What does smart lock installation actually involve?
Most people call about a smart lock for one of three reasons. They are tired of hiding or copying keys. They want to give a housekeeper, dog walker or contractor access without handing over a physical key. Or they bought a lock online and it has been sitting in the box because the door does not line up with it. All three are normal, and all three are what a smart lock installer deals with routinely.
Smart lock installation is more than swapping hardware. The lock has to fit the door's bore, latch and strike plate. The batteries and wireless connection have to work in that specific spot, not just on a kitchen counter. The app, the user codes and any connected accounts have to be set up so the people who should have access have it and nobody else does. A lock that is mounted well but configured badly is just an ordinary lock with extra ways to go wrong.
That is why we treat this as two jobs in one: a hardware job and a setup job. We do both, and we do not leave until you have opened and closed the door from the keypad and from the app yourself, with the codes you actually plan to use.
Which type of smart lock fits your door?
The phrase "smart lock" covers a lot of different products, and the right one depends on how you live, not on which box looks best. Here is how we explain the main categories to customers.
Whatever the category, the part that holds the door shut is still a mechanical deadbolt or latch. The electronics decide who can operate it. We want the mechanical side to be solid before anyone worries about the app. If you are weighing a smart deadbolt against a standard one, our lock installation service page covers the conventional hardware side.
- Keypad locks (keyless door lock): you enter a code on the outside and turn a thumb-turn or handle inside. No phone required, which makes them the simplest option for households with mixed comfort levels with technology. Many keep a backup key cylinder.
- Bluetooth locks: your phone talks to the lock when you are nearby. Setup is simple and there is no home network involved, but you cannot check or change anything when you are away unless you add a bridge.
- Wi-Fi locks: the lock, or a small plug-in bridge, connects to your home network so you can lock, unlock, check status and issue codes from anywhere. They are convenient, and they depend on your network and the manufacturer's app.
- Hub-based locks: some use Z-Wave, Zigbee or Matter to connect to a home automation hub. These suit people who already run a connected home and want the lock to be one piece of it.
- Fingerprint and biometric locks: they add a fingerprint reader to a keypad lock. They are convenient for family members, but they need the right door position and clean, dry contact to work well.
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Call (213) 577-1366How we install and set up a smart lock, step by step
The order matters. Skipping the early checks is how people end up with a lock that sticks in the evening or drains its batteries in a season. This is the sequence we follow, whether the lock is one you bought or one we recommend.
- Talk through how the door is used. Who needs access, how often, and whether anyone has trouble with phones or codes. We also ask about your Wi-Fi coverage near the door if you want remote features.
- Inspect the door and frame. We check the door's thickness, bore holes, latch alignment, strike plate and whether the door closes squarely. A door that drags or rubs will make any motorized lock work harder.
- Confirm the lock fits. If you supplied the lock, we check it against the door before we remove anything. If it is not a good match, we tell you plainly and suggest alternatives.
- Remove the old hardware and prepare the door. Where needed, we adjust the bore or strike so the bolt throws smoothly and fully into the frame.
- Mount the lock. We install the exterior and interior assemblies, connect the wiring between them and fit the batteries.
- Calibrate the lock. Most smart locks need to learn the door's handing and bolt travel. We run it through its cycles and confirm it extends and retracts cleanly every time.
- Configure the app and codes. We pair the lock with your phone, set up user codes, set up any schedules and connect it to your network or hub if you want that.
- Walk you through it. You open and close the door yourself, test the backup key or manual override, and learn what the low-battery warning looks and sounds like.
What affects the cost of smart lock installation?
We will not quote a number on a web page, because the honest answer depends on the door in front of us. What we can do is tell you exactly which factors move the cost, so a quote over the phone makes sense when you hear it.
If you are comparing options, the usually more economical route is a straightforward keypad or Bluetooth lock on a door that is already in good shape. Costs rise when the door needs prep work, when the system has more parts, or when several doors and many users are involved. A short call describing your door and what you want is usually enough for us to tell you which category you are in.
- The lock itself: keypad, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and fingerprint models vary widely, and so does build quality. If we supply the lock, its price is a separate line from the labor.
- Door condition: a door that is square and already bored for a standard deadbolt is a simple install. A door that needs new holes, repairs or a reinforced strike takes more time.
- Door material and thickness: solid wood, metal and glass-panel doors each have their own requirements.
- Number of doors and locks: a single front door is one job. A front door, back door and garage entry are another.
- Network and integration work: connecting to a hub or a home automation system, or setting up many users and schedules, takes longer than a basic pairing.
- Rekeying or matching keys: if you want the backup key cylinder to match other locks in the house, that is additional work.
- Timing and location: an after-hours visit or a mobile call to a hard-to-reach address is different from a daytime appointment.
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Call (213) 577-1366Smart lock repair, replacement and troubleshooting
Plenty of calls are not new installations. They are smart locks that stopped behaving. The common complaints are a keypad that does not respond, a motor that sounds strained, a lock that keeps losing its connection to the app, or a bolt that stops halfway.
When we troubleshoot a smart lock, we start with the simplest causes because they are the most common: weak or incorrectly seated batteries, a door that has shifted so the bolt binds in the strike, a lock that lost its calibration, or a phone or network change that broke the pairing. Many problems are fixed on the spot. Others tell us the lock is worn out or the electronics have failed, and then replacement is the honest recommendation, not repeated repairs.
If the issue is the mechanical part, such as a damaged latch, a failing cylinder or a door that no longer closes properly, that overlaps with our general lock repair work. We will tell you whether the smart components or the door hardware are the problem before suggesting a fix.
