Since opening our doors in 2016 we have supported our customers during all stages of selling and buying properties. Whether it is a first home, a vacation condo on the beach, or a new restaurant or retail location our team is ready to help. Let's explore how a local, trusted locksmith can assist you during the three stages of a real estate deal: preparing the property before listing, during the listing/before closing, and after closing.
Support Before The Listing
- Ensure doors are easy to unlock and re-lock: Before a property is listed make sure that all doors are easy to unlock and re-lock. Buyers and their agents will interact directly with the doors and locks during each walk through. If doors are challenging to open this could make a bad first impression on potential buyers and make them question how well the property has been maintained. On the flip side, if locks are stubborn and challenging to secure, this could lead to a buyer's agent leaving your property unlocked when they leave.
- Consider installing a smart lock: If you desire maximum privacy during the listing and do not want a lockbox on the front door, you consider installing a smart lock. One great feature of many smart locks is that you can remotely see when the door is unlocked and when it is secured again. Also, if a buyer's agent failed to lock the door after a showing, you would be able to lock it remotely with some locks. A smart lock opening seamlessly for potential buyers can set the stage for a good impression of the property.
- Make extra keys if needed: If you choose to leave keys in a lockbox you may need to make extra keys. Our shop locksmiths at our convenient Santa Rosa Beach shop can assist you with key copies.
- Increase security for vacant properties: If a property is going to sit vacant during the real estate transaction our team can also help you increase its security since vacant properties are more prone to burglary. Guaranteeing that all windows and doors are able to securely lock not only helps you make a good impression on buyers but decreases the odds of burglary before the home sells.
- Provide keys for outbuildings: Don't forget to provide sets of keys for any outbuildings on the property. Make sure these copies are easily labeled so that the buyer's agent can quickly gain access to all the features of the property you are selling.
Support During The Listing/Before Closing
- Troubleshooting access issues: During the listing our team is ready to help if there is trouble gaining entrance to the property. This may be especially useful if the seller is remote.
- Re-securing after break-ins: Unfortunately properties are more prone to burglary while they are for sale. If the property is broken into, our team is ready to come and help you re-secure the property with working locks and rekey if necessary.
Support After Closing
- Rekey all locks: Most closings end with the new buyer receiving the keys to the property. But those shouldn't be your forever keys. It's time to rekey! "Rekeying a house" means changing the internal mechanism of the existing door locks in a newly so that only the new keys will work. This allows the new owner to control who has access to the property by creating new keys after taking ownership; this is considered a good security practice immediately after closing since you don't know how many copies of the old keys are in circulation. For all you know your new neighbors still have a key to the property from when they house sat for the sellers a few years back. Or the cleaning service, handyman, and relatives of the seller may still have keys.
- Schedule rekeying service: Call our friendly team and one of our expert locksmiths will travel to the new property and rekey all exterior doors. It's helpful if you've made a list of all the locks you want rekeyed when you call to schedule. Don't forget to mention any outbuildings, pool locks, beach gates, owner's closet, etc… that also need rekeyed.
- Install smart locks: This is an excellent time to install smart locks on the property. Smart locks are especially helpful if you're going to have work done on the house prior to move-in. You may grant or revoke access remotely and delete codes once the work. Smart locks eliminate the concern that your new keys may be duplicated or lost.
- Vacation rental lock requirements: If the property is a vacation rental and you're going to use a property manager to run the listing, they may require a specific remote access lock. Check with them and our team can bring your new lock and install it.
Summary
In closing, we are here to support our community along the Emerald Coast before a property goes on the market, during the listing, and after closing.
