When to Replace Locks

Is it time to change my locks? How can you tell?

Locksmiths are asked these types of questions on a regular basis. Lock replacements shouldn’t be something that greatly mystifies property owners. In fact, there are some signs to look out for that will give you all the right answers to all questions about a lock’s condition. You should be maintaining the locks installed in your residence or commercial building on a regular basis anyway – this is merely part of the process.

Even if you never experience an issue with your locks, it is recommended that you change these every few years. That way, you’ll prevent security hindrances caused by wear and tear, as well as keeping your property’s protection up to date with the latest security developments.

On that note, here are some of the different situations where a lock replacement is highly recommended.

When you move into a new house

We always recommend rekeying the locks as soon as you move into your new home. You don’t know how many keys were made during the previous tenancy: the landlord may have a copy, as well as their former renters, neighbors, the former owner’s immediate family and trusted friends… the list can get quite extensive along the years. Stay on the safe side, and rekey every single one of the locks on your brand new residence – that way, you will know exactly how many keys are out there.

If you’re getting a new roommate

These days, it’s quite common for homeowners to sublet a room in a residential property. ut that calls for special precautions. Always change the locks in your residence when you change tenants, even if you parted ways amicably with the previous renter, to reduce any suspicion if your house gets broken into. Which actually brings us to the next point.

After your property has been broken into

Don’t delay in replacing your locks if you have experienced a break-in: your locks will likely have been compromised and damaged in the process. You don’t want to leave your home vulnerable to repeat offenders or a second attempt at forced entry, or even lock malfunctions as a result of the damage at hand. For your safety, assume that your keys fell into the wrong hands and replace all locks in your property’s external doors.   

As soon as your keys start getting jammed into the lock

That tends to be the best sign of worn out components. Your locks gradually wear out over stress as they age, becoming more difficult to open using your key but easier to break as well. Aged and damaged locks tend to malfunction quite easily, leading to unnecessary lockout situations. It’s not just a sticky key that will indicate signs of wear and tear: if you can see visible signs of rust and tarnishing, it’s time for a lock replacement.

When relationships (not just the romantic kind) go sour

Whether you’ve broken up with your partner, you’ve fallen out with a family member, or you have just evicted a problem tenant, your safest best is to get your locks replaced as soon as possible. As much as we don’t want to think that people won’t break into our homes, you never know what goes on in their minds. Use the same reasoning as the change in tenancy: the sooner you change your locks, the less likely you’ll need to be suspicious of people you know if anything goes amiss.

If a key has been lost or stolen

Figure out which keys are missing and replace them accordingly. If you lost multiple keys, replace the locks according to priority: external door locks should always be replaced immediately, everything else should follow soon after.

On a similar vein: if your kids have a copy of the house keys, you should be changing the locks with more frequency. Children may lose their key on their way home from school, or they could even give it to a friend for safekeeping and forget to get these back.

Constantly losing your keys? It might be worth talking to a locksmith in Miramar about the different keyless options around. With this type of entry system, you have a backup key for emergencies and a special code to use on a regular basis.

After you’ve come back from holiday

Did you leave a spare key with a neighbor while you went on vacation? Even if you trust them, and they have given the key back to you, it’s recommended that you replace the locks on your entrance doors. Just in case they made another copy for someone else you don’t know – even if it sounds highly unlikely, it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry.

How do I replace the locks at my property?

Time to replace your locks? Find a lock and key professional in your area. Locksmiths have all the equipment and know-how to do the job without a hitch, and they will do so for very reasonable prices. You shouldn’t be spending several thousand dollars on a locksmith solution, but it is still a good idea to keep an emergency fund in case your locks malfunction or your security is impaired.

A few pointers to help you identify the right professional for the job. Always check if the people you know (friends, family, neighbors, even co-workers) can give you a few recommendations. Aim for 2-3 company names in your area, and do a bit of background checking. Always call the businesses you have selected, ask them about their key replacement services (and any other service you may be looking for), and get all the essential information about their credibility: licensed and insurance information as well as local client references. Check each detail closely, read up on online reviews, and look at whether any complaints have been filed against the business on the Better Business Bureau.

Always hire a local locksmith, get a full price quote for all services, and make sure to inquire about their charges for after-hours services (these tend to cost a little extra). Locksmith Miramar’s licensed and insured professionals are always available for property owners in Miramar, FL, and there are plenty of credible businesses across all areas. The checks and inquiries are there to ensure you are hiring a professional who will give you great value, whether you need to replace your locks or upgrade your security.

