Laura Holton, Jackson Lake Apartments
The Risks of a Standard Lockbox
Managing keys in the multifamily industry hasn’t always been easy for Laura Holton, the resident manager of Jackson Lake Apartments, even with years of experience overseeing multiple apartment communities.
Key management used to be one of the most frustrating and risky parts of her job. Like many property managers, she relied on the traditional key management practices many properties still use. But over time, that method began to cause serious concerns.
“Our property relied on a standard lockbox and key method, which left us exposed to unnecessary liability,” Laura explained.
There was no way to truly know who had a key at any given time. If one went missing, the resulting confusion and panic could take hours to sort out — time staff could have spent serving residents or managing the property.
Eventually, Laura decided it was time to make a change. She chose to implement an electronic key management system, hoping for better security. What she got was far more.
"Simply put, I would never run a property without KeyTrak."
The Process
When Laura first introduced the KeyTrak system to her ownership team, there was hesitation. No one on the team had heard of the technology and felt the current system of a lockbox and key worked fine. But that changed after a single demonstration from a KeyTrak sales representative.
“After that, they were sold,” Laura said. “Years later, they continue to praise the system as one of the smartest investments we’ve made for our properties.”
When an organization adopts new technology, the transition can be time-consuming and stressful for team members. With the KeyTrak implementation, Laura found the opposite to be true.
“The training for staff is minimal. Most people learn it in under five minutes,” she said. “Even those who had never seen the system before were impressed by how intuitive and efficient it was.”
Beyond the product itself, Laura emphasized the value of working with the KeyTrak team. “I want to highlight the integrity and professionalism of the KeyTrak team,” she said. “Their customer service has been consistently excellent — responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely supportive.”
The Results
“Once we switched, the difference was immediate,” she said.
With KeyTrak, Laura gained real-time visibility into key usage. Every time someone removes or returns a key, the system tracks it.
She found that the system not only improves safety but also increases efficiency. By showing exactly who takes which key and when, it eliminates blind searches and gives Laura and her team a newfound sense of reassurance.
“This feature alone has saved us countless hours and headaches,” she said.
But the benefits aren’t limited to security. Laura noticed a change in office organization. Keeping track of keys was once an everyday struggle, and now it’s a seamless, worry-free process, allowing staff to focus on other priorities.
KeyTrak has become a standard part of Jackson Lake’s operations — and the results speak for themselves: fewer lost keys, reduced liability, and a more confident, efficient team.
“Simply put, I would never run a property without KeyTrak,” she said. “It is a worthwhile investment that pays for itself many times over by reducing liability, improving security, and creating an efficient, organized work environment.”
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