Last week I met with my Locksmith to re-key some locks at one of the properties. As I was hanging a lockbox (so the tenants could get their new keys later), I realized this would be a nice tip for the readers that are self-managing their properties.
Ditch the push button lock on your main entry door.
Having a dummy knob plus a deadbolt prevents the tenant from accidentally locking themselves out. This will help you avoid weekend/late night phone calls when the tenant invariably locks themselves out since they walked out without their key-knowing the button on the lock keeps the unit secure.
Can you tell I rent to college students?
With the deadbolt set up, the tenant needs their key to lock their door. I just wish I knew about this tip in the beginning of my landlord career whenever I could get a call at 2AM from a drunk tenant saying he is locked out.
Also, never install a lever style dummy knob. The round ones are best since you will need a round knob to prevent your lockbox from being stolen.
Here is the right set up. Note how the lockbox is secured around the dummy knob. The prior photo showed the worst of two worlds. Both a lever lock and a button lock.
Happy landlording!
Leave a Reply