What’s the First Thing You Should Do After A Home Purchase? Think Safety!
Getting the keys to your new home should be a reminder: IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THE LOCKS!
Remember to handle the most basic safety precautions for your new home.
When people buy homes, there’s a tendency to think “Big Picture” on home improvements. Flooring, painting, and furniture are standard “just-moved-in” purchases, as are cable television and utility packages.
SMALL PRICE FOR YOUR SAFETY
The most critical move-in purchase is for your safety, though it may also be the least expensive — rekey your locks and install deadbolts for your doors.
Every home has at least one — and sometimes up to a dozen — keyed entry points. And until you change those locks, there’s no telling just how many people may have access to your home.
For example, your home’s prior owners may have shared house keys with any/all of the following people :
- Real estate agents
- Neighbors and friends
- Parents, brothers, and sisters
- Home cleaning service
- Dog walkers and pet sitters
- – and no telling who else!
Those keys will still gain entry into your home until you change the locks. This is why your first act as a homeowner should be to replace all your home’s keyed entries with new locks and deadbolts for your safety.
LOTS OF LOCKS TO CHOOSE FROM
Locks and deadbolts come in various designs and finishes at varying prices. A basic single-cylinder, keyed deadbolt costs less than $20, and a powerful digital-entry keyless system sells for $200-plus. There are also a variety of models at different prices.
Regardless of which lock system you choose, don’t procrastinate on installation. Ideally, your locks should be changed on the same day of purchase, as close to closing’s completion as possible.
Hardware stores carry most deadbolt varieties; many can be installed with a screwdriver. For complicated installations, talk to a locksmith.
Now is the perfect time to decide if you want a security system (read reviews) monitored by others, a Ring Doorbell or similar product that you can use to keep an eye on your house from your cell phone, or other more advanced safety systems.
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