Who has got keys to your front door?

You've got a key. Your other half has a key. The kids? And maybe mum and dad, in case of emergencies. Perhaps a best friend. Didn't you lend a key to the builder when you had that work done in the kitchen.

You know who has had access to your home and you're pretty sure you can trust most of them not to rob you.

One question: did you change the locks when you moved in? You could have lived in the same house for ten years with the same locks as the previous owners had on the door. Sure, they seemed like a nice couple and they moved out to Spain, so they are hardly likely to be breaking in to your home. But you can be sure that they gave out as many copies of their keys as you have. Maybe more.

It's very easy to forget to have the locks changed when you move into a new home. Moving day is fraught with worry and stress and something so trivial can slip your mind. But if you take a moment to ponder how many keys are out there to your front door.

Then think further. What if the people you bought the house from didn't change the locks when they moved in. That would mean that the people who lived there before them and all of the people they gave copies of the keys to could walk into your home at will. At Kingsbridge locksmith Burfords, we can can replace or rekey your locks in a matter of minutes, as well as supplying you with as many copies of the keys as you need there and then.

Yes, this may be a little paranoid. Of course these people have all either lost or broken. Or forgotten what they are for. But the chances of being the victim of a burglary is twice the average during the first year you live in a new home.

The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) both strongly recommend that you have the locks changed in your new home as soon as possible. In fact getting it done the day you move in isn't going to cause much of a disturbance usually. It really is preferable to have the locks changed before the unpacking is completed.

After all, you just nip out for a meal that evening, who wants to cook after all that work. Someone who has a key to your front door and knows you have just moved in, simply walks into your home. While the lions share of your belongings are still boxed and packed, ready to be moved. One call to Burfords, Kingsbridge locksmiths and we can have a trained, experienced locksmith to you in a flash and make sure that your new home is secure and all of your possessions and your family are safe.

Failing to have the locks changed on moving into a new home will mean that in the event that someone used a copy of the key to break in, your insurance company can legitimately refuse to pay you for any claim you make. It is a common clause in insurance policies to say that you, as the homeowner, are responsible for reasonable steps being taken in protecting the insured property against burglary. They can argue that by not removing the chance of someone nefarious having a key to your door, that you did not take said reasonable steps.

Our locksmith services are available across Devon, including:

Kingsbridge, Dartmouth, Modbury, Brixham, Totnes, Plymouth, Goodrington, Ivybridge, Paignton, South Brent, Torquay and Newton Abbot.