When you buy a house, do you get all new locks?

[TNDemo]

Do you wonder about who all may have had keys to the place before you lived in it? Or is that just paranoid thinking?

[ima_sinnic]

1. yes, definitely

... I changed enough locks to keep anyone with old keys out. it's easy (even for an old lady like me) and not too expensive

[MercutioATC]

2. I know I should have, but I didn't.

Oddly enough, I DID change the garage-door code, though. In retrospect, that really doesn't make any sense.

[eyesroll]

3. We change the locks for precisely that reason.

It's not being paranoid -- it's being prudent.

The people you bought the house from may have been perfectly nice, but you have no idea if their pet-sitter, brother or painter still has keys and is insane.

[LiberalVoice]

4. We got new locks.

Can't be too careful in 'Murikkka

[GOPisEvil]

5. The first thing I did was change the locks on my house.

I don't think it's paranoid at all. Who knows who had the keys before me. It's cheap insurance.

[DS1]

28. sometimes I get new keys, too

:evilgrin:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. First thing: call a locksmith.

You can never be too safe. A friend of mine had three toilets stolen out of her house when she was having it redone before they moved in. The people before had trashed the place, put holes in all the walls and taken sledge hammers to all the toilets. It was not pretty.
Duckie

[GOPisEvil]

10. You don't even have to call a locksmith.

I'm not very handy at all and I figured out how to install the new locks. I think I spent 30 bucks for the new hardware and about 30 minutes of my time.

[demnan]

7. It might be a good idea

if you have any money left over - lol! The lady who lived in my place seemed like a really nice person.

I didn't though, I bought a security system so I'm not too worried. I'm on the ground floor and I live by myself so the securty system is really necessary.

[Pirate Smile]

8. You are supposed to change all the locks when you move in.

You're not paranoid, that is common sense.

[benburch]

9. Always change all the locks!

All the realtors who showed that home had access to the key. You might trust the sellers. You might trust your realtor. But do you trust every realtor on town?

[Nite Owl]

11. Yes, we did

We bought a new house in 99 and brought over a few things. One was a new DVD player, it was gone the next day. Too many people have keys, even to a house that isn't new you never know who the owners have given keys to.

[sandnsea]

12. I've never changed locks

Then again, I never lock my door and I've always lived in very low crime areas. More important than changing your locks, go to your local police station and find out what kind of crime you should be protecting yourself from. Changing your locks isn't going to help if you discover you've got kids bunking people on the head on the bike path or crackheads pilfering stuff out of cars. Different areas really do have different kinds of crime.

[liberalnurse]

13. The new house I'm buying is owned by a "good democrat".

When I went to see the house, they had both Bill and Hillary's books on the table! I of course had my DU and Kerry bumperstickers.....A great friendship has begun.....It is a retiring couple's home in perfect condition!


I won't change locks......they are welcome if they want to come in....

[benburch]

15. It's NOT just them!

It's every realtor who showed that house who could have a copy of the keys!!!!

[liberalnurse]

22. Oh.....well in that case......

maybe I should reconsider....:scared:

[NewJeffCT]

16. but, what if they have a fundie brother or sister?

Or, just a black sheep in the family? Or maybe a RW neighbor that checked on the cat while they vacationed?

[liberalnurse]

23. I seriously doubt it.

These are Auto- Industry,Union Democrats!

[Momgonepostal]

31. You never can tell who they may have given keys to...

...over the years. Even if they are the most upstanding people even to have walked planet Earth, it's not a bad idea to change the locks. There may be other key copies out and around. Just a thought.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. All new locks and all new toilet seats are a must. When my parents

bought the last house they owned, the previous owner's ex wife came in after close and transfer of keys to remove some things. Of course, it was wrong but heck just a few things right? Those things happened to be some wood shelves she ripped out of one of the bedroom walls leaving 2 foot wide holes in the drywall...the wood ceiling beams in the same bedroom (her son made them, and she couldn't bear to part with them!), A huge lilac bush, the fridge, all of the mirrors, 3 chandelier lights, and the screen door.
She left a note saying that she "knew you would understand...he's just been so awful to me and I need these things"...Aye yi yi! Door locks changed immediately!

[DBoon]

19. Toilet seats?

Wouldn't a nice scrub with bleach remove all pathogens much more cheaply?

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Better safe than sorry I say. It's the neat freak in me...I've just always

done it and toilet seats are a cheap addition.

[Shananigans]

27. What???

Did they sue? Get any of it back... ????

[NewJeffCT]

17. definitely change the locks

While you may be in a low crime area, you can never be too safe or too sure. I don't see a reason for taking the chance. If you could afford to buy a house, the extra $50-100 to re-key the locks should be in your budget.

I think if you move into an apartment or condo, it's required by law to have the locks changed.

[DBoon]

18. First thing we did

Even before removing the disco-style mirrors covering the living room walls.

[Ready4Change]

20. 100% yes.

Removes any question about who has a key to the house.

Also provides the chance to have a single key operate both front and back doors (and whatever other doors might exist.) I've got enough keys on my chain as it is, I don't need 5 for my house.

[LWolf]

24. No.

I rarely ever lock my doors. The only time that has ever hurt me was in the last year, and the house wasn't bothered, only the garage. I leave the garage door open all spring and summer because there is a family of hummingbirds that nest in there every year. The property is fenced all the way around, and I do lock the gate. But the gate is only about 3 feet high. I lost about $500 worth of tools over the course of the nesting season.

[noonwitch]

25. I didn't-I trust the old people I bought the house from

They are old-school baptists, and good people. I've lived there for three years and had no problems.

If I hadn't met the owners, I would have had the locks changed.

[arwalden]

26. Absolutely!! They look better, and it removes ALL doubt...

whether or not the previous owner returned all the keys... and whether or not ANYONE ELSE that the previous owner trusted with a key returned them (or made copies).

It's just good common sense.

[Shananigans]

29. Change them...

Better safe than sorry. Does anyone know anything about the laws on whether or not building managers have to change the locks on apartments? I live in Minnesota and am almost certain my manager didn't do this.

[liontamer]

30. you should

a friend of mine had a former resident come to his apt at 3 in the morning. The guy just wanted to see who was living in his old apt but still. He was drunk and kept screaming " I've still got the keys". Change the locks!

[St. Jarvitude]

32. Must... not... make... crude copycat thread

Resist... "jocks"............

Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhh!!!! :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh:

[flamingyouth]

33. Yes, most definitely

You don't know who else had keys to the house, in addition to the previous owners (i.e. pet sitters, neighbors, et al).