Over 1500 key exchange locations nationwide
What is a KeyNest Points service and how much does it cost?
If you’re looking for more information about KeyNest Points, we created this post to help you understand how this service helps hosts, short-term rental landlords, property managers, and others save time and money on their key exchanges.
If you’re ready, click here to find your nearest KeyNest Point and drop your first key. If you need more information, keep on reading.
Here are some reasons why you may have landed on this page, and - spoiler here - KeyNest will help you fix all of these:
you may have recently had issues passing keys to guests or spent way too long waiting for the guests to arrive to pass them the keys on-site
you may have done your research on smart locks and found the installation costs to be just way too high for your business size
you had issues with contractors getting the keys to your property and then losing them and denying ever taking the keys from you (an annoying situation, sadly more common than you may think)
What is KeyNest Points service?
KeyNest Points (read more here) was designed with Airbnb hosts, short-term accommodation providers, online agencies and property managers in mind.
It’s a network of 5,500+ Points globally where you can store your keys and exchange them with guests, friends, cleaners or contractors without needing to travel on-site or spend a lot of money on installation costs.
Most of the KeyNest Points are open 24/7, which makes it easier than ever to exchange keys at a convenient time. You can find your nearby Point and its opening hours on this map.
What are KeyNest Points?
Usually, they are convenience stores, cafes, hotels or petrol station shops - various local businesses located nearby your property. Each KeyNest Point is managed by vetted and trained staff who know how to handle the keys and follow KeyNest’s processes to ensure the key exchange is instant and secure.
How do KeyNest Points work?
Airbnb hosts or vacation rental owners/managers drop their keys at a local Point. Keys are tagged with KeyNest’s signature green fob and logged into the system so the owner can track their status at any time. The Point’s staff scans the fob and stores the key securely.
Once a guest or a cleaner needs to access the property, the property owner/manager sends an automated message to them through KeyNest’s portal or app. The message includes the Point’s name, address, and key collection instruction - most crucially, the unique safety code.
The guest or cleaner heads to the KeyNest Point and speaks to the Point’s staff about the key they want to pick up. They show the safety code they received, and once verified, they receive the key over the counter. The key owner is notified via app and email that the key has been collected.
Once the guest or cleaner needs to return the key, they bring it back to the same KeyNest Point, where the staff takes the key from them, scans the fob and places the key safely in the key storage. The key owner is notified again about its status.
How does KeyNest Points service compare to key exchange alternatives, like key lockboxes or smart locks?
KeyNest vs Meet and Greet (meeting guests on-site, in-person)
Exchanging keys on-site is theoretically an acceptable solution if you are a host with 1-2 properties and live nearby. Theoretically, because ask any experienced property manager, and they will tell you hundreds of stories about people being late for the check-in, unexpected times when they suddenly had to provide access to the property in the middle of the night or when they were out of town for a day.
Practically, with a property needing to be cleaned and serviced by plumbers, electricians and various service providers over time, the in-person key exchange becomes a headache - fast.
Here’s how KeyNest compares to the Meet and Greet:
KeyNest vs key safes
Popular among new Airbnb hosts, key safes seem pretty ok to use for key storage… right? Before getting one off Amazon or another site, check if it’s even legal to install one outside your property - more and more local councils in the UK or cities in Europe and the USA have banned key safes installation. One more thing to remember is that key safes are not secure, as the name suggests. It took us 5 minutes to look up key safe opening techniques online for top key safes available in the UK. According to the tips, you could open these in 20 seconds. Would you like to risk the possibility of a break-in this way?
Here’s how KeyNest compares to a key safe:
KeyNest vs smart locks
Smart locks are one of the safest solutions for key storage. Why wouldn’t you install one in each of your properties right away?
There could be plenty of issues: smart locks won’t be an option to install if you own a flat in a block of buildings - the communal door will still have to be opened by the guest or cleaner using a “conventional key”.
Another issue for most who consider the smart lock is the price. Besides the device itself, you will also have to pay an installation fee, and if you decide to stop using it, there will likely be a fee for a safe lock removal as well.
Here’s how KeyNest compares to a smart lock:
Ready to give KeyNest a try?
Click here to find your nearest KeyNest Point and drop your first key.
How much is KeyNest Point service? Can I just use it once?
We made sure to price KeyNest Points key exchange in a flexible way that works for any size of business.
If you’re looking to store a pair of spare keys somewhere for occasional use or get occasional guests in your property, KeyNest’s Pay As You Go pricing would be a perfect choice.
It starts at £5.95 + VAT per key collection, and you can sign up anytime, even with just 1 key.
If you know you will have a busy month with more than 4 key collections; you will be better off signing up for KeyNest Monthly Subscription. For £21.95 + VAT, you get unlimited key collections per month, making it an affordable way to handle and track keys during the high season.