Changing the locks is something that most people don’t pay a lot of attention to. It’s easy to overlook what can seem like a small task, a chore, or just something they don’t want to think about at the moment. Some people might even feel like they can’t afford the cost of getting their locks changed.
But there are certain situations that push it up the priority list. Like if your key is always getting yawned in a worn-out lock, or if your house has been recently broken into. If you’re in this situation and still on the fence, here are 5 hidden benefits to changing your locks.
Solve The Lost Key Problem
Everyone has lost their keys at some point. We’ve all had that feeling of dread as we fumble around, in our pockets – so sure we had picked up our keys, only to discover they’ve vanished. Or maybe you’ve lent your spare key to a friend, and by the time you need it back, they have no idea where it is. It’s frustrating and inconvenient – and a security risk. It’s always recorded that you change your locks as soon as you realise you’ve lost a key. Because while it’s very possible your keys ended up down a drain, in a skip or in the freezer (if you have kids) – they could easily have ended up in the hands of someone else. And if that someone works out where you live, then they have an all-access pass to your home and everything inside. ‘That’s why it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Keep Out Old Owners
If you’ve just bought a new house, it’s likely it had previous occupants – unless it was a new build! It’s always wise to change the locks when you move into a new property. You never know if a previous owner might come back and use their keys to gain access. Unlikely yes, but it does happen. More common is friends and family of the old owners who might not know they’ve moved, who can let themselves in any time they choose with the old keys. Changing the locks guarantees you’re the only person with keys to the property.
Protect From Future Burglaries
A burglary or attempted break-in is always a major warning sign to change your locks right away. But a surprising number of people don’t do it. They either forget that it needs doing, or they avoid getting In touch with a locksmith, instead thinking that they couldn’t possibly be burgled twice. That, unfortunately, isn’t true, and actually some burglars may come back again once you’ve replaced everything if they think your security is still lax. Even if you’ve only had an attempted break-in and no one actually got in, it should be a clear sign that someone is trying to target your home. Now imagine they managed to get hold of a key – they can just walk straight into your home. Unless you change the locks, of course.
Out With The Old
Have you ever put your key in the lock, tried to turn it and been met with unexpected resistance? If it’s definitely the right key in the right door, then you might have. an old, faulty or misbehaving lock. Rather than just putting up with the inconvenience for a long time, or pushing through and breaking the lock, it’s better to change the lock now. These things can very easily get worse and worse, and before you know it the lock will jam and snap your key off, leaving you well and truly stuck. At that point, you’re left locked outside in your socks and you will need to call a locksmith anyway.
Benefits from the Latest Advancements
Of course, your locks could be perfectly fine, functioning as normal and no one else could possibly have copies of your keys. In this scenario, you could just go along with your life. But did you know that the technology of locks is always evolving? Not only the fancy high-tech smart locks, but even your standard bolt locks are constantly being upgraded for better security, improved design and stronger materials. So when you change your locks, you can benefit from more robust products with tighter security. And yes, you can even incorporate some digital elements to help keep you and your family safe, and ahead of the curve.
At My Locks, we spend a lot of our time changing locks for all of the reasons above, and more. If you’ve realised you need new locks but aren’t sure what you need, get in touch with our team today, and we’d be happy to help.