Landlords: Why You Should Always Have Apartments Rekeyed Between Tenants

An illustration of a hovering key entering a small house.

If you’re a landlord then you know all too well the list of to-dos that comes along with renting out an apartment. Keeping up with maintenance, collecting rent, ensuring your tenants are happy, and keeping the place in habitable shape are just some of the things you have to pay attention to. But what happens when a tenant moves on? Or worse, you have to ask them to leave?

Typically you’ll want to get the place cleaned up again and ready to be rented out again. That might include having to repaint walls, clean carpets and even patch up holes. But one thing you might not think about at first — and that should move to the top of you list — is rekeying the locks.

This is a critical step especially if your renters left on bad terms or there was any reason they may want to re-enter the apartment. Making copies of keys usually violates a lease agreement, but you can never be sure enough. Read more “Landlords: Why You Should Always Have Apartments Rekeyed Between Tenants”

What You Should Do If Your Car or House Keys are Stolen

House keys held in an open palm.

Losing your keys is stressful situation. Trying to remember where you last placed them and knowing they provide access to your car and your home make the situation even harder.

What’s even more frightening, is losing our sense of security when we realize our house and car keys were not misplaced, but stolen. We immediately start to think of who it could’ve been, when it happened and what the intentions we’re behind stealing your keys.

If you’re already stressed out, chances are you’ll also draw a blank when thinking about the answers to all of these questions. Here is a rundown of what you should do if your car or house keys are stolen. Read more “What You Should Do If Your Car or House Keys are Stolen”

So You’re Locked Out of Your House. Now What?

young woman sitting on stoop

Have you ever locked your keys in your car? Or worse, came home and realized you didn’t have the keys to get into your own home? It’s a scary situation. But it doesn’t have to be. Before the terror has a chance to set in, have a plan in place and know what to do if your locked out of your house without a key.

Instead of breaking a window or using a screwdriver to try to pry open the door and possibly set off your alarm, know that there are many lock options today that are advanced enough to allow you entry without these drastic measures.

Coming up with a game plan in advance to a possible lockout is the ideal solution, but some of us have to learn the hard way that forgetting or misplacing your keys is a very easy situation to find yourself in. When you do, here are some ideas on how to get back into your house. Read more “So You’re Locked Out of Your House. Now What?”