Can you remember the last time you changed the locks on your house? It is a simple task to do, and yet most of us keep the same locks on our homes for years. Not changing the locks can actually compromise your family’s safety for a number of reasons, and it is not worth the potential danger. Below is a list of life situations when there should be no question about changing the locks. If you ever run into one of these situations, call a locksmith as soon as possible. 1. You Move into a New House Whether you move into brand-new construction or an older house that has been lived in for years, changing the locks is a good idea. When it is a new house, there are numerous workmen, builders, real estate agents, staging crew, and even open house visitors that access the house before it’s sold. With an older house, the previous owners may have spare keys even though they give you the original, so ensure you change the locks on all doors of the house. Knowing that there are new keys to your place that no one else has will give you peace of mind. 2. When Renters Leave No matter how kind and lovely your renters were, changing the locks on the doors when they leave is a good idea. This is especially true when you’ve had a difficult time parting with the renters. Having a locksmith come and install new locks will keep your family’s safety a top priority. If you are on a budget, then shop around for a cheap locksmith to get the job done. 3. You Misplaced Your Keys It happens – you go to open your front door, and suddenly your house key is nowhere to be found. This is an important reason to get your locks changed because anyone can find your key and potentially use it to get inside your home. 24-hour locksmiths are always available to come to your home and change the locks so that you can get a new key. 4. Neighborhood Burglaries If your neighbors have experienced burglaries, this can quickly make you feel unsafe in your own home no matter how many alarms you may have. Having the locks changed is a good thing to do in situations like this because if you have a spare key that has gone missing, or hidden outside, a burglar could find it and get inside your home. 5. The Locks Are Deteriorating Over time, locks can become worn and difficult to use. Nobody wants to spend ten minutes fighting with the front door lock to get inside their home. If this sounds all too familiar, then call up your local locksmith and have them put in some new locks for you. Also, keeping old locks on your door allows for easy entry for some burglars who can break the worn lock. 6. When You Loan the Key Out Whether you loaned the house key out to a repairman, renovation team, or tenant, you want to make sure that you change the locks after getting your key back from them. Even if you feel they are trustworthy people, it is best to have new locks put on to make sure your safety is first. Most importantly, if a repairman or tenant forgets to give the house key back, then you should immediately get that lock changed. 7. Your Purse Gets Stolen Having someone grab your purse while you are out shopping or walking down the street is traumatizing, but knowing they have your wallet and keys is even more frightening. If you ever find yourself in this situation, get your locks changed immediately even if someone you know has a spare key to your home. Thieves can find your address on your I.D. cards, so it is better to be safe than sorry. 8. You Are Getting a Divorce or Separation If you are going through a divorce or separation and you are staying in the home, ensure that a locksmith comes and changes the locks. Sometimes, when people get angry, they can come into the home and vandalize or steal things, so this is a way to prevent this from happening. 9. A Roommate Leaves No matter how good of a note you and a roommate left on, changing the locks is a smart idea. Again, similar to going through a divorce, you never know if someone may try to come back in the home and vandalize or steal belongings. Call a locksmith as soon as the roommate leaves to have new locks installed. 10. You Had a Break-In Nobody wants to come home to find their front door open and their belongings missing. Knowing someone was in your home and messing around in there is an awful feeling. However, it is important to get your locks changed as soon as possible to make sure the individual cannot get back in. Moreover, if you have not installed an alarm already, it may be wise to call an alarm company after getting a locksmith to install new locks. Your home may be locked with the very best of locks and a top-notch alarm system, but there are certain moments in life where getting the locks changed is a must. Sometimes we lose our keys, a friend forgets to give the key back, or an unfortunate burglary has occurred up to the road, and it is important to not compromise your safety and have your locks changed. Usually, you can find an inexpensive locksmith to get the job done, and there are even emergency locksmiths or 24-hour locksmiths that can be at your front door instantly. If you ever find yourself in a situation above, change your locks so that you and your family can feel safe and secure at all times.
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