News14.com

  57º

You are not signed in  |  Sign in here  |  Help

You're viewing a lite version of news14.com

Time Warner Cable customers: Sign in with your TWC ID for video access.

Get my TWC ID. | Get TWC service. | Read the FAQ.

01/28/2012 01:07 PM

Your Home: The changing of the key

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

One of the rights of passage when you buy a home, especially your first home, is the handing over of the keys at closing. Ryan Peterson reviews whether or not people should change the locks on their new home.

"I would say it's probably one of the first things you should do. You don't who's got keys out there. You don't know if a maid had it. A nanny or babysitter. I always recommend at least the exterior doors first. That way, when I hand you the keys, you know those are the only ones in existence," said Security Consultant Nicholas Mangione.

And to make that process even easier and more cost effective, Mangione suggests an easy solution. Simply have the existing hardware re-keyed.

"If you look at where the key goes, that's called the cylinder. We take that apart and we'll basically change out all the internal components; the springs, the tumblers and it will effectively lock out any old keys. That's cost effective, you know. A handle set like this you may have to spend two or three hundred dollars to replace. You can spend under thirty dollars to re-key it," said Mangione.

Alright now let's say your parents, your in-laws, a babysitter, the dog walker, somebody that comes to your house frequently. They don't have a key. The last place Mangoine says you should keep it is in the mailbox or under the mat of your front door. Rather, Mangoine suggests a box that slides open with a key code inside that you can hide a key or a couple of keys in here. Much more convenient and safer.

"Never leave it under a mat. Never leave it in a mailbox. They always look there. Master, who's known for their padlocks, makes mountable, small key boxes that you can put next to the door. It has a combination and you can house the key inside that. You give your mother the combination, she gets the key and puts it back. I think that's a better option," said Mangione.

Anyone who is looking for a little enhanced protection for your home or business, there are always high security locks and keys available. Keys that cannot be duplicated and locks that can't be picked or "bumped."