Changing locks following a tenant’s departure is critical for a number of reasons, like property security, guarding new tenants’ privacy and safety, keeping a professional and trustworthy property management process, and minimizing the property owner’s legal obligations. This creates 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 confidence. Re-keying your rental property also lessens the danger of responsibility, resulting in a more secure and trustworthy property management approach.
Property Security
Irrespective of whether your property is presently occupied or not, landlords should prioritize security. Upon leaving tenants, there’s a potentiality that they may retain duplicates of the keys. Through re-keying the property, the potential risk of unauthorized access is mitigated, as it ensures that only people with proper authorization are granted entry. Even temporarily vacant properties can be susceptible to criminal mischief and burglary. To keep your property secure and deter illicit behavior, you need to manage who has access to it and when. You can make this simple by re-keying your property’s exterior doors as soon as a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys may cause significant problems for your future tenants. Renters desire a sense of security in their rental properties. Yet, if previous renters still have a key to the house, that feeling of security could be an unsafe illusion. If a previous occupant or someone to whom they gave a key unlawfully gains entry 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 advisable to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
Although the cost of re-keying the locks between renters may seem frustrating, you can use it as a selling point for your property. If the prospective renter is concerned about security, you can reduce their fears by confirming that their locks have been re-keyed; like this, they may 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
Contingent on your level of mechanical ability, you might be able to re-key the locks on your rental property on your own. Although the task is not difficult, it necessitates an appropriate degree of expertise. Furthermore, re-keying the locks is more cost-effective than replacing the entire lock, knob, or deadbolt.
However, to ensure the accuracy of the task, you might consider hiring a professional to come in and carry out it on your part. A professional locksmith possesses the ability to ensure that the re-key was done correctly with greater effectiveness and assurance of its accuracy. The main consideration is that it is done correctly and that you have a whole fresh set of keys to provide to your new tenant.
Alternatives to Re-Keying
Today’s landlords are looking for other options to safeguard their property and renters. As an alternative to re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out, some landlords find it more cost-effective to install an electronic keypad or smart key solution. The installation of a keyless entry system that relies on a password rather than a physical key has the potential to eliminate the need for re-keying your house entirely. Modern keyless entry systems exist, which necessitate unlocking through a smartphone app. Although the starting cost of these choices may be higher, the advantage is that you can quickly replace the key code or smart key tool on your own. A keyless entry system could result in significant savings over time.
Renter relocation can be a chaotic time for property owners. Why not let the professionals at Real Property Management Clarity Team do it for you? The property managers in our locality exhibit proficiency in managing all aspects of the move-out process and possess the ability to procure a suitable renter for your property! For extra details, contact us online or call us at 567-200-2320.
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