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Can You Spare a Key

We are all family down here, but that doesn’t mean we leave our doors wide open, or keys in sight for thieves to access our house easily. Your neighbors at Goodwyn Homes know a thing or two and are passionate about helping you keep that beautiful property safe and secure.

We have all been there: you pull up to your front door after a long day, reach into your pocket or bag, and realize with a gasp that your keys are still sitting on the kitchen counter. Having a spare key can be an absolute lifesaver in these moments, preventing an expensive call to a locksmith. However, a spare key is only a good idea if it is hidden in a spot that keeps the bad guys guessing. That’s why we thought we would share some fun and practical ways to outsmart porch prowlers.

The Burglars' Cheat Sheet: The Most Common Hiding Spots

When someone is looking for an easy way into a house, they want to be as quick and inconspicuous as possible. That means they will check the most predictable spots within arm's reach of your front door. If your spare key is in one of these locations, it is time for an immediate upgrade:

• Under the Doormat: This is the absolute number one spot checked by anyone looking to gain unauthorized entry. It takes half a second to flip over a mat.
• Inside a Flower Pot: A beautiful potted fern next to the door adds great curb appeal, but placing a key under or inside the pot is a classic mistake.
• On Top of the Door Frame: Reaching up to feel along the ledge of the door frame is an old trick that seasoned burglars know all too well.
• The Standard Plastic Fake Rock: While the concept was clever a few decades ago, standard plastic key-hiding rocks are now incredibly easy to spot because they rarely match the actual stones or landscaping of your yard.

Thinking Outside the Welcome Mat: Clever Ways to Hide Your Key

To hide a key effectively, you need to break the pattern of proximity. The key to success is putting distance between your hiding spot and the door itself, or using a method that requires a tool or code to access.

• The 20-Foot Rule: Walk at least twenty feet away from your main entrance. Look for a hiding spot in your landscaping, near a sturdy tree, or along a side walkway. Burglars rarely want to spend time hunting through an entire yard.
• The Fake Sprinkler Head: This is a fantastic modern alternative to the fake rock. You can purchase a realistic, hollow sprinkler head container that pushes directly into the ground among your actual garden beds. It blends in perfectly with a real irrigation system.
• Magnetic Lockboxes Under Heavy Objects: If you have a heavy, stationary outdoor item like a cast-iron patio table, a large metal workbench, or a heavy-duty barbecue grill in the backyard, use a magnetic key box to snap the key to the underside of the frame.
• The Trusted Neighbor Method: Sometimes the best hiding spot isn't a spot at all—it's a person! Giving a spare key to a neighbor you trust completely removes the risk of a key being found on your property.

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Securing Your Home Today and Tomorrow

At Goodwyn Homes, we want you to feel completely empowered and relaxed in your home. Taking ten minutes this weekend to evaluate your spare key situation is an easy, free way to dramatically boost your peace of mind.

If you love the idea of a spare key but hate the risk of hiding a physical piece of metal, consider upgrading your front door to a smart lock with a numeric keypad. This allows you to give digital codes to family members and delete them whenever you want, leaving no trail for intruders to follow!

If you are looking for a community that feels safe, welcoming, and perfect for your family's next chapter, reach out to the team at Goodwyn Homes. We would love to show you around our favorite neighborhoods!

By GOODWYN BUILDING STAFF 5-1-2026