When you move into a new home, one of the very first things you should do is change all the locks. If your home is newly constructed, several contractors have copies of your house keys. If your home is older, all the residents before have had keys. Since you may not know for sure when the locks were changed last, it's always a good idea to change them yourself for the ultimate security. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Buy DIY Locks

You can buy new door locks at a home improvement store and install them yourself. However, keep in mind that simple, inexpensive locks are not very secure. You can have a strong steel door, but if you put a cheap lock on it, intruders can still get inside. Therefore, you should buy the sturdiest lock you can afford. Some of them may be complex to install, in which case, you may need to hire a locksmith to do it for you.

Rekey Current Locks

Another option is to have your door locks rekeyed rather than completely replaced. You may prefer having this done if you already have strong locks in place, but are worried about who has keys to them. A locksmith can alter the pins inside the lock, so the old keys no longer work. It's like having a new lock without going through all the trouble of pulling out the old one and installing something new. Just be sure to rekey all the locks to your home. Don't forget about a door in your garage or a back door. You can even have the locksmith change them so a single key works on all your doors, which is convenient.

Upgrade to Keyless Entry

If you plan to replace all of your locks anyway, it may be time to consider upgrading to a keyless entry system. These are very secure and they make your life a lot easier. You won't have to fumble around for your keys when you have an armful of groceries. To get inside your home, all you do is punch in your pin number. You'll be able to get inside quicker when it's raining, and it's easier to operate in the dark. You won't have to worry about losing keys and if you're concerned about someone having your pin number, all you have to do is change the code rather than having to call a locksmith to rekey the locks.

Moving into a new home is an important time to change or rekey your locks, but you may want to do it at other times too. If you or your kids ever loan your keys to someone, they could easily make copies and keep a key for later access. If you lose your keys, they could fall into anyone's hands. It's better to stay safe than be sorry when it comes to home security. If you have any concerns about your locks at all, have a locksmith like A Aable Locksmith take a look at them and recommend ways to make them more secure.

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