So you’re finally moving to a new home! There’s so much furniture and luggage to move, documents and other legalities to sort out, that you might easily forget one of the most important steps when acquiring a new home – changing the locks.
This might seem fairly pointless, especially if you’re the first person to move in, but you might leave yourself more vulnerable than you think.
You never know who has a spare key
So the keys to your new home are in your hand, but do you know how many other people have copies of those same keys in theirs? Who knows who’s in possession of those keys at the moment and what their intentions are? The previous occupants might have made copies and given them to friends, family, or contractors. What’s worse – someone may have lost their keys at some point and decided against changing the locks or just forgot to.
Even if you’re the first to move into this house, do you know whether the contractors who built it still have extra keys lying around? There are so many questions that cannot be answered, and the easiest way to put those worries to rest is just to change or rekey the locks.
Lock security and safety
Another reason to change your locks is if you’re unsure just how secure they are. There are many different types and brands of locks out there, and not all of them are of high quality and offer proper security.
Cheap locks might seemingly do the job without issue, but some of them can easily be exploited by would-be thieves and offer little to no actual protection from break-ins. Some locks can easily be picked by burglars or, in the case of the euro cylinder, even be broken very easily with a wrench, and your door is opened in a matter of minutes.
Therefore, replacing all your locks with up-to-date and highly secure ones will quickly upgrade the security of your home, and you will know that when you lock up your home, you will actually be protected from potential intruders.
Outdated locks can be dangerous
Ideally, your home’s locks should be changed every five to seven years to keep the security standard of the locks up to date and reduce the likelihood of having mechanical problems with the locks themselves.
You might not know when the locks were last changed when you move in. If that was over seven years ago, then the hardware may be outdated and could start being problematic. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you are locked outside (or even inside) of your house because a lock seized up and failed to open!
Replace or rekey
There is a difference between replacing the whole lock and simply rekeying it. Replacing the lock refers to the disassembly of the old lock and fitting a new one. Meanwhile, rekeying a lock is the act of rearranging the pins inside the lock to fit a new key and render all previous ones useless.
Whether rekeying or replacing your locks is better depends on the circumstances at hand. If you have quality locks but want to be on the safe side, rekeying them will be the cheaper option. If your home is equipped with old and/or unsafe locks, then replacing them all is the better option.
Keep in mind that both replacement and rekeying offer the option of having one master key to open all the doors in your home. No more fumbling with a huge bundle of keys in the dim light of your front porch!
Consider smart locks
As technology improves, more and more homeowners are beginning to use smart locks to secure their homes. Smart lock technology provides convenience that no other kind of lock can provide – using your phone to open the lock, using a keypad, changing the combination as needed and more.
Suppose you have a whole smart home system. In that case, such locks can even allow you to manage them remotely to monitor who’s coming and going or even allow people into the home if needed while you are away, such as relatives visiting or contractors needing access to your house.
Smart locks are much more expensive than regular locks, and you will most likely need a professional to install them. But in the long term, such levels of security and convenience will definitely prove to be worthwhile.
Changing locks is vital for insurance purposes
Did you know that the locks you have can affect your home insurance? So much so that your locks could invalidate your insurance, and your insurer may not be obligated to compensate you should you make a claim.
Insurance companies are looking for a certain level of security in your locks as the more secure the lock, the better it will be regarded by insurance providers. If you don’t know whether you have the correct type of locks fitted on your doors, not only could you be paying more in insurance premiums unnecessarily, but by unwittingly providing incorrect information about your security circumstances, your insurance provider may not be obligated to reimburse you when you make a claim.
Another thing to remember is that if you were to leave a window open when you left the house and someone entered your home that way, your insurer wouldn’t be obligated to pay out the resulting claim. Therefore, not changing your locks could allow someone to burglarise you without needing to break in, thus invalidating your insurance. The same reasoning applies if someone enters your home with a key. This is also referred to as unforced entry.
How to change a lock yourself
If you’re in the mood for some DIY, you could change all the locks by yourself, as the process is quite straightforward. All you need are the new locks and a couple of screwdrivers. Once you’re prepared, the process itself is simple:
- Remove the old lock hardware. From the inside of the door, unscrew and remove the old hardware until you’re left with just the holes where the lock used to be.
- Insert your new lock. Screw it into place, and it’s done! All you need to do now is reverse the process and insert the new lock hardware.
- Test. Never forget to test your handiwork after you’re finished. Check whether the key turns and the lock works as intended.
If you’re unsure of your DIY skills, it’s best to call a certified professional locksmith to ensure the proper installation of new locks or rekeying old ones.
Conclusion
Becoming the proud owner of a new home is an exhilarating experience, but there are many steps to go through before fully enjoying your new house. Changing or rekeying the locks is one of the most critical but often overlooked steps. Now that you have read our article, you know everything from why you should change your locks to how to do it yourself!
