Changing locks after a tenant moves out is necessary for several reasons, including property security, protecting new tenants’ privacy and safety, sustaining the integrity of the property management process, and decreasing the property owner’s responsibility. This supplies a safe and secure living environment for both the property owner and the new tenants, as well as a new set of keys and a feeling of security and confidence. Re-keying your rental property also decreases the possibility of responsibility, leading to a more safe and responsible property management procedure.
Property Security
Landlords should prioritize security whether or not your property is occupied at the moment. Even after vacating a property, the former tenants may keep a copy of the keys. By re-keying the property, you can be sure that only authorized individuals will have entry to the property. Even temporarily vacant properties can become subject to criminal mischief and burglary. Monitoring who can enter your property and when is important to keep your property secure and prevent criminal conduct. You can facilitate this method by re-keying your property’s exterior doors as soon as a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys become an even bigger 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 house, the sense of safety may be misplaced. 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. You will also lose your renter’s confidence, which may lead to canceled leases and costly turnover. Re-keying the locks is important to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
Despite the fact that the cost of re-keying the locks between renters may deter you, you can use it as a selling point for your property. If prospective renter is concerned about security, you can minimize their worries by safeguarding that their locks have been re-keyed; as a result, they may choose your property over similar rentals in the area. If you can increase demand for your property in this manner, you can charge a slightly higher rent and quickly recoup the cost of having the locks re-keyed.
Hire a Professional
Contingent upon your level of mechanical expertise, you might be able to re-key the locks on your rental property yourself. Though it’s not hard, it does require some knowledge. Moreover, re-keying the locks is less costly than replacing the entire lock, knob, or deadbolt.
However, if you want to be sure the job is done right, you might consider hiring a professional to come in and perform it for you. A professional locksmith can carry out the operation more quickly and with higher confidence that the re-key was done correctly. The most significant factor is that everything goes smoothly, and you hand over a fresh set of keys to your new tenant.
Alternatives to Re-Keying
Landlords today are actively seeking other means to safeguard their property and renters. In place of re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out, some landlords realize that installing an electronic keypad or smart key solution is more cost-effective. Installing a keyless entry system that relies on a password instead of a physical key, for illustration, could eliminate the need for re-keying your house entirely. There are even more modern keyless entry systems that must be unlocked using a smartphone app. Such solutions may be costly at first, but you can quickly change the password or smart key tool on your own. A keyless entry system could result in significant savings over time.
When renters move out, it may be a stressful moment for the landowner. Give it up to experts at Real Property Management Vancouver. Our local property managers are excellent at dealing with every part of the move-out procedure and can also help you locate a new renter! For more information, contact us online or call us at 360-975-4683.
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