New House - did you get the locks changed?

d.ylan

I would definiately change them, without a second thought! But on a money-time bent, I'd KEEP the barrels/locks you take out, and use them AS the replacements a house or two down the line, if anyone did have a key to the original house then they'll have pratically no idea that they're on another house completely.

I actually picked that one up off my gf's dad, who replaced our locks (me = inept with diy unfortunately ), he had a select of high quality locks and keys from a good few years and few houses ago, helps keep the moving costs down.

The lock on the front door when we moved in was actually completely fudged, it took me 15mins of twisting and smacking to get in, so we replaced that with one of the midrange ones from b&q... twice, and it broke each time (we're talking within 3months here, so I finally replaced with a yale lock and had no problems since).. as excessively high as the prices might be I'd recommend a good quality lock.. bit pointless if you've got a big glass window next to the door i suppose though

kinesin_2

It's shocking to suggest.. :eek: but you could always lose your new keys soon after moving in and then speak to your insurance..

(I read this elsewhere a few days ago - and don't even own a house!)

dougk_2

I wouldn't bother doing this most locks cost little to replace (if you DIY).
A claim and the hassle through the insuarnce company isn't worth it.

calleyw

lipidicman wrote:

But they would have wanted to wait until they had somewhere to plant it! But honestly, taking a tree? Did they leave you anything? You do have lightswitches and bulbs right?

They are giving it to relative so they could have dug it up at any time.

Yes they have been generous leaving energy saving bulbs.

Shame we need spend about 8k we don't have. To bring the place up to standard. As there is no heating upstairs and boiler is so naff. The kitchen needs re-doing and all carpets need replacing. And celings need re-skimming as they have cracks in them. And they quibble over dropping the price by about 5K.

The gas fire down stairs has been dis-connected as it was dangerous.

Don't think they have down any work on the place in years. And then expected to get top wack for it.

Never mind. We like it here and is way closer to my family.

Yours

Calley

lipidicman

calleyw wrote:

Don't think they have down any work on the place in years. And then expected to get top wack for it.

Sounds a bit like our place! But with a shortage of terrace houses in cheap areas down south the estate agent says we will get close to the ceiling price for the area - wood flooring and fancy lighting doesnt work in this area then.

Nile

Hello Malteser


As many others have said, I would change all the locks. When we moved into our house, I got a locksmith to inspect all the doors and windows for me.......I was particularly worried about the security of the patio door.

The locksmith checked/sorted all the locks and installed a spy hole in the front door. We also put a security chain on the front door. It is never opened unless the chain is in place first.

We gave the in-laws a key and a note giving details of the code to our house alarm. Neither the key or note are identified with our home address.

If you give someone a key/alarm code for your home, make sure that they don't identify it with your full name and address. If their home was burgled, the burglar could use your spare key to gain access to your home.