Aricle source here: When to Replace Locks

How to Effectively Avoid Break-ins

Based on the fact that a burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the United States, you can bet on their being a burglary taking place now. It is frightening to think that your home could be one of the dozen currently being broken into right now. The best method for avoiding a break-in is to make your property unappealing to a would-be-robber. We don’t mean that you should have an unkept home or property. You should simply make it look challenging to break into. A thief is looking for the fastest route in and out without being detected. If they see that you take you security seriously by having a security system installed, they will likely go on to the next properly.

When you take your responsibility to secure your home seriously, you can avoid the possibility of someone breaking into your home. At Locksmith Miramar in Miramar, FL, we offer you some practical suggestions on how to avoid a break-in. Take these suggestions seriously and enhance your level of security.

1. Visible Door and Window Locks

Most intruders climb through windows and come in through doors where they have broken the lock. If you’re looking for a good way to avoid an intrusion, invest in sturdy door and window locks. Make it as difficult as possible for them to gain access and avoid a break-in. By making it difficult and time consuming for a possible intruder to break-in, you are discouraging them from doing so. There are certainly some lock brands that are more effective than others and we are able to let you know which ones these are.

2. Securing All Doors

This means even securing your garage doors. In some cases, the garage door leads you right into the house. If someone is able to gain access into your garage, they can also gain access into your home if the garage door leading to your house isn’t secured. Remember to always lock your home door behind you and have a good, sturdy lock installed. It is a good idea to always keep the lock leading from your garage into your home, locked, even when you are at home.

Keep your screen doors locked at all times. Some people assume that since they are home, they don’t need to lock their doors. This is not true. You can’t always monitor every door in your home. People have been known to innocently walk to your home acting as though they are looking for someone whom they know doesn’t live there, simply to get into your home. They could simply be attempting to canvas the neighborhood and see what type of things you have in your home. They are then able to figure out whether or not your home is worth attempting to break into. We suggest having deadbolt locks installed on every door, where possible. They are the sturdiest and most difficult to break.

3. Security Checks

You can rely on a locksmith service in Miramar to assist you with your security checks. Since we install all sorts of security systems, we’ll be able to let you know if what you have in place is a good fit for your home or business. Along with their ability to perform a security check to ensure you have what you need to avoid a break-in, they can also advise you of some inexpensive and practical ways to protect yourself based on their findings. They will perform a thorough inspection of the exterior and interior security of your home and business to determine what level of security you require to avoid a break-in.

4. Security Cameras

Long gone are the days of your only seeing surveillance cameras in businesses. Homeowners are seeing the value in being able to monitor their home while away. A thief doesn’t want to be found out about and having video footage of them could end their attempts to break-in to any more homes. You can invest in a basic surveillance system of you could purchase a more high-tech system that makes it possible to monitor your home from wherever you are.

5. Alarm System

Even when your alarm is not turned on or activated, having the signage in your yard or on your door can be a deterrent for an intruder. We know this doesn’t make sense but again you want to make your home unappealing to intruders and certainly appearing as though you have an alarm can do the trick. You can also have a simple alarm installed, which alerts you when your door or window has been opened. If you want a more advanced system, there are also systems that can monitor the activity in and around your property when you are not there. You usually have to pay extra for this type of monitoring service but if you have had break-ins before we are sure you see the benefit of having this type of system in place.

6. Outside Lights

Shine a light on the problem. If someone is trying to break-into your home, they are less likely to try to do so when there is a light shining directly on them. Placing lights in the key areas around your home is important since it is what will make the intruder run off. They do not want to be detected and surely an illuminated light will surely mean that they can be seen by anyone from the street. We usually install these lights so that they are facing every entryway into your home, including windows and cellar doors.

It doesn’t really matter what type of security you invest in as long as you have it. Having something to deter a break-in is easy, as you can see from the above. However, it is no good to you if you do not act to make sure you can avoid an intrusion from occurring. The suggestions are rather simple and inexpensive and can be implemented in one weekend. So, do your part in making sure you can avoid a break-in by following some of the above suggestions offered to you.

Aricle source here: How to Effectively Avoid Break-ins

Lockouts – how to prevent them!

