There are a multitude of reasons why a new lock will be necessary for a home, whether it be a potential break-in, wear and tear, or a new roommate moving in. As a homeowner, you should be mindful of why you need the new lock, what its purpose will be, and how to best protect yourself should you be renting to tenants.
Be mindful of your circumstances
As a consumer, there's a reason why you've decided to purchase a new lock for your home, and it's important that you keep this in mind as you shop for your replacement. Not every lock is going to offer the same security, so if you've had a break-in recently, your focus will be on security and the future protection of your property. With break-ins, it's best to always replace the lock, because the burglar has already shown that they can get past the locking mechanism, and as a result, it's likely that if damage were done to the mechanism during the robbery, your lock will continue to fail more often in the future.
If your lock is showing signs of wear and tear, maybe it's starting to rust or it's becoming more difficult for the locking mechanism to recognize your key, the best solution is to replace the lock. An old, rusted lock jeopardizes the safety of your home because they are significantly easier to pick. Also, if the lock is not recognizing your key, you're likely to run into issues with the locking mechanism that will prevent you from accessing your home. In this situation, a simple upgrade will alleviate the stress of having an aging lock, so during your shopping process share this with your sales representative or locksmith so that you do not purchase a lock that does not fit your needs.
Patented & restricted locks
Another item to be mindful of is what the lock's purpose will be. If you're a homeowner who rents your home out to other individuals, you may want to have complete control over the security of your home. Patented locks give homeowners that peace of mind. These locking systems only allow the owner of a home to make additional keys. This means that no matter what situation you find yourself in, misplaced keys, new tenants, etc., additional copies of keys will never be made unless proof of ownership is made.
Not every homeowner is interested in restricting access to the home, particularly if they are renting to multiple individuals and only provide one key to the group. In these situations, additional keys will need to be made by the tenants without the owner of the property being present; the lock must be restricted, not patented. With restricted locks, often a leasing office handles the management of the property so that the owner has very little involvement.
Share31 August 2015
As the manager of a five-star hotel, I face many interesting challenges. There's never a dull moment! One of my biggest problems is security. I spend a lot of time obtaining quality keys, locks and safes and ensuring they are well-maintained. There's nothing worse than a tired guest and a broken lock at 3 am! Over the years, I have trialled many different types of locks and safes. I also keep up with the latest technology in this area. I am therefore quite the expert when it comes to advising family and friends about the best systems for their homes and businesses. Given that so many people ask me for advice, I figured that there may be others who are overwhelmed by the plethora of options out there. This blog may give you some ideas and help you make good decisions in your search for superior locks and safes.