Do you live in a gated community? Have you ever looked at the top of your call box?
We’ve talked to property managers and delivery drivers everywhere, and they all say the same thing: nearly every gated community has the gate code written in permanent marker right on top of the call box.
Community managers tell us that even with regular changes to the 4-digit gate code, new codes get written on the call box within a week.
What’s the point of living in a gated community if the gate code is available to anyone who can see the top of the call box?
Some communities assign individual gate codes to homeowners, but it is a time consuming process to set these up. In addition, delivery drivers and service vehicles often share a common code, which can be passed around to other people. Check out the wall at your local pizza restaurant, don’t be surprised if you see a list of codes written there by the drivers.
So how can Community Managers and HOA Board Members protect their residents? In Guard Gated Communities, guards can be instructed to stop non-residents and check identification. For Gated Communities without a guard, one solution for this is to find an access control system that doesn’t rely on gate codes. There are several different companies that provide access control platforms that can eliminate gate codes. These include transponders, radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, near field communication (NFC) technology, and internet based technologies that residents can use to open the gate with their mobile phone.
One of the most innovative phone-based solutions we’ve come across is Nimbio, Nimbio turns an existing gate into a smart gate, allowing residents to control guest access from anywhere with their phone.
What does your community do to prevent code sharing? Leave us a comment below and let us know!
