Changing locks after a tenant moves out is critical for a number of reasons, including property security, protecting new tenants’ privacy and safety, sustaining a professional and dependable property management process, and reducing liability for the property owner. This gives a safe and secure living environment for both the property owner and the new tenants, a fresh set of keys, and a sense of trust. A more secure and accountable property management method can be achieved by re-keying your rental property, reducing the risk of liability.
Property Security
Landlords should prioritize security whether or not their properties are rented. When tenants leave, there is always a chance that they may have kept a spare set of keys. By re-keying the property, you can prevent this from happening and make sure that only authorized people have access to the property. Even temporarily vacant properties can become targets for criminal mischief and burglary. If you want to keep your property secure and prevent break-ins and other criminal activity on your property, you need to control who enters and when. You can make this easier by re-keying your property’s exterior doors the minute a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys create more problems for your future tenants. Renters want a sense of security in their rental properties. A false sense of security could put you in danger if previous renters still have a key to the house. If a previous occupant or anybody they gave a key to gains access to the property, you may be held liable for any damage or injury that occurs. You will also lose your renter’s trust, which may result in canceled leases and costly turnover. Re-keying the locks is vital to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
The cost of re-keying the locks between renters is something to consider, but it could also be a selling point for your property. If a prospective renter is concerned about security, you may relieve their fears by telling them that the locks have been re-keyed. Therefore, they may prefer 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
Your ability to re-key the locks on your rental property depends on your mechanical expertise. It’s not hard, but it does require a little knowledge of the subject. As a bonus, re-keying the locks is much less than buying new locks, knobs, or deadbolts.
However, if you want to be sure the job is finished right, you might consider hiring a professional to come in and do it for you. A professional locksmith will be able to do the task quickly and with higher assurance that the re-key was done correctly. The most important thing is that it is done correctly and that you have a whole fresh set of keys to hand over to your new tenant.
Alternatives to Re-Keying
Today’s landlords are on the lookout for new ways to safeguard their property and renters. Some landlords believe installing an electronic keypad or smart key solution is more cost-effective than re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out. For example, installing a keyless entry system that uses a code instead of a physical key could eliminate the need for re-keying your house entirely. There are even more modern keyless entry systems that must be opened via a smartphone app. Although such options are more expensive initially, the key code or smart key tool can be easily replaced by the customer. A keyless entry system could result in significant savings over time.
Property owners often have a lot on their plates when renters vacate. Let Real Property Management Genesis handle it for you. They are pros. Our local property managers are pros in taking care of all the details associated with a tenant’s move-out, and they also can locate you a great new renter! To learn more about property management in Homestead, FL, or our other locations, contact us online or call us at 786-744-57000.
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