5 Tips For Choosing Locks For Your Rental Properties

July 2, 2020 Locksmith Services Longmont

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Congratulations on becoming a landlord! Buying an investment property is a huge financial and emotional undertaking. If you have done everything right, you are now on your way to earning passive income for many years to come.

That said, owning an investment property comes with a ton of responsibilities. And, among that list of responsibilities is ensuring you provide your tenant with a safe property. This is important as about 2.5 million burglaries are committed annually here in the U.S (there’s one every 13 seconds).

Now, in any home, door locks are an important security system. They basically ensure that the home is only accessible to the rightful residents and not strangers. When looking to buy door locks, there are a couple of things worth considering. In this post we’ll be going over 5 tried-and-tested tips to help you choose the right locks for your rental properties. But first…

What are the Different Types of Door Locks?

Door locks come in many different types and vary in the level of security they provide. So, before choosing one for your rental property, make sure to understand what your needs are first. Below are some of the most common types of door locks.

Deadbolt Locks: These are usually made from brass, steel, and other metal. They are heavier and thicker than your standard spring latch. Deadbolt locks can typically be operated with a key or through an electronic system that can move the bolt. Most deadbolt locks are used as anti-burglary defenses in residential homes. Common types of deadbolts include single- and double cylinder deadbolts.
Mortise Locks: Mortise locks are typically made from stainless steel, solid brass, and other metals. Because of their strength and reliability, mortise locks are widely used in commercial spaces. It is basically a lock that requires a pocket to be cut into a piece of furniture or the door into which the lock is to be fitted. Read more about mortise locks on Wikipedia.
Knob Locks: Knob locks are generally made from high-quality stainless steel and other types of metals. They are the most common type of door lock alongside lever locks. They are commonly installed in residential homes on exterior doors in addition to deadbolts. Although they are common kinds of locks, they are not recommended as a home’s first line of defense. Knob locks and lever locks are not recommended to be used alone without also being used with at least a deadbolt lock.
Cam Locks: Cam locks are usually made from chrome finish die-cast zinc alloy and other metals. They are a robust, cylindrical locking mechanism used in many industrial applications. They are especially popular for use with locking drawers, cabinets, desks, mailboxes, and lockers.
Padlocks: The shackle of most padlocks is made from hardened steel, while costlier padlocks may have boron alloy steels to make them more difficult to cut. Many high end padlocks are also protected with metal covers over the shackles that protect them from bolt cutters. They are also one of the most common types of locks used in residential and commercial settings. Some are designed to withstand extreme elements while others are made for indoor use only.

Top 5 Tips for Choosing Locks for your Rental Property

Now that you understand the different door locks, here are tips on things you should consider when looking to buy a lock for your rental property.

Tip #1: Consider the price

As already mentioned, locks come in different styles and levels of security. So, naturally, some will cost more than others. Typically, those that cost less tend to also offer the lowest level of security and vice versa. Your best bet to getting the right lock for your rental property is to consider asking your local locksmith or thinking about the security level of the neighborhood the house is in. Is the neighborhood safe or is there a lot of crime? Locksmiths understand how the different locks operate and can therefore help you choose the right one for your investment property’s needs.

Tip #2: Conduct proper research

Once you have a few recommendations, go online and read some reviews. This will help you get some insights on the performance of a lock from people that have actually used them. We strongly recommend that purchasers read reviews from multiple different and reputable sites before settling on the lock that best suits their individual requirements.

Tip #3: Choose a lock that can be easily rekeyed

Now, this is important. As a landlord, you’ll definitely find yourself in a position that requires you to rekey locks often. For example, it could be that a tenant has lost their keys and needs different ones made, or for many other reasons. It could also be necessary to do so before a new tenant moves in. In such scenarios, having locks that can be easily rekeyed will make your life as a landlord much easier. Kwikset Smartkey locks are ideal in such situations. In addition, they are not only cost-effective, but they are also pick and bump resistant. These types of locks however typically don’t provide the highest level of security as some other locks might that use multiple security pins and sidebars opposed to reset-able wafers.

Tip #4: Consider the aesthetics of the locks

As a landlord, you also want to consider the physical appearance of the locks. To stand out of the competition, it’s important to make your investment property as appealing as possible. So, when choosing a lock, make sure to pick one that matches your rental home’s finish, color, and/or style. Nevertheless, while aesthetics are certainly important, pay attention not to prioritize them over other fundamental factors.

Tip #5: Consider the endurance of the locks

You will also want to consider the endurance of a lock before buying it. Generally, the grade of a particular lock is directly proportional to how the lock endures under pressure.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rating system was developed by the Builder’s Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA). This system of grading locks ranges from 1 (top grade) to 3 (the lowest grade). When grading, the ANSI looks at various factors, including the latch length, toughness, and longevity of the lock. Read more on Doorware.com

Grade one locks are commonly referred to as “heavy-duty” locks. They are the most expensive and offer the greatest security level. They are tested to withstand a million closing/opening cycles and a dozen strikes of 75 pounds of force.

Grade two locks are designed for use in access points that have low or medium amounts of traffic.

Grade three locks are the lowest strength locks. That said, they are by no means inferior. As a matter of fact, they are usually but not always of higher quality than ordinary non-ANSI locks.