Buying a new home is an energy and time zapping process, so congratulations for surviving it. It is now time to sit back and enjoy your new life in the house of your dreams. Or not! There are a thousand other things to do before you can kick back and relax. Chief amongst is a complete lock change in your new home.
Why you need a lock change in your house
A new home is your new slate. However, to enjoy your new life in a stress-free manner, you need security. You will never know how many copies of the keys to your house exist out there.
If you want to sleep better at night in your new home, it’s imperative to have a lock change, especially for your front door. A new lock will make the new house feel more like your new home.
Tips to keep in mind when changing locks for a new house
Here a few things to keep in mind when planning to have your locks changed in your new home
- Ensure that the lock change is scheduled in advance before moving in If you take the time to call a professional locksmith in advance, it will save you a lot of money and time. Why? It will give your locksmith time to prepare new locks and cut new keys for them. Having the locks prepared at the locksmith’s shop is cheaper than having them done on site. It will also speed up the lock change process.
- Delay the change of locks till the deal is closed. As exciting as it may be to hold your new set of house keys in your hand, patience, in this case, might pay. House deals may at one point appear headed for a close only to drag on for days after an issue arises. It will save you your hard earned cash if you wait to effect the changing of locks till a day after the closing.
Essential details required by a locksmith, when changing a house’s locks
Do your due diligence and check out all the locks that need replacing and have all the info at hand. This is information your locksmith will require. It includes;
1. The number of locks that need changing
Do you have back, side and front entry doors? Are there sliding doors and garage doors as well? Entry doors are your first line of defense, so their locks should be changed first before moving to your new home.
2. Types of locks on the doors
Know the kind of locks installed on the house’s doors. Are they deadbolts or simple knobs? What are their brands? These are details that will help your locksmith come up with a reasonable budget for you.
3. Your budget
If you need a cheap solution, for example, if you are moving temporarily, you might need to rekey the locks instead of replacing them. When a lock is rekeyed, the preexisting lock pins are arranged in the lock’s cylinder to ensure that old keys will not open the lock.
4. The security level of your new area
If the level of security around your new home is not satisfactory, you could ask your locksmith to provide a security solution when effecting the changes. They can for example use deadbolts, or a home security system.
Finally, give your front door a fresh coat of paint to announce your arrival to your new neighbors. It might also go a long way in showing them that you are invested in your new hood. Alternatively, if the door is wood, freshen it with a coat of oil, and it will be good to go.
