Besides offering a Grade 1 Security Deadbolt, Smartkey offers you the ability to rekey your Smartkey locks anytime you want – as often as you like. No locksmith required (yeah!) How many times have you loaned out a house key that was never returned? How many times have one of your kids or yourself lost a key? Where are your house keys? You never know. Re-keying a lock provides an extra security measure for you and your family.

Kwikset came up with a new side locking bar technology that replaces your traditional pin and tumbler lock. Now, let’s review why Smartkey is so cool:

• Prohibits lock bumping (lock bumping? what the heck is that? An attack on traditional door lock cylinders!)
• Pick resistant (lock picking has gone on since the beginning of locks.)
• Change your key as often as you like (locksmiths get expensive!)

If you are concerned about having the best looking deadbolt lock on the block, put your worries aside because Kwikset thought of everything. The Smartkey makes three fashionable statements in Deadbolts, Knobs, and Levers. Each comes in a variety of finishes.

With Smartkey, you will find it very easy to rekey your own lock. Here goes:

1. Insert current functioning key.
2. Turn 1/4 clockwise.
3. Insert learning tool.
4. Remove existing key.
5. Insert new key. Turn 1/4 counter clockwise and remove new key.

One key (no pun intended) thing to remember is that you must have the current functioning key in order to rekey the lock. If not, you’ll have to go through a lot of trouble to remove the lock from the door, and remove the cylinder from the lock.

Smartkey dead bolts, lever locks, and knob locks will set you back about $30 and handleset locks about $120. Additional keys cost about $1.70; rekey sets from KwikSet include six keys for about $10.

Don’t lose your house key.

Check out Smartkey and the entire Smart series at Kwikset. Or step right this way to view the cool Smartkey lock designs.

Of course, if you live in southern California, you’ll probably never need such a slick, home security device because long winding driveways are mostly non-existent! In fact, you are lucky if you have a driveway at all. However, there are lots of ways you can use the Dakota Wireless Motion Detector to stay a little safer while at home. For instance, you can choose a strategic location outside a second floor bedroom with a balcony to detect someone who may have climbed up there.

Back to the wireless motion detector!

We like the Dakota Alert wireless motion detector because it’s simple to install, no complications. And, it’s designed for outdoor use so no need to worry about bad weather rendering the wireless motion detector useless.

The Dakota Alert wireless motion detector mounts on a tree or post located near your driveway. You’ll have to mount it yourself with materials that are sold separately. Ladies, are you up for the task?

Place the receiver in your home up to 3000 feet away from the Dakota Alert wireless motion detector. A passive infrared (PIR) beam detects people or vehicles up to 80 feet away. A radio signal is then sent to the receiver in your home, and alerts you with one of four tones.

You can monitor up to four zones. You’ll need additional transmitters to do so. While you are at it, you can add in an extra receiver or two for different rooms in your home.

Since everything is wireless, there are no messy wires to contend with.

What’s your driveway motion detector of choice? Or do you live in southern California and yearn for a long, winding driveway?