The festive season is here and it is very likely going to be one of the best Christmas you ever had. People all around are starting to prepare for the festivities by decorating their homes with gorgeous Christmas lights and everyone is shopping for fine gifts to offer friends and family. With so much to do and so much excitement occupying our minds, it is pretty easy to forget about things that are second nature on average days… like home security… or your keys.
This is the time of the year when people may become vulnerable to theft or accidentally lock themselves out of their homes or vehicles. It can be very difficult to get help during the festive season, which is exactly why we are going to share some great tips to help you avoid security risks or lockouts.
This is the time of the year when you will be doing a lot of spending on expensive and luxurious gifts. And all of these gifts are often left unattended at home when we go out to see the Christmas decorations others have put up or while we are visiting friends and family.
One of the simplest and best things you can do to keep your home and gifts safe is by inspecting all of the locks. Check all locks and keys and make sure that they are still in good condition and not worn out. If you do notice damage or issues with certain keys or locks then it might be good to get these issues restored before you proceed with your festive arrangemenets.
Locks and keys should be replaced at least once every 10 years. If you haven’t replaced the locks in a long time then it might be good to get all the locks on exterior doors replaced right away. Door locks are usually pretty easy and quick to replace. If you hire a professional lock smith, all of the locks can be replaced within just a few hours and your home will be much more secure during the festive season.
A spare set of keys can solve a lot of lockout issues for you. It is pretty common to forget or misplace your keys when you are out celebrating with friends or when you are so busy planning and preparing the perfect Christmas feast. If you don’t have a spare set of keys then this certainly is the time to go and get a spare set.
When you have a spare set of keys, you also need to be strategic with your hiding place for your keys. We don’t recommend placing your spare key underneath the door mat but hiding it in some other location like inside your handbag, in a car console, or in some other inconspicuous place in your garden can help you out if you happen to lose your keys.
Key holders can save you a lot of time searching for your keys. Get a key holder installed inside your home in a safe spot outside of direct view. Next, you will need to teach everyone and yourself to only store a key in this specific location. Within no time at all, it will become a habit to place the key in this spot and you will start doing it without even thinking about it. If you do lose track of your keys, they are most likely to be on the key holder because you taught yourself to place the key on that specific spot even when you are not actively thinking about it.
It is always good to entrust a spare set of keys to someone outside of your household. This can be a trusted neighbour, or a family member who lives by. If you happen to lock yourself out, you will still have a way to get into your home and someone can get into the house in case of emergencies.
The festive season is filled with lots of concerns and things to do. But with these tips, and a proper home locking system from Smith Locks, lockouts won’t be one of the things you feel concerned about. Contact these professionals if you want to replace your locks, if you need a spare set of keys or if you want to upgrade your general home security.
At Smith Locksmith, we pride ourselves in being one of the leading service providers in Melbourne.