If you are replacing an older smart lock with a newer one, we can often reuse the existing door preparation, which keeps the job simple. We will also remove the old user codes and accounts so the previous lock's access does not linger.
What smart locks mean for Beverly Hills homes
Beverly Hills is not one kind of housing, and the right smart lock changes with the neighborhood. North of Santa Monica Boulevard, much of the stock is large 1920s-onward estates in Spanish Colonial Revival, Mediterranean and traditional styles, with Trousdale Estates standing apart as a 1950s–60s mid-century enclave. South of Wilshire, the city shifts to duplexes, condominiums and apartment buildings from the 1930s through the 1970s.
In The Flats and across 90210, a common request is higher-security rekeying after household staff or vendor turnover. A keypad or app-controlled lock is a natural fit here, because you can delete one person's code without collecting keys. We still recommend that the mechanical side be sound, and where a property's old keys are still out in the world, a rekey of the backup cylinder closes that gap.
In Trousdale Estates, doors often sit alongside driveway gates, intercoms and monitored access. Our job there is to make the front door lock coexist with that system, not fight it. If the gate hardware itself is the issue, that is a separate job; see our gate lock repair page. Where an estate wants a single access approach across gates and doors, access control installation is the right conversation.
Older 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival homes often have mortise lock bodies and heavy, carved or iron-accented doors. Not every smart lock fits a mortise pocket, and we will not force one in and damage a historic door. Sometimes the answer is a smart lock designed for mortise preparation, sometimes a retrofit that sits beside the original hardware, and sometimes leaving the original in place. For estates that already use heavy security hardware, see our high-security locks page.
South of Wilshire, in the condos and duplexes, the questions are different: building rules, shared entries and doors that may not be yours to alter. We check the rules and the door before we recommend anything.
On climate, Beverly Hills has warm, dry summers, and hillside and canyon sections such as the Coldwater Canyon area get strong sun that fades and dries exterior door finishes. The effect on hardware is modest, but we pay attention to the lock's finish and keypad placement on a door that gets direct afternoon sun.
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Call (213) 577-1366Are smart locks secure, and when are they the wrong choice?
A smart lock is as secure as its weakest part. That can be the deadbolt, the door, the frame, the code you chose or the account password on your phone. We would rather tell you that than sell you something that sounds more secure than it is.
Some practical points we raise with every customer: do not use a birthday or address as a code; give each person their own code so you can remove one without affecting the others; turn on any two-step sign-in the app offers; and keep the backup key somewhere other than under the doormat.
There are also cases where we will say a smart lock is not the right choice. If the door is warped, the frame is cracked or the strike is loose, new electronics will not fix it, and the first job is repairing the door. If nobody in the household wants to manage batteries or an app, a good conventional deadbolt may serve you better. And if you are in a building where the owner or association controls the entry hardware, you may need permission first.
Short-term rentals are a good use case, because codes can be issued per guest. If that is your situation, our vacation rental locksmith page covers the specifics.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a smart lock installer?
We have been in business since 1987, and we have watched locks go from brass keys to apps. The technology is new; the fundamentals of a well-fitted door are not. That experience is why we look at the door before we look at the app.
We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, and we run mobile service vans, so a Beverly Hills visit is a short trip for us, about 4 miles from the shop. You are dealing with one company, not a call center that passes your job to whoever is available. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start work, including us. Reputable companies will not mind the question.
Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366. If your smart lock fails at night or a new lock needs to be in before you leave town, call. We can also come to you through our mobile locksmith service, so you do not have to take the door off or visit us.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a smart lock I already bought?
Yes, in most cases. Before we remove anything, we check that the lock fits your door's thickness, bore and latch. If it is not a good match, we tell you before we start so you can decide whether to return it or choose a different model. We can also supply a lock if you prefer.
Will my smart lock still work if the Wi-Fi goes down?
It depends on the lock. Keypad entry and Bluetooth operation usually work without internet, because the code is stored in the lock. Remote features, such as unlocking from another city or issuing a code from the app, need a network connection. We explain how your model behaves during setup.
What happens if the batteries die?
Most smart locks warn you well before the batteries run out, with a sound, a light or an app notification. Many also have a backup key cylinder or a terminal for emergency power. We show you the low-battery warning and the backup option before we leave.
Can a smart lock go on any door in Beverly Hills?
Not always. Standard bored doors are straightforward. Older doors, including some in 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival homes with mortise locks, glass-panel doors and doors in condo buildings may need special hardware or permission. We assess the door first and tell you plainly what will and will not work.
Can I give a housekeeper or contractor their own code?
Yes, and that is one of the best reasons to have a smart lock. Most models let you create separate codes for each person, and some allow schedules so a code works only on certain days. When someone's role ends, you delete their code without changing the lock or collecting keys.
Do you handle smart locks for rentals or multiple doors?
Yes. For several doors or many users, we plan the setup so codes and settings are easy to manage. For short-term rentals, we can set up guest-friendly access. Call us with the number of doors and who will be using them and we will go over the options.
Is a smart lock less secure than a regular deadbolt?
Not by nature. The security comes from the door, the frame, the bolt and how you manage codes and your phone account. A well-fitted smart lock on a solid door can be as strong as a conventional one. A poorly fitted one on a weak door is not, whichever type it is.
My smart lock is acting up. Should I repair or replace it?
We start with the simple causes: batteries, alignment, calibration and pairing. If those are fine and the motor or electronics have failed, replacement is usually the better route. We will say which you are facing before suggesting work, and we can reach you at (213) 577-1366 any hour.
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Smart Lock Installation near Beverly Hills
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.