The car is loaded. You turned off the stove and lowered the thermostat. But did you secure your locks?
The holidays bring travel, and travel brings distraction. Your attention may be on airport security, rental cars, and dinner reservations while your house sits unprotected. Here’s the good news: a little planning can protect your property. D Express Locksmith serves Montgomery County, Bucks County, and Philadelphia County. We can help your home stay locked up tight before you take off.
Locks You Might Forget Before a Holiday Trip
Every holiday traveler knows that their house can become an attractive target while they are away. The lights remain off. No one draws the curtains. The driveway sits empty. In addition, packages may be waiting on your doorstep. All of these details can tell a thief that you are not home.
If you live in Ambler, Horsham, Blue Bell, Lansdale, or anywhere in between, your house may sit vacant for several weeks during the holiday season. Those vacant houses are often the ones that thieves target.
Most thieves don’t plan sophisticated break-ins. Instead, they try a few doors until they find one with a broken lock or no deadbolt. That’s how many homes get robbed. Don’t give them an opportunity. Take a few minutes now to ensure your home is as secure as possible.
How to Prepare for Holiday Travel: A Locks-First Pre-Departure Checklist
Take these steps a few days ahead of your departure. If you discover any issues along the way, you’ll still have time to fix them before you leave.
Inspect Your Door Locks
Check your deadbolts to confirm that they operate smoothly. If they’re difficult to use, have them serviced or replaced before you go.
Rekey If You’ve Lost Track of Spare Keys
Whether it’s your aunt, a contractor, or the neighbor who took in your packages last summer, you should know who holds a copy of your keys. If you have too many copies in circulation, rekey your locks so that only trusted individuals have working keys.
Consider a Smart Lock Upgrade
Smart locks allow you to monitor the status of your home from afar. Want to give the dog walker access while you’re out of town? A smart lock lets you do that securely and sends you an alert every time the door opens.
Check Your Sliding Doors
Many homeowners forget to secure their sliding glass doors. Leaving them unlocked for convenience may be tempting, but it’s not worth the risk. Install a security bar or push a wooden dowel into the bottom track.
Double-Check Your Garage Door
Make sure the garage door closes completely. If you use a garage door opener, ensure that the emergency release is covered or otherwise secured.
Turn On a Light or Two
Use a timer, if needed, to mimic your normal schedule. Having a light on is better than leaving the entire house dark.
Why Rekeying Before You Travel Is the Best Option
Rekeying is the process of modifying your lock so that it no longer works with the old key. This allows you to change your keys without replacing your hardware. When a locksmith rekeys your locks, they provide new keys while making the old ones unusable. As a result, anyone holding an old key can no longer enter your home.
Rekeying gives you peace of mind when you go on vacation. You know that your keys haven’t fallen into the wrong hands. D Express Locksmith always prioritizes rekeying before recommending a full lock replacement. We understand that rekeying is often a quicker and more budget-friendly way to secure your home.
Should You Upgrade to a Smart Lock Before You Travel?
A smart lock is a great investment for anyone who travels regularly, whether for business, leisure, or holidays. It allows you to control access to your home from anywhere.
Here are the benefits of installing a smart lock before a trip:
- Control your door remotely. You’ll never have to worry about forgetting to lock the door again.
- Give temporary access to others. With a smart lock, you can give the dog walker or house sitter a unique passcode that expires when you return.
- Get alerts. Your smart lock can alert you when someone unlocks the door or opens it at an unusual hour.
- Eliminate hidden spare keys. You won’t need to leave a spare key under the mat, where everyone knows to look.
At D Express Locksmith, we install and program smart locks in homes across the Philadelphia suburbs. We walk you through the options so you can select the model that fits your door, budget, and comfort with technology.
What If You Return Home to a Lock Issue?
Sometimes the problem isn’t a break-in. You may come home after a trip and discover that your key won’t turn. Cold temperatures can cause a lock to freeze. A shifting doorframe may create alignment problems. Over time, a key can also wear down.
D Express Locksmith is available 24/7. If you’re standing on your porch after a long journey and the lock won’t cooperate, call us. We’ll dispatch a mobile locksmith to your location anywhere in Montgomery County, Bucks County, or Philadelphia County. Our locksmith will get you back inside quickly and without damaging your door.
Why This Is Especially Important Right Now
Most people in the Philadelphia suburbs know their neighbors and value their close-knit communities. However, that sense of safety and familiarity can cause holiday home security to fall through the cracks.
Some residents feel comfortable leaving doors unlocked. Others distribute spare keys and lose track of who has them. Home security may not seem urgent until something happens.
It only takes a few minutes to make your home more secure. Whether you live in Ambler, Blue Bell, Horsham, Lansdale, Doylestown, or another Philadelphia suburb, check your locks before heading out.
What Should You Do Next?
If you’re traveling for the holidays, follow this plan of action:
- Check your doors and test each lock. Write down any locks that stick or feel difficult to operate.
- Call D Express Locksmith to schedule a rekey, lock repair, or smart lock installation ahead of your trip.
- Use your smart home system to set timers for your lights. Ask someone to check on your property and watch the mailbox for packages.
- Save our number in your contacts: (267) 551-6815. If anything goes wrong while you’re away or when you return, we’re just a phone call away.
We care about your safety. D Express Locksmith is a BBB A+ rated, fully insured, 24/7 mobile locksmith located in Ambler, PA. We come to you. Our team is fast, professional, and ready to help. Learn more at dexpresslock.com or call (267) 551-6815 to schedule service ahead of your next trip.
Common Questions About Home Security
How long does it take to rekey the locks in my home?
Most residential rekey projects take 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the number of locks that need attention. D Express Locksmith comes to your home and completes the job on-site.
Should I replace my locks or rekey them before a trip?
In most cases, rekeying your locks is enough. The process resets your locks so that the old keys no longer work, without requiring you to purchase new hardware. D Express Locksmith always considers rekeying before recommending replacement.
Can you install a smart lock on my current door?
Most of the time, yes. Several smart lock models work with standard residential doors. We can assess your door during a service visit and help you select the right model.
What should I do if I come home after a trip and the key won’t turn?
Call D Express Locksmith at (267) 551-6815. We’re available 24/7 and can dispatch a mobile locksmith to your location. Our locksmith will get you back inside quickly and without damaging your door.
Are you available to help me in my area?
D Express Locksmith serves communities throughout the Philadelphia suburbs from our base in Ambler, PA. We’re available 24/7 to assist residents in Montgomery County, Bucks County, and Philadelphia County.