Few industries are as misunderstood and undervalued as locksmith services. Many people have associated locksmiths with locking keys in their cars, and with the advancement of remote services, car owners can unlock their cars with their smartphones or a phone call to the auto service and emergency monitoring company. What you may not realize is that locksmiths provide many important services and, when you buy a home, should be one of your first calls after closing.
Why should you call a locksmith after closing on your house?
You will receive the keys to the house when you sign the final papers at your home purchase closing. Unfortunately, you have no way to know that the keys you receive are the only ones out there to your home's locks. That means there could be someone out there with a key to your door. Have a locksmith meet you at the house after your closing to assess the locks and help you rekey or replace them to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Should you rekey your locks or replace them?
Most locksmiths will tell you that it is more affordable to rekey your locks than it is to replace them, but you might find that replacement works in your best interest. After all, when you rekey the locks, you'll still need to have keys. That also means you may need to put an extra key somewhere outside. Many would-be thieves recognize how common it is for homeowners to keep a spare key outside in case they lose or forget theirs, so they look for things like fake rocks, decorative statues, keys under the mat, and even keys over the doorframe. There are few places where a potential thief wouldn't think to look for keys anymore, so you might want to consider replacing the locks with an alternative that doesn't require a key.
Can a locksmith install biometric locks?
If you are ready to ditch the keys for good, you might want biometric locks instead. Thumbprint locks are a great choice and you can specifically program them for the people you are granting access. Not only that, but you can also add a keypad backup if you are worried about biometrics not working. The keypad gives you a failsafe with a preset code you can enter to unlock the doors.
Your new home should be a place where you can relax and feel safe. Make sure you address your door locks right away to ensure that safety.
For more info about locksmith services, contact a local company.
