All Forum Posts by: Michael Nahm
Michael Nahm has started 27 posts and replied 77 times.
Post: Thoughts on new locks for every turnover
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
Originally posted by @Erik W.:
@Michael Nahm, we use the iCore locks from Landlordlocks.com. They cost about $45 per lock (x2 for front door and back door), so they aren't the cheapest. But they are on a master key system, so my one Master key opens every lock in our inventory. No more massive key ring! Also, you get a Control key that allows you to pull out the lock core and replace it with another core in 5 seconds. I re-key the lock right in front of the tenant at the lease signing so they can see that the old key no longer works and the new key I just gave them does work.
Back in the old days I used to swap out locks....ugh. Took me 10 minutes to re-key a house, and seems like one lock would break (cheap!) eventually. Then the other one was no good since I wanted sets keyed alike.
They also have "trap" screws that have a very unique driver bit head, so tenants cannot pull my locks off and put their own on. I highly recommend the iCore series, having used them now for 3 years and my life is so much easier. They are commercial grade, much tougher than regular locks. All you need is one set of extra cores ($5 per core) and you can simply rotate the one that is pulled out to another house, etc. If at an apartment complex, you'd probably want several extra cores so that you could hold an old core out of circulation for at least 6 months.
I hope that helps.
Am definitely going to look into this, especially since it sounds user-friendly. Thank you.
Post: Thoughts on new locks for every turnover
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
Originally posted by @Colleen F.:
Change the locks, you have too. You have no idea who has keys and will show up to a rental. Crash on a couch after they are no longer living there, get in a bed in their old bedroom. Impaired and crazy people know no bonds. I know people it has happened to.
We have an extra set of knobs or use kwikset. Others use landlordlock system but it is expensive. Also you can use keyless se locks with codes you can change.
Been in the rental business for almost 8 years, nearly all properties have had the same tenants from when I started (none were inherited tenants). The few that had turnovers were about three years ago (we seem to have good folks as tenants and we’re good to them in return, hence low turnover).
Regardless, you are correct, I need to start changing locks, and will do so starting with the next move.
Post: Thoughts on new locks for every turnover
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
Originally posted by @Michael Craig:
Kwikset has what are called "smartkeys". You can rekey the dead bolts and door knobs with a different key. This allows you to keep the same dead bolt and door knob and just change the key.
https://www.build.com/kwikset-400t-s/s192982?uid=2678466&source=gg-gba-pla_2678466!c1045498776!a54026150289!dc!ng&gclid=CjwKCAiA4Y7yBRB8EiwADV1haUqoHLYBUQh9x39HP8Q4Kmr0xMFH7qI0xvDQPk3tUCzao6NVfaBiQxoCj9QQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Thank you, very useful!
Post: Thoughts on new locks for every turnover
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
Originally posted by @John Underwood:
Either rotate locks between properties or get the kwikset smartkey locks that you can re-key in minutes without removing the lock.
Great advice, hadn’t heard of the kwikset until you mentioned it.
Post: Thoughts on new locks for every turnover
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
We own a few rentals and thus far haven’t changed the locks at any turnover. As I may have a couple of turnovers coming up I’m curious as to what others do when it comes to move-time and whether a change in locks is part of your protocol.
Appreciate any feedback.
Post: Seattel Bans Evictions in winter!
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
As someone who endured winters in MN for far too many years, Seattle winters feel like summer in comparison. If your pee doesn’t freeze outside mid-stream, you don’t know what winter is 😜
On that note, you can evict a tenant anytime of the year in MN ☺️
Post: Tenant complaining of noisy pipes
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
Thank you all, I’m very familiar with the variety of noises coming from baseboards, never had a complaint about them though. Thank you all for the input.
Post: Tenant complaining of noisy pipes
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
My tenant just moved into a condo I own a couple weeks ago and is complaining about tapping sounds from the baseboard heating.
From what I understand, it is typical noise culminating from the pipes retracting and expanding.
Do I have an obligation to fix it or should I politely tell him that the noise is part of the heating system?
Post: Toilet overflow damage
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
@Bryan O.Thank you for your response.
Post: Toilet overflow damage
- MN
- Posts 77
- Votes 19
Thank you Anna, that’s a great policy to implement! Thanks again.