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#Post#: 111--------------------------------------------------
Smart Locks
By: JimBoone Date: July 3, 2023, 7:12 am
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[member=4]Arks[/member]
You had some great posts in the old forum [now lost to us] on
your smart lock system. When you have the chance would you share
again in this new forum? I'm thinking that the locks you used
weren't currently available.
I'm attempting something similar. Locksmith didn't seem
interested, big box stores didn't seem to have what I needed,
tried a couple before finding one that I liked that seemed to
offer similar benefits to what I remember from your postings.
The one I ordered works with Bluetooth on my phone or with a
gateway can connect to my computer. Like what I remember being
described I can set a password for a limited period of time or a
permanent password. These also have a plastic chip/card that
opens the lock. So far, so good.
What I don't remember is the check in process, could you
elaborate on your process. Thanks.
#Post#: 112--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smart Locks
By: Arks Date: July 3, 2023, 8:38 am
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As far as my procedure, when a new reservation comes in, I
assign a 4-digit key code to the reservation, storing the code
in the Contact Notes section in Reservation Key. This lets me
have email templates in ResKey that plug their key code into
messages I send them.
I offer the option for them to define their own key code. Most
don't have a preference so I use the last 4 digits of their
phone number, or first 4 digits of zip code on those who don't
give me a phone number. I'm just looking for something easy for
them to remember.
I then go to the Trane Home website and assign the key code to
the lock, setting it to activate a little before their check in
time, and deactivate a little after their departure time. In the
Trane Home website I assign the user name for the key code in
the format [Guest Last Name] [Key Code] [Arrival/Departure
Date]. This lets me, at a glance, know what codes are sent and
when it's OK to delete them from the lock after departure.
Finally, I email the guest's arrival instructions, explaining
how to find their door, how to enter their key code, etc. The
locks email me each time the guest enters their key code, so I
know that they have arrived.
Most major door set makers offer these Z-Wave units now. I have
always used Schlage, just because that's the one I started with,
and I use the Trane Home website on my iPhone or any computer
web browser to set/delete key codes. The Trane Home connection
costs me $9/month. I think Generic found a free connection that
works with his brand of locks.
The lock I bought most recently is a touchpad deadbolt, rather
than a doorknob with buttons. This lets me use the traditional
knob that has been on the door for over 100 years. The deadbolt
works like the keypad knobs I bought in the past, but is
updated, so it can hold 30 codes at a time. The old ones "only"
hold 19. The deadbolt automatically relocks itself after 30
seconds, so if they leave and forget to lock the door, it locks
itself.
HTML https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KQY3MWL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title
HTML https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KQY3MWL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title
#Post#: 115--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smart Locks
By: Generic Date: July 3, 2023, 12:00 pm
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[quote author=Arks link=topic=20.msg112#msg112 date=1688391503]
...I assign a 4-digit key code to the reservation, storing the
code in the Contact Notes section in Reservation Key. This lets
me have email templates in ResKey that plug their key code into
messages I send them...
[/quote]
We stopped doing this and instead use the ResKey templated
code... {{guestphone_last4}}
I actually had to go back and forth with John a few times until
it worked, because different places format numbers differently.
But now... it works, even if they use . or - or space between.
Always comes out the last 4 digits of the phone number they gave
us.
For check-in though, we actually had to add a new field for them
to give us their email address, as with reservations coming in
over the OTAs, we have their weird email address forwarders.
This way, they can put in the email address where they want the
check-in information sent.
Of course the other side of this is that he never developed a
way for guests to modify their own data, so if I want to use
that email address, I have to copy it over. Also, there is no
way to format questions, per se, so we have to do the HTML for
them. So they also show up in our reservation details page. But
at least we know what question they were answering.
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