Kwikset resettable locks good or bad?

Home Depo now sells lock sets that can be reset to a different key. This would be nice, to not have to change and throw out lock sets every time a tenant moves.

My question is, are these resettable locks reliable and safe? New tech sometimes has bugs. Has anyone had any experience with these lock sets?

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 06:40AM

Jeff Cooley

· Colorado

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Icon_minipost Dec 17 '08, 12:11 AM

I have put these on a Duplex and a 4plex. So far they are working great. I have been told you cannot master key these like you can other Kwikset locks.

If you are doing a rehab and order over $2,500 at Home Depot ask to be put in the bid room at the Pro Desk. They will send the quote to central office and they will come back witha discount. I bought 10 of these rescently for $29.00 ea for the deadbolt and knob set.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 06:41AM

Joe Cline

Residential Real Estate Broker · Austin, Texas

29 posts
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Icon_minipost Dec 31 '08, 01:06 PM

Several builders here in Austin use these types of keys. That way they can give the construction crew keys toe the home, but when the home closes, the new owners just use the reset key on all their doors and they are assured the old keys don't work.

Joe

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 06:48AM

Michael Shadow

Multi-family Investor · Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

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Icon_minipost Jan 11 '09, 06:27 PM

Originally posted by Mark Hu

This would be nice, to not have to change and throw out lock sets every time a tenant moves.

You throw out locks each time a tenant moves? I don't throw them out. I have all the same locks and I have about 8 extra sets and I move them between buildings and apartments. That way a lock is out of service for about 2 years before it's back in service again and then it's likely to end up in a building the last tenant with that lock knows nothing about.

-Michael

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 06:55AM

Mark Yuschak

Rehabber · Grand Blanc, Michigan

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Icon_minipost Jan 11 '09, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by Michael Shadow

Originally posted by Mark Hu

This would be nice, to not have to change and throw out lock sets every time a tenant moves.

You throw out locks each time a tenant moves? I don't throw them out. I have all the same locks and I have about 8 extra sets and I move them between buildings and apartments. That way a lock is out of service for about 2 years before it's back in service again and then it's likely to end up in a building the last tenant with that lock knows nothing about.

-Michael

That's exactly how I do it too. Lock sets are too expensive to just throw away!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 06:55AM

Matthew Gil

Real Estate Investor

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Icon_minipost Jan 11 '09, 09:25 PM

May want to look into Landlord Locks as you scale up your operation...

http://www.landlordlocks.com/

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 06:55AM by Moderator : activated link

Michael Shadow

Multi-family Investor · Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

1042 posts
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Icon_minipost Jan 11 '09, 09:37 PM

Originally posted by Matthew Gil

May want to look into Landlord Locks as you scale up your operation...

http://www.landlordlocks.com/

Wow that's awesome. I wish I had known about that years ago. I think I might start looking into them when I get my next building. Thanks for the link.

-Michael

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 06:55AM

Owen D.

Real Estate Investor · Carter Lake, Iowa

94 posts
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Icon_minipost Jan 11 '09, 11:42 PM

Thanks for the link Matthew!

Are the locks they sell as easy to use as they appear to be on their website? If so, I am definitley picking up some of these...

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 06:55AM

Ed Cossart

Real Estate Investor · Bath, Maine

4 posts

Icon_minipost Jan 23 '09, 01:46 AM

I started using Landlord Locks about 2 years ago after learning about them on this website. The system works very well, and yes changing out a cylinder is a lot faster than writing this post. 10 seconds with my hands full of other stuff (as usual).
The basic locks are nothing more than builder quality - but they work fine and i wouldn't trade it for anything.
Ed

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:01AM

Marc Freislinger

Real Estate Investor

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Icon_minipost Jan 17 '10, 06:48 AM

I know this is an old post, but I'd like to give my $.02...

These locks are great for new homes and rehabs like Joe mentioned. I use them on my rehabs. It also makes it easier if a contractor gets fired or walks off the job, to change the locks and give everyone a new key.

Pros:
Very easy to rekey
Cannot be picked easily (if at all?)
Cannot be bumped

Cons:
Expense
Cannot be mastered!!
I saw a tool at a trade show that allowed these to be taken apart without a key... Scary?

I master key, so they don't help in my rentals at all, but they are fairly secure for a single rental or a rehab. Keep in mind, the weakest part of most doors isn't the lock, it's the 1/2in piece of wood holding the deadbolt in place.

I saw these at a trade show and mentioned to the guy that they couldn't be rekeyed without the original key, and he showed me a tool that would unlock and rekey them without the original key. That convinced me that I didn't want them on my house.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:15AM

NC Mark

Real Estate Investor · North Carolina

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Icon_minipost Jan 17 '10, 07:17 AM

I used to swap out cylinders between rentals but then got really paranoid about how an aggressive lawyer could twist that into my negligence if a criminal entered the property with an old key.

Now I spend $8 a cylinder to have it rekeyed to a totally new key and throw out the old keys.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:15AM

Dennis Keyser

Real Estate Investor · Monclova, Ohio

18 posts
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Icon_minipost Feb 25 '10, 09:20 PM

I use Landlord Locks also. I can change locks without a screwdriver and carry spares in my truck. The master key is very nice also. I can get in all of my properties with one key but the tenants can't get into each others. Tell them you found them from Key Rental Ads.com and they will wave the set up fee. That is a deal I have with them. http://www.landlordlocks.com

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:49AM