery life, your smart lock can function even when the power goes out.

With a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled device, you can also use voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to control your doors. That said, you should check the compatibility of your device before making a purchase.

Find out more about how smart locks work.

How much does an automatic lock cost?

When it comes to automatic locks, there are many options available on the market. The price ultimately depends on added features, functionality, and compatibility with other smart devices.

If you've decided to invest in a smart lock system, contact our Smart Home Pros for a free quote. They can also provide professional installation so you can avoid all the hurdles of DIY installation.

Do smart locks automatically lock?

Yes. One of the best smart lock features is the ability to automatically lock your front, back, and garage entry doors—no matter where you are.

You can create custom actions so your smart lock system locks after a certain amount of time or at predetermined times of the day.

Moreover, your device can send notifications to your phone to remind you to lock the door when you leave home.

What are people saying about Vivint Smart Door Locks?

Electronic door locks make our lives easier, safer, and more convenient. Read on to find out why people love their Vivint smart door locks.

"I've been able to keep tabs on the house and even lock my doors while driving away from my house, instead of having to turn around to drive back and do it. Vivint has allowed me to have peace of mind for things that I used to be late for work for in being paranoid if I had left the garage door open, or if the doors were locked." — Keith G., Denver, CO

"We just got our smart home installed on a Thursday, and that Sunday we were running errands. My dad called to see if we were home. I told him we were on our way home, then unlocked the front door for him so he could wait in the comfort of our home while he waited for us. Thank you for our system! We are definitely referring our friends and family!" — Lisa H., Portland, OR

"Vivint saved my dog! We were away (out of state), our kids were at work, and my two dogs were in the backyard. We received a doorbell notification, and a lady was there saying there was a small dog in my front yard with no collar and wanted to know if she belonged to me. I spoke through the speaker and called my dog and yes — that was my dog! I opened the door from my phone and the nice lady let my dog in. I opened the door and said thank you, then quickly locked the door." — Claudia B., Glen Burnie, MD

Discover smart door lock systems from Vivint

Are smart locks worth it? Absolutely.

Equipped with smart features and advanced functionality, Vivint offers some of the best smart locks for keeping your family and home safe and protected around the clock.

Book a free consultation with one of our Smart Home Pros by calling 855.822.1220 to learn more about smart door locks and how they can bring you peace of mind.