Free tools for Property Managers. If your rental property has self-locking door knobs, your tenants WILL get locked out. After getting locked out, the first person they call is you, the landlord. I get it, we’ve all locked ourselves out at one time or another. Please don’t think that your tenants are going to be the stellar exception. When they accidentally lock themselves out, they will expect you to come rushing over with a key. What do you mean “Self-Locking”? I mean, any door knob or latch that automatically locks behind you, causing immense frustration that ripples through the fabric of time and space. These are also known as a “keyed privacy locks”, and they are quite common. The intent is to allow the door to lock behind you without having to use your keys. They are supposed to save you time. However, I think they cause more trouble than they are worth. You are available and don’t mind the inconvenience of driving over to your rental property to unlock the door, and;
They never do it again. Tenants hire a locksmith who damages your door hardware beyond repair, or; They break a window to get in, and; They expect you to pay for it because it was “your lock” that locked them out, and; They continue to use the self-locking mechanism and it happens again, and again, and again. Years ago, my tenant locked himself out of their rental while I was in Phuket on my honeymoon. He knew I wasn’t available, so he just called a locksmith. When the locksmith arrived, my tenant was told that there was no way to pick the lock, and in order to get in, they would have to bore (drill) out the core – thus essentially destroying the expensive mortis lock. Luckily for me, my tenant decided to take a different approach. He climbed an exterior gas pipe to a second floor window (which he apparently always kept unlocked). Then, cut through the mesh screen and climbed in through the window. I’m glad he didn’t damage my lock, but he did injure his arm and destroyed a window screen.
The moral of the story is that self-locking door knobs will only lead to bad situations for you and your tenants. Swap out all your keyed privacy door knob locks with deadbolts. Configure the door hardware so that it is impossible for the door to lock behind someone without keys. My favorite solution is to install a entry door handleset on every exterior door. These handle and deadbolt combos require a key to be used to lock the door from the outside – making them “lock-out” proof. You can save some money by installing a closet knob as the main handle and keeping your existing deadbolt. If you want to go the extra-mile, invest in Kwikset’s Smartkey locks for all the exterior doors. These locks make re-keying a property quick, easy, and inexpensive. They come in handy when a tenant loses a key or you are forced to re-key a unit between tenancies (like in Texas). Read More: Re-key the Locks Between Tenants with Kwikset SmartKey photo credit: Armchair Caver via cc
Join 100,000+ Amazing Rental Managers Topics: Landlord Tips, Property ManagementHow do you pick a bathroom lock with a circle in the middle of it? To pick a bathroom lock with a circle in the middle, straighten out a paperclip or bobby pin to use as a makeshift lockpick. You could also use a long, thin needle to pick this type of lock. Do not insert the lockpick at an angle; insert it directly into the hole in the center until you hear the door unlock. What are some tips for installing bathroom door locks? How do you remove a Kwikset door knob? How do you get a broken key out of a door?You can use household items or a lock pick kit to unlock the door. A large or small straightened paper clip, a bobby pin of any size, or a thin knitting needle should all work.Insert your lock pick directly inside the center holeInsert the lock pick straight into the center hole. Do not bend the lock pick or insert it at an angel.Push the lock pick deep inside the middle of the doorknobOnce you push your lock pick in the very center of the locked knob, you should hear the door unlock from the other side.
If the door doesn't unlock right away, wiggle the lock pickIf the door fails to unlock right away, try using a very thin Phillips screwdriver. If one is not available, push the lock pick you used in the previous steps inside the doorknob hole again, and twist it around until the door unlocks. How do you open a Master lock if you forget the combination? If you forget the combination for a Master Lock, you can retrieve your combination from the company if your lock has a serial number and is not attached to... What can I do if I forgot my locker combination? If the locker is secured by an external lock (like a padlock), the most inexpensive method of opening it is to cut it off with a pair of bolt cutters. What are some highly rated window security locks? Some highly rated window security locks include ABUS window lock, Vinyl Window Lock, and Lock-it Block-it. Opportunistic thieves find it easy to break in t... How does an electromagnetic lock work? An electromagnetic lock creates a magnetic field when energized, causing an electromagnet and armature plate to become attracted to each other strongly eno...
Does putting aluminum foil on windows keep heat out? How does someone remove double-hung window panes? How do you re-key a Kwikset lock? How do you fix a broken door frame? How do you repair a bay window? How do you use a Kwikset?With Ring plus Wink, create Robots that automate tasks, such as turning on lights when motion is triggered on your Ring Video Doorbell. Learn more about Wink With Ring plus Kevo, enter the Kevo app directly from a live video event within the Ring App, allowing you to unlock your door for welcomed guests. Learn more about Kevo With Ring plus Lockstate, enter the Lockstate app directly from a live video event within the Ring App, allowing you to unlock your door for welcomed guests. With Ring plus Kisi, you can now monitor and control your office door from a meeting and remotely. With Ring+ ADT, you'll be able to make your home more secure. Lock your doors, turn on your lights, and arm your ADT system all through the Ring app.