Take locksmithing, for example.

Multi-unit buildings often have more stringent security requirements than even single-tenant properties. Whether you own or rent a high-rise residential apartment or a space in a multi-story commercial building, here are some ways a locksmith can help give you peace of mind.

1. Rekeying Your Unit

If you own your unit, make sure you rekey it immediately upon moving in so that no one has access to it—whether it’s a past resident or someone unknown. If you rent, you can check with your landlord to see if this has happened (and request it if not). Either way, a locksmith can work with you or the building owner to easily rekey your unit and give you peace of mind.

2. Adding Locks to Your Door or Window

Additional security is always welcome, especially for your front door or window, as these are two of the most common areas of an apartment or condo where people break in. While a more prevalent issue for spaces on the lower floors, it’s a wise idea regardless of your unit’s location. A locksmith can install an impact-resistant additional lock that can only be unlocked from the inside, for example, or increase the security of your windows via a locking bar or other mechanism.

3. Installing a Doorbell Camera

Adding a front door camera is another good security measure to take, whether you get frequent visitors or not. Opening the door to check who is there is a security mistake, but a camera will let you check first from the safety of your interior. While cameras used to be an issue with landlords due to old models that had to be drilled into the building, newer models aren’t as invasive and more landlords are open to them.

4. Helping During an Emergency

If you’re locked out of your condo or apartment and building management or maintenance isn’t there, a locksmith can help. This is especially helpful during emergency situations, such as when a child is left alone inside or an elderly person has fallen. A professional locksmith can help you quickly access the unit again.

5. Repairing Locks or Locking Mechanisms

If the door, window or safe locks in your multi-unit property is compromised due to age, damage or another factor, a locksmith can help repair it. Again, if you rent, you might want to ask the landlord first (or make sure you’ll be compensated), but if you own, it makes sense to get these issues addressed right away.

These are just a few ways locksmiths can help with multi-unit properties like high-rise apartments and condominiums. To learn more and request a consultation or no-obligation quote, contact A-1 Locksmith today.

Here are four quick questions you can ask to give you more peace of mind before opening the door of your home to a stranger.

1. ‘Who’s there?’

First, establish the identity (or self-proclaimed identity) of the person on the other side of the door. Be wary of any confusion or inconsistent answers. If you have a peephole or window, try to also confirm whether the person is wearing a uniform or driving a company vehicle and whether that’s consistent with their stated identity. Or, see if there’s anything else that can help you identify them. If you have an intercom doorbell or a video doorbell camera, it makes this step easier.

2. ‘What do you want?’

Try to gauge the trustworthiness of the person by asking about their intentions. They shouldn’t have to think about it. Ask them several questions about what they do and what they want. If you’re a little more confident and have interest in their stated objective, you can crack open the door to confirm (and see what they look like if you don’t have a peephole, convenient window or doorbell camera). Just be sure to keep your guard up and conduct cautious behavior like planting your foot on the bottom of the door to maintain a defensive position.

3. ‘Is this an emergency?’

Many criminals will use emergencies as excuses for people to open their doors, whether it’s running out of gas or a medical issue. If that’s the case, they should have no problem with you calling the police to help them out. If they aren’t who they claim to be, however, they will almost always leave at the suggestion of police aid.

4. ‘Can you come back another time?’

Usually, solicitors, service professionals and other legitimate visitors will agree to set up an appointment and come back later. If you’re confident about the trustworthiness of the person, feel free to open the door, ask more questions or let them in (if this is absolutely necessary). But if you have any doubts, maintain your peace of mind by keeping the door closed and wishing them on their way.

If you’d like additional home security advice or would like to purchase an upgrade to your home’s security including doorbell cameras and full-home security systems, contact A-1 Locksmith or stop by any of our DFW-area locations today.

Camera doorbells are receiving greater adoption, yes, but not everyone purchasing these handy devices has the “know how” to properly install and configure them. If you’re having trouble with your camera doorbell installation, here’s why you should consider hiring a locksmith to help you out:

It’s Convenient and Makes Financial Sense

When you try to install a camera doorbell on your own, you’re going to have to invest significant amount of time researching how to install it. Then you’ll have to invest time installing it, which can be excessive if you run into any trouble. Finally, you’ll have to invest time testing it to make sure everything is set up correctly. How much is your time worth? Let’s say you make $40 per hour and spend just three to five hours installing your camera doorbell — you’re looking at $120-200 just in time investment alone. With a professional locksmith, you’ll enjoy an efficient installation and service.

You’ll Have More Peace of Mind

Do you have years of experiencing installing camera doorbells? How do you know you’re doing it properly? Do-it-yourself YouTube videos will only get you so far. Additionally, we’re talking about home security here. Are you confident that your installation will provide the level of home security that your family needs to sleep peacefully at night? Most people want to buy a camera doorbell in the first place for peace of mind. By hiring a locksmith to install your camera doorbell, you’ll have the confidence that everything is set up properly by a certified locksmith and will work when it matters most.

You Can Make Sure You Got the Right One

How do you know that the camera doorbell you’re purchasing (or purchased) is the right one for your particular situation? Just because a camera doorbell has the best reviews or is the most popular doesn’t mean it’s ideal for your home. A trustworthy locksmith can recommend a camera doorbell with features you might not have thought of before, such as:

• Full HD video with motion sensor and live monitoring
• Free video recording for multiple users and two-way communication
• Activity history with color night vision and quiet mode
• Photo-taking capabilities
• Weather and theft guarantees

If you need help with your camera doorbell installation, A-1 Locksmith has you covered. We have 10 locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, so there’s sure to be one near you.