Hey all! So, we’ve been thinking about putting in a gate at the front of our driveway. We live on a pretty quiet street, but lately there’s been some weird foot traffic and a few package thefts around. Nothing major, but enough to make me want a bit more privacy and control. I’ve never had a gate before — does it make day-to-day stuff more annoying? Like getting deliveries or guests in? Would love to hear from anyone who’s done this recently

Hey Marta, yeah we had one installed earlier this year. We felt the same way — not a bad neighborhood or anything, but it’s peace of mind, you know? Honestly, it hasn’t been annoying at all. We got an intercom system with a camera, and most delivery folks just leave stuff at the gate or buzz if they need a signature. What helped us a ton was choosing the right team. We found these guys who really knew their stuff — https://automaticgatemates.com/services/residential-gate/. They made the whole thing easy, especially since we needed a custom solution for residential gate installation in Bay Area. Totally worth it.

I don’t have a gate myself, but a couple of neighbors added them over the past year. From what I’ve seen, it actually adds a nice visual upgrade to the front of the property. Makes things feel more secure without looking too fortress-like, if that makes sense.