When you buy a new home, you don’t want previous owners to have the keys to a new lock. You have no idea just how many copies of keys are floating around. Changing locks on your new home will keep it more secure. Who knows what kinds of people have lived in your new home before you. Even if you trust the previous owners, chances are that not so many good people lived in that home before them.
When it comes to changing locks on your new home, there are some tips and tricks. Not changing the lock is one of the classic mistakes of the moving process. And this is why we have written this article. We want you and your family to be safe in your newly purchased home. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Gather necessary supplies
Changing the lock is one of the first things you need to do after you buy a new home. The first step in every change of the locks is to gather necessary supplies. What are those supplies? You don’t need many of them. Those are:
New locks – You need to purchase a new lock for every door you plan to rekey. A standard deadbolt kit usually includes some of those things – mounting hardware and the interior turner. If you can, buy a new lock which is practically the same as the old one. Buy a lock that is the same model, same make, and by the same manufacturer as the old one. That way you can be sure that it is a perfect fit for your door.
Measuring tape – Almost every household has one of these. But if you don’t, you need to buy a new one. You need to measure the dimensions of your old lock, and you need to measure the hole before you go to the hardware store. Most of the new deadbolts are adjustable, but still, you need to find a perfect fit.
Screwdriver – Like the measuring tape. almost every household has a screwdriver. However, not all screwdrivers are good for what you need. See what kind of screws you have, and buy a screwdriver that fits them. You can always buy a 4-in-1 screwdriver. You can buy both a screwdriver and a measuring tape in one go. This is also true for a lock.
Changing locks on your new home – a guide
- Step one – Remove the old deadbolt lock and hardware. This can be pretty easy, depending on what kind of lock you have. But most of the time it is easy. See where are the screws from the interior side of the lock (this is where the turner is) and remove them. Also, you need to remove all the other screws.
- Step two – Insert new deadbolt where the old one was. This is pretty easy. Use the mounting hardware to secure the hardware in place.
- Step three – Put your new lock in place. The deadbolt will have little slots in which you can fit the key part and the turning part. Assemble the pieces and secure them in place with a screwdriver.