Are you a careful person? Even if you are, you can still be a lockout victim! Lockouts happen; they occur not only here in Miramar, FL but everywhere! All it takes is one moment of inattention and BAM; the door closes and locks behind you! Lockouts can happen at home, with your car, at work or even at you place of business. While you can’t always prevent them from occurring, Locksmith Miramar offers you these easy steps to cut down on the rate of lockout incidences in your life. Just keep reading and you’ll see!

Why You Should Listen to Us!

Miramar, FL is home to many locksmith shops and one of the best (hey; we are biased!) is ours! Locksmith Miramar is family run and fully licensed. We offer a vast range of locksmith services for your home, business and automotive needs. Like all good shops we also provide responsive 24-hour emergency help. Can you guess what the #1 locksmith emergency happens to be? You guessed it; lockout help! Our friendly and experienced locksmith experts have helped locals with all kinds of lockouts; nothing surprises us anymore! We come to you in fully stocked mobile service vehicles anytime you need us.

Home Lockouts

Lockouts at home happen frequently as more and more people are getting accustomed to locking their doors both night and during the day. This is actually a good practice to start cultivating, but it has one drawback; accidental lockouts. It’s so easy to run out to get the mail and find yourself locked out. Not only is this inconvenient and somewhat embarrassing but it could lead to bigger problems. What if a pot of food was simmering on the stove and no one else was at home? What if you have a toddler alone inside and no one to let you back through the door?

Auto Lockouts

Imagine it; you park the car and turn off the engine. You run inside the pizza parlor to pick up dinner for your family. The melting cheese and the pepperoni and mushroom toppings smell SO good! You have a smile on your face as you pay for your pizza and make your way back to the car when you notice; they keys are dangling in the ignition! Frantically you try the door and sure enough; it’s locked! In our little example, this takes place during business hours, but what if it happens after hours or in a poorly lit or unsafe neighborhood? Auto lockouts can also involve a child or pet still inside the car so it’s best to have a responsive solution to this problem.

Commercial Lockouts

Lockouts happen anywhere there are people and locks. Yes, that includes business locations, too. From retail stores to medical clinics, people can accidentally lock themselves out of the premises and need fast access in a hurry. Whether a clerk went out back for a quick smoke break, and the propped door accidentally closed, or a manager lost his keys and really needs to open for business, the end result is the same; lockout time! Since businesses take many forms and all of them involve some kind of locking items including doors, file cabinets, windows, desks and even walk-in freezers, it just makes sense to have quick access to 24-hour emergency locksmith assistance.

So What’s The Answer?

The best overall answer for combatting lockouts is to be ready for them. They are going to happen anyway but by following these simple and very easy tips you can alleviate much of the anxiety and danger that accompanies them.

Stay Calm

That’s right; keep your cool! Getting locked out is always stressful but often, that stress only makes things worse. In your panic, you might think that breaking back in is what you need to do. Wrong! You can incur property damage, bodily injury and even police arrest if something goes wrong. Some people have even been shot by their own roommates or family members because they weren’t recognized during their break-in. Don’t risk that. Call for help and then call a friend. Doing this calms your nerves while you wait for assistance and also gives you a potential witness in case of problems stemming from being alone and in trouble.

Spare Keys

It never hurts to have a spare key, but be smart and do NOT put it somewhere obvious! Under the door mat or in the flower pot are the first places a crook will look for that key and you can quickly complicate things when you are dealing with a burglar as well as replacing your key! Some spare key destinations include a trusted neighbor, a friend or relative that lives in town, your glove compartment, your purse or even in your smart phone case.

Put Things In The Same Place!

Stop groaning and listen! Being more organized is a good thing. It helps you find things faster and you develop over time a feeling of “something is missing or not right.” If you always take out your keys from the ignition when you park the car, your brain will alert you the next time you don’t do that and lessen the instances where you accidentally leave them dangling while you run inside to pick up that great smelling pizza!

Smart Phone Contacts List

This one is vital! Be sure to add Locksmith Miramar to your smart phone address book. If not us, add another local locksmith shop that is also licensed, bonded and insured. Choose a lock and key company that is affordable, available 24/7 and that responds fast. Phone booths and yellow pages are long gone and won’t be coming back anytime but everyone from grade school children to senior citizens have a cell phone on them at all times. Some even sleep with one under the pillow! Why not make use of this marvelous technology and ensure that Locksmith Miramar is conveniently logged into yours? If you find yourself locked out or needing any kind of lock and key assistance, all it takes is one simple “tap to call” and one of our helpful Miramar, FL lock professionals is one the way!

Aricle source here: Lockouts – how to prevent them!