Changing locks subsequent to the tenant’s move-out is crucial for several reasons. Property security, protecting the privacy and safety of future tenants, credibility and professionalism of the property management process, and less liability for the property owner are all part of this. This, aside from distributing a new set of keys and establishing trust, creates a safe and secure living environment. Reducing your risk by re-keying your rental property is an important step toward safe and responsible property management.
Property Security
Landlords should prioritize security regardless of whether your property is currently occupied. It is possible former tenants kept extra keys to the property after they moved out. Re-keying the property reduces the possibility that unauthorized people will get entry and guarantee that only authorized people will have access. Even temporarily vacant properties are prone to criminal mischief and burglary. Regulating when and where people can enter your property is crucial to keep your property secure and discourage criminal activity. You can make this easier by re-keying your property’s exterior doors as soon as a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys pose a significant problem for your future tenants. Renters desire a sense of security in their rental properties. However, if previous renters still have a key to the property, the sense of safety may be a dangerous illusion. If a previous occupant or someone to whom they gave a key breaks in, you may be held liable for any damage or injury that occurs. Moreover, if renters stop trusting you, it may lead to canceled leases and costly turnover. Re-keying the locks is imperative to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
While the cost of re-keying the locks between renters may seem discouraging, you may use this as a selling point for your property. If a prospective renter is concerned about security, knowing that the locks have been re-keyed will ease their mind and convince them to choose your property over similar rentals in the area. If you can increase demand for your property in this way, you can charge a slightly higher rent and quickly recoup the cost of having the locks re-keyed.
Hire a Professional
If you’re handy with tools, it may be possible to personally re-key the locks on your rental property. Although not very challenging, it does need some familiarity and skill. In addition, the alternative of replacing the lock, knob, or deadbolt is more expensive than re-keying the locks.
However, if you want to be sure the job is done right, you may want to consider hiring a professional to do it for you. A professional locksmith can re-key the lock quickly and accurately and ensure that the re-key was done correctly. There should be no room for mistakes, and you should always have a fresh set of keys to provide to your new tenant.
Alternatives to Re-Keying
These days, landlords are looking for new ways to safeguard their property and renters. Some property owners opt for electronic keypads or smart key solutions as a more cost-effective solution to re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out. For illustration, installing a keyless entry system that uses a code instead of an actual key could eliminate the need for re-keying your house entirely. Even more modern keyless entry systems must be accessed via a smartphone app. The upfront cost of such options may be expensive, but they allow the user the freedom to change the primary code or smart key device whenever necessary. A keyless entry system could result in significant savings over time.
Property owners may face difficulties throughout the tenancy termination procedure. Why not let the Real Property Management Exclusive experts do the task for you? Property managers have the know-how to locate a wonderful new renter and handle every detail of the move-out process. For further information, contact us online or call us at 480-716-7899
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