Stop lugging around a heavy key chain

 

 

Stop lugging around a heavy key chain.

Are you still lugging around a heavy keychain with all your keys on it?  Locking yourself out of the house? Forgetting your keys and having to back in the house everytime you start on an errand?

Make life easy. Install outside and garage keypad door locks. Locking and unlocking is just an easy code. No jangly piles of keys needed. Plus, you don’t have to worry about who you loaned a key to over the years. Just wipe out any guest codes you created and start over. It may seem a small thing, but these little things can really make life easier. Plus, being locked out at 2am in the cold is NOT a small thing.

6 random things that could go undetected and cost you money

 
 

6 random things that could go undetected and cost you money

  1.  A broken pipe in winter.
  2.  A small animal or bird gets into the house and wreaks havoc in its frantic attempt to get back out
  3.  Tree limbs break a window or crash through the roof during a heavy storm
  4.  Basement sewage line backup.
  5.  Appliance left on that overheats and begins to smolder
  6.  Forgotten package sits on the front step until it rains or is stolen

We could go on, but you get the point. When you’re away from home, there are just an endless list of things that could go wrong that could seriously damage your property, especially if they go undetected for any extended period.

Why wait until you get home to discover something is a miss. Consider a home monitoring system that includes video camera that enable you to use an app to check in as often as you like  so you check in at any time to see that everything is ok at home.  Locksmiths do more than make keys. Certified locksmith can offer a wide array of home monitoring systems.

What is the value to you, a commercial property owner, in having a service contract with a locksmith?

 
 

What is the value to you, a commercial property owner, in having a service contract with a locksmith?

Locksmith services aren’t always top of mind for the manager of a commercial property. They are sort of like the fire department: you call them when something goes wrong. But does that make good economic sense? Those emergency calls are billed at premium rates, especially the after hours ones. And you’re not top priority if they are busy with a client they have services contract with.

Arranging a service contract with a certified locksmith can really help your bottom line. You get a predictable monthly fee, become top priority in an emergency, and you do away with premium priced calls. In addition, you may save money because services contract may include routine maintenance checks, so potential problems and liabilities can be discovered and repaired before they break and create troubles for you or your tenants.

Who has yours keys?

 

 

Who has yours keys?


Have you recently bought a new house? Have you been in your house for a long while and given keys to neighbors or relatives for various reasons?  


It may be time to think about re-keying your external doors.  Have unknown people out there with a copy of your house key isn’t an ideal situation. If you know you’ve given out a key, it can be an awkward conversation to ask for it back. If you recently bought your house, the previous owners, their relatives, and even your new neighbors may have keys.


The simpler solution is to contact a certified locksmith to have the house re-keyed and be done with it

P.S. When you do this, consider getting keyless door locks that use coded keypads for entry. That will end the “who has keys” question forever.

The latest in theft: Stealing packages from the front door

 
 

The latest in theft: Stealing packages from the front door.


Every new invention or advancement in technology offer new opportunities. The opportunity to improve our lives as well as  the opportunity to develop new criminal activities. The internet has brought us online shopping and front door deliveries. And that means packages just waiting for a thief. One thief was caught with 30 packages in his car: he had simply followed a delivery truck around the neighborhood.


Locksmiths don’t just replace door locks and lost keys. They offer a full line of home security systems. One option for the heavy online shopper is a home monitoring camera. Check your front door when a package is being delivered so you can arrange for it to be put inside your house ASAP.  Signs that the area is under camera surveillance can go a long way to deter thieves.

  
 
Talk to a certified locksmith today.

Locked out of the car? Don’t panic

 
 
Locked out of the car? Don’t panic.
 

Getting locked out of your car is such a frustrating feeling. You can see the key sitting there in the ignition or on the seat and there is nothing to do about it. So near and yet so far. You may think you have to have the car towed to the dealer, or find a ride to and from a dealership to get a new coded key.  Not true. There a certified mobile locksmiths who have trucks and vans fully equipped for travelling to onsite situations like yours. Just be sure you get an estimate over the phone and ask if they are certified and licensed.

Outsourcing your property’s lock and security issues

 
 

Outsourcing your property’s lock and security issues

 
Businesses understand that outsourcing certain tasks is the best business model. Do what you do best, understand the core competencies of your business, and don’t get distracted by the other stuff. Commercial building and property owners do the same thing when they make service agreements with certified locksmiths. Maintaining and servicing doors, locks and other entry points is critical to maintaining the image of your property. It is also an important hedge against the liability of a poorly secured property. Instead of waiting until a hinge breaks or a door doesn’t close properly, allowing in an uninvited intruder, a service contract with a certified locksmith can help ensure the integrity of your property and building security.  Also,  many certified locksmiths provide a full range of security systems and service packages so you can focus on  your core leasing and property management responsibilities.

