Locks - what do you use?

[Scott F.]

Greetings BP!

I’ve searched the last 10 pages of the Landlord Forum & Rental Property Questions section and found nothing on the subject – Locks, what do you use?

I was just posting on an article where someone said they don’t issue keys they issue codes to digital (push button) locks, which got me thinking – hmmm, maybe I’m doing it wrong. I’ve had master keys for almost all of our locks since the earth cooled, but technology has definitely changed, and so have landlord style locks.

I formerly installed a locking handle and deadbolt, but after chasing 500 “my kid locked us out by locking the handle” calls I eliminated the locking handle and went to just a deadbolt and passage handle only. However it still costs me about $60.00 per door to buy these and have it mastered to our key system.

So the grand question is can you describe and perhaps provide a link to show us what you use and the cost?

Thanks!

[Mark H.]

http://www.kwikset.com/smartsecurity/re-key-techno...

I just look on eBay for "builder packs" - 10 locks in cardboard boxes instead of retail bubble-packs..I've scored them as low as $10 a lock -  I key everything the same myself - if you goof up, there's a video on YouTube showing how to re-key a borked setup (only done it twice so far), and there's also a $3 tool to flip the lock cylinder so the keys all go in the same way..  

It's nice for anything that's been on MLS, as well as after a tenant leaves, you can re-key the whole house in 10 minutes if you're slow for $0. There are people who claim these locks will "lose" their programming, but I've never had it happen & it's not like they're expensive if you had to actually toss one anyway.