Moving house is exciting but also expensive so it can be tempting to try to cut costs. One area in which security experts advise against scrimping, though, is on locks.
The perils of unknown keys
Always remember that you don’t know how many locks are in circulation for your new home, other than the ones you hold, so you should take sensible precautions to stay safe and to secure your new asset.
The previous homeowners may have given keys to family members, neighbours, tradespeople and pet sitters and not all keys get returned. This means that there are potentially people you do not know who could enter your house if they wanted to.
How to get locks changed
When you buy a home, one of the first jobs on your to-do list should be to contact a locksmith Bishop Auckland, such as https://lockwork24-7.co.uk/locksmith/bishop-auckland/, to arrange for new locks to be fitted.
This will give you peace of mind and ensure the validity of your home insurance in the event that you one day need to make a claim.
Other security tips
If other people need to access your home, for example, a cleaner or a dog walker, rather than giving them a spare key, consider installing a keysafe, ideally around the back of the property in a discreet place.
You should also ensure that whenever the property is unattended, all doors and windows are locked. Many windows can be locked to a slightly ajar position, allowing ventilation without risking unauthorised entry.
Summary
This article advises against cutting costs on locks when moving into a new home, since previous owners may have given keys to family, neighbours or tradespeople that were never returned. It recommends changing the locks straight after moving in, which also protects home insurance validity. It suggests a keysafe for regular visitors like cleaners rather than handing out spare keys, and locking up when unattended.
Questions this article raises
- How much does it typically cost to have all locks changed when moving house?
- Does home insurance actually require locks to be changed after moving in?
- How secure are keysafes compared with giving trusted visitors their own key?