You’re going all hi-tech, so should your home

    
You’re going all hi-tech, so should your home.
 

With the expansion of tools that use the internet to connect, home protection and monitoring has taken a dramatic shift.  Home security has gone past the old days of wires and sensors that alarmed in case of fire, smoke, water or an intruder.  Now you can be an active participant in the oversight of your property, as well as over those who care for it while you are away.  Internet connectivity of camera and sound devices allows you to use your phone to check for packages left at the front door or verify that the dog walker showed up on time and stayed for the entire hour they billed you for.  Take a look in the kitchen to be sure you turned off the stove.  

There are so many new ways you can feel secure that your home and valuables “stay safe” when you’re away.

Talked to a certified locksmith about the latest technology for home and personal security.

Home security is more than being burglar proof

  
 
Home security is more than being burglar proof
 

A home alarm system is just a fancy term for a burglar alarm, right?
It is time to get beyond the idea that home security is about keeping a building and its residents safe from nefarious intruders.  Yes, a burglar violating your personal safety in your own home is pretty terrifying, but there are a lot of other far more likely dangers out there that can threaten your home.
Obviously, any home alarm system should include sensors that alarm in case of smoke and fire, but what about other risks that lurk out there that few of us think about?  For example, a pipe in winter could fill your house with hundreds of gallons  in just a few hours while you were away for the afternoon. If the furnace went out and you were away for  winter getaway those pipes would be vulnerable to freezing and you would be entirely unaware. Temperature monitors could end this possibility.
It is time to think of ALL the dangers that can befall the building you call home.

Daytime Gremlins and Ghosties? Oh No!

Daytime Gremlins and Ghosties? Oh NO!!

When you were a kid, you were afraid of the ghosties and imps that snuck around at night, often hiding under the bed. But once morning came, they all disappeared and so did your fears. When it comes to home security, we often stick with this nighttime gremlin model of home security. We remember to lock all the doors at night, set the alarm, and worry that this is when the burglars are going to sneak in. In reality, most home thefts occur when the owners are away. (A.K.A. daytime). Most thieves don’t want to run into a homeowner, so when everyone is at work or school is primetime for break-ins, Consequently, you really should be focusing on security tools that address daytime security. No one ever forgets to lock the door at bedtime, but when they run out of the house rushing to work, the garage door gets left open, or the front door unlocked. Locksmiths can introduce you to new technology that allows you to check your locks from your smartphone, monitor via cam the outside or inside of your house and even turn lights and audio equipment on and off throughout the day to make the house appear to be inhabited. With new technology, there are innumerable tools to make sure your house is protected when it is most vulnerable: during the quiet emptiness of the daytime. The reality about those monsters under the bed? They’re actually waiting there until you leave for work.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Daytime Gremlins and Ghosties? Oh NO!!,

Property Insurance: Not the Ideal Model for a Business

Property Insurance: Not the Ideal Model for a Business

Every business owner carries insurance to cover losses due to theft and vandalism. What an odd approach. Why not try to prevent the crimes before they happen? Locksmiths don’t just make keys. Many certified locksmiths also offer ongoing maintenance plans whereby they routinely check your entire security arrangement for wear and tear, and fix things before they break. You don’t wait for a tire to blow out on the road at 60mph. You replace it the minute wear appears. The same should be true of your property. Door closers, alarm systems, locks on windows and doors all eventually break. A maintenance arrangement can replace or update before something breaks. It also can be a more affordable approach. Calls for emergency repairs are usually charged at premium rates, especially if they occur at off hours. Consider revising your after-the-fact approach to property security.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Property Insurance: Not the Ideal Model for a Business,

Crimes of Opportunity: Did You Remember To…

Crimes of Opportunity: Did You Remember To….

An awful lot of theft and crime isn’t planned out. It comes from opportunity. If you have a commercial property or your own business, you are too busy running things to constantly be checking that doors are locking properly, windows are locked shut, and automatic door closers are working properly. That is why relying on a break/fix model for property security isn’t a good idea. If a door part fails or malfunctions, your property is unsecured until you notice it or a tenant reports it. That approach creates opportunity for theft or other crimes. Instead, consider taking out an ongoing maintenance contract that provides ongoing repairs and spot checks to catch possible malfunctions and breakage from wear before a problem occurs. You can’t be constantly checking for problems. Instead, look at an ongoing way to prevent issues before they occur.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Crimes of Opportunity: Did You Remember To,