Change locks?

vernall

Due to complete tomorrow........is my first job to change ALL the door locks? or do people not bother?

princeofpounds

Complete you mean?

Generally it's a good idea to change the locks, yes. But typically people stay in their new house for at least a couple of days sorting things out before leaving it unoccupied, so it's not usually job number one. If you're paranoid, just bolt the doors on the inside overnight.

And to be frank I think most people don't even bother... but that doesn't mean it's a good idea necessarily.

vernall

Yes I did mean complete, edited now lol

Have a 2 week lay over in old house so won't technically be living there for a few weeks yet, just bit of decorating and gradually moving stuff in

Soot2006

It was our plan to change locks on Day 1 ... then Day 2 when we never got round to it ... then Day 3 ... We've been here 15 months now and the locks are still in the garage, ready to be changed. As we're treating ourself to a new front door for Christmas, I suppose it's all a moot point now.

The road to hell and good intentions and all that!

AskAsk

never done it, ever.  never had a problem, ever.

nicmyles

I don't think it needs to be the first thing you do. And obviously you don't have to do it at all. But until you do, there is an unknown number of unknown people who may have keys to your house. Up to you how long you're comfortable with that position for.

moneysavinghero

You can leave them unchanged and will probably never have a problem. Just as your home will probably never burn down. But you have insurance just in case.

cattie

I've been a serial mover over the past 20 years & have to confess I've never changed locks when moving into a new home. I daresay some people will think I'm crazy not to have bothered, but in general in life I'm a pretty trusting person & tend to rely on my instinct where people I come into contact with are concerned.

princeofpounds

It's often not the departing owners you need to worry about. It's whoever they gave keys to over the years, even temporarily. 

SpiderLegs

Do a quick risk assessment.

what’s the likelihood of copies of these keys falling into the hands of someone who has the knowledge, means and mentality to break into your new house.

Mrcsmrs

It’s always been one of the first things we’ve done whenever we’ve moved. My husband had a burglary some years ago before we met and it turned out that they had keys for his newly purchased house. The insurance didn’t cover it because there was no damage to the house by them gaining entry and he hadn’t changed the locks. He was asleep upstairs at the time. It still freaks him out that he slept through the whole thing. Couldn’t happen now as we have two big dogs but we still change the locks every single time. Last time he was changing them as the movers drove away from the house. 

Just not worth the risk especially if it also means that you aren’t insured.