Holiday and Weekend Lock Security: A Practical Guide
Lock problems don’t keep office hours. Holidays and long weekends bring extra guests, trips away and late nights, and with them more chances for something to go wrong.
Why holidays raise the risk
Spare keys get handed to visiting relatives, house sitters and pet carers. Homes sit empty during trips. Late celebrations and full hands make it easy to leave keys inside. None of this is unusual, which is why it’s worth planning for.
Before you go away
- count your spare keys and know who has each one
- test every exterior lock and deadbolt; fix any that stick
- put lights on timers so the house doesn’t look empty
- change keypad codes you’ve shared in the past
When guests stay
Give guests a key or a temporary keypad code rather than hiding a spare outside. After they leave, collect the key or delete the code. If keys aren’t returned, rekeying makes them useless.
If you get locked out over a holiday
Call and describe the situation, the type of lock and where you are. Ask for the full price, including any holiday or after-hours charge, before the technician sets out. Have ID ready that shows your address.
A small step that helps
Save a local locksmith’s number in your phone before the season starts. Ours is 408-310-4396.
