Hello World! Welcome Friends! It can be frustrating and even distressing to find yourself in a situation where you can’t gain access to your own house, and panic can soon set in when you wonder how you are going to get back in, especially if you need to gain entry in a hurry for whatever reason.
There are a number of potential ways to avoid this unpleasant scenario and it pays to have a plan B that you can put into action when the situation arises.
A good start would be learning about security systems and options that not only protect your home but can give you access to someone who might be able to give you the assistance you need remotely.
Here is a look at some of your main options when it comes to getting that balance between home security and avoiding a scenario where you find yourself locked out.
Avoid Locking yourself out of your House
Change to keyless entry
It is all too easy to shut the front door and realize that you have left the house key inside, finding yourself locked out in an instant. The cheapest way to avoid this problem occurring is to change your doorknob over to a keyless version and adding a deadbolt that can only be locked from the outside. The obvious drawback to this option is that you might feel you have downgraded your home security too much by making it possible to open the door and gain entry unless you have activated the deadbolt. You eliminate the possibility of being locked out with your key inside when you have this setup, but you might not like the idea of being able to enter your home with just the turn of a doorknob if you forget to turn the key in the deadbolt to secure it.
A viable alternative would be to install a keypad entry system where you punch in a code of your choice to unlock the door. If you had a keyless door entry system, otherwise known as smart locks, you would only have to remember the code rather than worry about whether you have the house key with you when you leave.
An obvious hiding place
Too many of us think we have thought of a smart hiding place for a spare key that you can use in an emergency, only to discover that burglars tend to have a good idea where to lock. Too many burglars gain entry to a house using a hidden key to make you feel comfortable about that option especially when a lot of the hiding places we use are more obvious than we realize. Don’t make it easy for a burglar to gain access to your home just for the sake of having the backup of a spare key that you can quickly grab when you need to. If you do want to have a spare key available for emergencies, there are better ways to go about it.
Invest in a decent lockbox that requires a code to open and is sturdy enough to keep your spare key safely away from burglars. If the lockbox is robust enough you can even keep it in plain sight, as a burglar won’t want to waste valuable time or risk getting caught trying to gain entry when they can easily find another property where the key is “hidden” in plain sight.
Maintain your locks
It is also worth pointing out that a good number of lockouts every year happen not because the owner has forgotten where their house keys are or lost them, but because the locking mechanism on their front door has stopped working and won’t let them in. It stands to reason that if you are using a lock on such a regular basis wear and tear is eventually going to take its toll and the lock might eventually break. This can sometimes happen without warning, but more often than not, you tend to get a few early warnings that your lock needs some professional attention before it breaks completely.
It is a good idea to have your locks periodically inspected by a professional as they can identify any small issues and fix any minor problems such as a lack of lubrication, before the lock jams and you find yourself locked out. It is much better to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to fixing locks, so if you notice that the mechanism is becoming temperamental or doesn’t feel as secure as it used to, this should be an early warning worth heeding, before the lock breaks altogether and leaves you unable to get in or secure your home properly when you go out.
Duplicate keys often save the day
Last but not least, the most obvious way of avoiding a lockout scenario is to arrange to have some spare keys cut that you can use as a plan B backup. Consider giving a spare key to a family member nearby or letting your neighbor have a spare key if you know them well and trust them to take good care of it. Having a spare key that you can get hold of easily when you need it will help to avoid the frustration and expense of getting a locksmith out to help you get into your own home.
It can also help if you have a good community spirit to keep an eye on each other’s homes when you are away from the property for any period of time. Giving your neighbor a spare key also means they can go and check your house is okay when you are away, but make sure they know about the security system if you have one installed.
If you follow some of these simple tips you should manage to avoid that dreaded scenario where you discover that you don’t have a way to get into your own home simply because you have mislaid your house keys and don’t have a plan B.
Click the links below for any posts you may have missed!
How to Negotiate Repairs after a Home Inspections
Before & After Room Transformations
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Toodles,
Thanks for sharing this information, worth reading and very informative post.
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