Moving to a new home can be both exciting and stressful, with so many minor details to take care of in a short period of time. One detail you don’t want to overlook is having a locksmith ensure the security of your new home. They can provide a variety of services that will enhance security and give you lasting peace of mind.
Preventing Entry by Previous Keyholders
Unless you’re buying a newly built home, your new home has had at least one set of previous owners. In many cases, there could be many previous owners extending back through the decades. Any of them might have decided to hold onto a set of keys after selling, and there’s no way you could be the wiser.
Fortunately, there is a very quick fix for this problem. When you move into a new home, call your local locksmith for re-keying. This process involves adjusting or replacing pins inside of a lock so that it takes a different key. You might think of it as “changing the combination” of the lock. Once re-keyed, the lock accepts only the new key, so it doesn’t matter if past owners have older keys.
Keep in mind that this isn’t about distrusting the previous owners: It’s a standard home security practice that everyone should follow. Even if you do know and trust the previous owners, you don’t know who else they gave keys to. Any number of family, friends, neighbors, or even contractors could have a copy you aren’t aware of.
This is also good practice even when buying a newly built home. While there aren’t previous owners, someone had the keys before you. You don’t know how many hands those keys have been through between contractors, agents, and other parties.
Upgrading Existing Lock Hardware
When you move into a new home, you can quickly find that many aspects don’t quite live up to your expectations. While a home inspection will point out any serious issues that would sour the sale, there are plenty of smaller quirks to discover after buying.
One such quirk could be insufficient, damaged, or poorly installed lock hardware. The house builders or previous owners might not have thought much about security, so you could find yourself with low-quality, unreliable locks. In other cases, you might want to choose your own hardware because you don’t care for the style.
A locksmith can set you up with new lock hardware, with a range of styles and finishes available. You can make your home your own by choosing your new lock set. You can also ensure that your locks are up to the security standards you expect to protect your home.
Taking Advantage of Modern Smart Locks
Smart home technology has quickly become one of the most sought-after features by homeowners. You can take advantage of various systems to make your cooling and heating more efficient, automate your lighting, and enjoy improved security.
When looking into smart home solutions, consider upgrading your locks with the help of a local locksmith. They can help find the right options for your specific needs and security concerns. A variety of digital locks can streamline access management and improve security. When these locks are integrated with doorbell cameras, you can even remotely check who is at your door and unlock it from anywhere.
Cutting Additional Keys for Your Family
There’s really no way to tell how many sets of keys you’re going to receive when you buy a home. Chances are it never came up because it’s hardly a deal-breaking issue for a home purchase. However, if you find yourself with just two or even a single key for your new home, something has to be done.
A professional locksmith can quickly and affordably cut new copies of your keys, providing as many as you need for your family and anyone else. Keep in mind that many modern keys have security features that hardware store machines can’t handle, so going with a locksmith is your best bet in terms of reliability and results.
Standardizing Multiple Locks
Your new home may have any number of exterior doors, including front, rear, and side entryways. There’s also the possibility of additional locks for garages, sheds, and other structures.
It can be a real pain if you need multiple keys for all of these doors when you don’t have a specific security concern that would merit that. Fortunately, a locksmith can make it so all of your locks take the same key.
Re-keying isn’t just for scrambling locks to ensure old owners can’t stop by uninvited. The process is actually careful and deliberate, with the locksmith being able to set the lock to any key combination needed. This means they can re-key the side or back doors to take the same key as your front door.
Keep in mind that re-keying is only possible when similar types of locks and keys are used, as the key blank can vary widely in size and security features. However, even if the other locks are different, you can always consider installing new hardware to match your existing lock.
Find Out How Your Local Locksmith Can Help
Have you recently moved to a new home or relocated your business to a new property? If so, Bell Brothers Locksmiths can help ensure that your property is protected. Reach out today to take the right steps toward enhancing your home’s security.
