Smart Lock Installation in Santa Fe, NM

Which Santa Fe doors suit a smart lock

Many smart locks are made for a standard door preparation, which is the easy case. An original handmade door, of the kind a Canyon Road adobe compound may still have, may not take off-the-shelf hardware at all. Photos of both faces of the door tell an installer whether a given lock will fit before anyone works on the door.

Approvals to sort out first

• Multi-family buildings. In Tierra Contenta's multi-family homes, a smart lock on your own unit door and one on a shared entry are separate questions. Ask the manager or association which locks you may change.
• Renting. NMSA 1978 Section 47-8-24 generally requires advance written notice before an owner enters, unless the owner and resident agree otherwise, and allows entry without consent in an emergency. Because of that right of entry, check your rental agreement before changing a lock yourself. This is general information, not legal advice.
• Historic districts. The Historic Preservation Division requires a Pre-Application Request for any proposed modification to a property in Santa Fe's five historic districts, and the request asks about door styles, yardwalls and gates. A keypad on a gate or a new door is worth raising before the work starts.

Outdoor keypads and a backup key

A keypad on a courtyard or street gate lives outdoors. The Western Regional Climate Center calls spring the windy season in New Mexico, when blowing dust can be a problem during dry spells, so ask whether the model you like is made for outdoor use and how it is cleaned. Change the batteries when the lock first warns you, not after it stops responding.

Ask whether the lock keeps a mechanical key. If it does, store a spare somewhere other than inside the house.

What to include in a request

Name the door or gate, send photos of both faces, say whether you own or rent, and name the lock you have in mind. See smart lock installation, lock replacement if the door needs new hardware, and the Santa Fe page.