Keys! Such small little things. But they can sure make for big headaches sometimes, can't they? I can't tell you how often I've lost my keys in the past. I've learned to make plenty of spare copies of keys. And check my pants pockets and purse constantly throughout the day to be sure my keys are where they belong. And to make SURE I have those keys BEFORE I lock my car door. Oh yes, through the years, my house keys AND my car keys have made my life a bit more dramatic than I might prefer.
When we move in or out of a new home, they can get even more dramatic. I'm a firm believer in having the locks changed when I move into a new home. And I make sure the locks are changed on my rental property when a new tenant moves in. After all, we never know WHO might have a copy of the key to our home. When our kids are teens, many of us discover that they may give a copy of the house key or car key to a good friend with a need. They will often ask our permission, but once the friend has a key, what if they forget to return it? Or lose it and someone else got it? And those are situations where everyone has the best of intentions. Sadly, that's not always the case. Best solution? CHANGE THE LOCKS!
Sometimes we have to take another person's word for it. Landlords may not allow you to change the locks yourself. But when you buy a new house, you can do what you want. And then you find out how expensive it can be to change all those locks out. Fortunately, there can be a less expensive option.
At a recent meeting in our Keller Williams Tacoma office, we enjoyed a presentation from a company called “Mr. Rekey.” It was great. The presenter explained how they could rekey up to six keyholes (door knobs and deadbolts only) and make four copies of the new key for under $100. She could also rekey the mailbox lock at the same time for only $30 more! They save you time by coming to your home AND they charge a reasonable fee. Sounds awesome to me!
Of course, if you have to have all new deadbolts installed, that would cost a whole lot more. (I know this because I've had to do it more than once!) But for most homes, a simple rekey may be enough. What a big help to the proud new owner of a home!
And regardless of whether you use Mr. Rekey or another company, if you rekey OR change the locks, be sure to do your due diligence. Check with the local Better Business Bureau, Yelp, BBB.org, friends, neighbors, and/or your local REALTOR to make sure you get a reputable company with little or no complaints or problems. I have even called the police department to ask questions, although they are usually pretty cautious about making recommendations. It's always better to spend a couple of hours in research to hopefully avoid days, weeks, and months of regret no matter what kind of household job you are hiring for. 🙂
P.S. If you buy your home with me, you will get a free home warranty AND that includes some free rekeying for your new home!
P.P.S. Want to look at homes?
