New keys for New House
New keys for New House, It’s an exciting time! You’ve spent months searching for the perfect place to call your own. Finally the hunt is over. In your hands you hold the keys to your new home. Everything is all packed up and ready to move in to start making the space your own. Amidst the excitement and organization of it all you might not have stopped to consider the security of your new home.
That ‘For Sale’ sign out of the front of your new purchase has been advertising to burglars that new people and new belongings will soon be filling it. Once that SOLD sticker was plastered over the board, the opportunistic countdown began.
Do you need new keys?
It’s a good idea to get a locksmith to come out to your new property for a security evaluation. A professional locksmith will be able to assess the currently installed hardware in your home. They can advise if it needs replacing, maintenance, or any additions made.
If your new home was a rental property before you owned it changing the locks is highly advised. The ability to account for the keys that exist for your home can be an uncertainty. Lost, stolen, replaced, or copied keys can pose an issue to the safety of your home. Replacing the locks in your home allows you to know who has access and to coordinate your locks to your liking.
You might even be the first owner of your home. New estate homes are notorious for burglaries. The display homes allow anyone to enter and provides ample recon opportunity for those up to no good. They have been able to scope out the design of houses, the standard hardware used, and property access and exit points. It can take just 5 minutes for someone to break in and burglar your home.
How’s your home insurance?
Another factor to consider is ensuring your home security aligns with the requirements of your home insurance policy. Your contract with your insurer will outline any expected security measures that need to be in place. By not meeting these requirements your policy may be considered void if there was an incident.
Being on top of your home security will help to make sure that your new investment is a positive one.
Time for a Lock Change? Re-keying VS Replacing
When it comes to changing the locks you have some options. Depending on what you’re after with having your locks changed you might just need rekeying done rather than a replacement made. Moving into a new place is a primary reason that one might be looking into changing the locks. Sometimes though a rekey is all that is needed. Keep on reading to find out the difference between rekeying vs. replacing your locks.
Lock re-keying
Having your lock rekeyed involves a locksmith replacing the pins in the lock cylinder. The hardware is the same and the outside appearance of your lock isn’t altered.
By re-keying your locks it also allows your locksmith to examine the condition of the locks. With some minor maintenance your lock can be functioning just as well as a brand new lock and key.
Re-keying is generally a cheaper alternative to completely replacing your locks.
Re-keying can also be used if you have multiple locks around the house that are the same brand and keyhole. Having all of the locks in your house rekeyed to the same key offers you security and convenience.
Replacing the locks
Replacing the locks involves installing entirely new hardware. It’s a great option if you’re wanting to update the design of your place and the hardware used. Want to replace all the door knobs of your property with lever handles for aesthetics and ease? Replacing is the way to go for you. The addition of brand new locks with the installation involved generally makes this a more expensive option than re keying.
If damage has been done to your existing locks you will likely need to replace the locks rather than have them rekeyed. If you’re wanting to move into setting up your property with an electronic locking system we strongly recommend consulting with a professional locksmith.
Please contact our friendly staff if you would like assistance with re-keying or replacing your locks.
Key changes for Body/Owner Corporate
If you are an owner or tenant of a body corporate residence you will need to have approval from them to make any lock changes. As these properties are governed residencies final authorization rests with them for the duplication and replacement of keys.
You may need to have a discussion with your owner/body corp regarding the cost and options between re-keying vs. replacing locks with your body corporate.
We can only accept key orders from a body/owner corporate via the authorized form and sent to keys Locksmith Waterloo Ontario