Essential Lock Checklist When Moving Into a Resale Home

Gate and Main Door

This is the main entrance to your home. In addition to providing security and keeping intruders out, you also want the door and gate to perform reliably so you can get into your home easily and have the lock work well. Here’s a few things to check:

Digital Lock

Digital locks have a useful lifespan of about 5 to 10 years on average, depending on the lock quality, usage and environment. A heavily used lock in a humid environment, exposed to the sun, is likely to last shorter than a lock used by a smaller household located in a shaded area. You can’t control all the conditions, but you can monitor the digital lock and ensure that it’s working in its peak condition.

Here are some things to look out for:

Age and Visual Appearance of Lock:

• How old is the lock? Is it heavily used?
• Is there rust seen on the metal parts of the lock, such as the metal plates where the latch and deadbolts are located? Are the plastic and rubber parts in good condition, or are they cracked or broken?

If any of the above signs are seen, it is usually a sign that the lock is quite worn and may not perform reliably.

Operation:

• Does the lock lock and unlock smoothly? Or is there slow movement or delays when locking/unlocking?
• Are there any clicking sounds or movements that suggest something is stuck?

These may be signs that the gears on the motor which lock/unlock the lock are worn.

Master PIN, Emergency Key, Access Cards

• Is the digital lock’s master pin code or administrator password available? This is needed to access the digital lock’s settings
• Does the lock have an emergency key? Does it lock and unlock the lock smoothly?

Missing keys means you don’t have a method to unlock the digital lock yourself in cases of software or hardware failure. In some cases, the lock mechanism has internal rust, such that the emergency key is no longer able to unlock the lock.

Reset access from the previous owners:

• Change the master PIN code: Do it as soon as you get the keys, so the settings are yours alone.
• Delete the old users: Remove every user PIN code, fingerprint and access card you didn't set up yourself. You don't know who the previous owners or their tenants shared them with.
• Delete contractor codes after renovation: If your contractors had a code while they worked, delete it once the work is done.
• Change the batteries: Fresh batteries on moving day mean you know exactly when they were last changed.

If you can't get into the settings without the master PIN code, we can help with PIN resets and new user registrations across most digital lock models.

Our digital lock specialists can help you check the lock, and if there are any issues when the digital lock locks or unlocks itself, we can advise you on the options for repair or replacement. Do contact us to arrange a digital lock service call; we are experienced with all the major brands of digital locks installed in homes and offices in Singapore.

That includes Samsung, Zigbang, Yale, Igloohome, Philips, Kaadas and Hafele. If it's time for a new one, our guide on how to choose the best digital lock for your home covers what to look for, and our digital lock maintenance tips will help it last.

Gate and Main Door Key Locks

An equal number of homes will have key locks for the gate and main door. Here are some items to check to ensure that you will have a smooth stay.

Visual Appearance

• In Singapore’s humid environment, locks may rust faster, especially when they are 10 years or older. If the metal parts of the gate or door lock show signs of rusting, it is likely an indication that rust may have also affected the internal parts of the lock.

Operation

• Do the gate and door locks operate smoothly when the handle is turned or pulled downwards? If there is resistance or roughness, it is usually a sign that there is internal rust or that the internal mechanism and gears have heavy wear and tear.

Our team is experienced with lock servicing, repair and replacement, and we can help check the condition of your lock. In many cases, we can advise you when the lock may be on the point of failure and advise you on the options so you can avoid the unpleasant outcome of being locked in or locked out of your new home. You can arrange a service call by making an appointment here.

Lock and Door Alignment

• We receive reports that locks are partially faulty or are not working well. Upon investigation, we sometimes find that the door may have expanded, be warped or show signs of sagging. These are factors related to age and wear and tear of the door and door frame and may not be related to the lock.

Replacing the lock may reduce the effect of door sagging and warpage but is not an effective solution. Our team of experienced locksmiths can do an assessment and provide options to either repair and address these issues.

During the service call, we will show you the issues we discover and also highlight the items to look for. Most importantly, we can provide a range of options to deal with the issue. Book a call with us here.

Back Doors

• For landed properties, there are usually a number of side and back doors and gates to enter and exit the property. We would recommend that these be maintained in good condition, as these provide an alternate exit if there are problems with the main door and it cannot be used.
• A number of apartment units and flats may also have a second exit or back door.
• We recommend doing the same checks listed earlier as you would do for your front door and gate to ensure that the back doors are in good condition.
• External facing doors may be thicker and heavier duty than bedroom doors, so we stock a range of replacement locks and parts to repair and replace any worn or faulty locks.

Bedroom and Toilet Locks

Go through the same checks as above for visual appearance, operation, lock and door alignment. Additionally, check that the keys work for every lock; the key should turn smoothly. If you experience any tension or positions where the key appears to be “stuck”, it is a sign that the lock mechanism may either be rusty or out of alignment.

We have recently experienced situations where the correct key was used for the lock, but it was unable to lock it. The lock had visible rust on it, and it was more than 10 years old.

Our team is experienced in checking the condition of locks and can advise you whether to monitor the condition of the locks or we may advise lock replacement if the lock is close to the point of failure.

Mailbox Locks

Mailboxes are more exposed to the environment and weather than other locks, so they have greater wear and tear. If it is difficult to turn the key to unlock the mailbox, we do not recommend using force, as this may bend and break the key. Our team has specialised tools to unlock sticky or worn mailbox locks, and we can check the condition of the locks.

When Should You Check the Locks?

Ideally, before you move in, while the home is still empty. If you're renovating, any lock repairs or replacements can then be done alongside the works, not after the furniture is in.

Then do one more round once the contractors have finished, and reset any codes and keys they used.

Get Your Locks Checked

The above items are part of the checklist we go through on a service visit. If you’re experiencing any of the above issues with your lock or you would like to get advice or arrange a service visit, especially if you’re moving into an older flat or apartment or house, our team is available to help check the condition of existing locks and also proactively take care of issues before they become major problems. Contact the Nexus Locksmiths team via phone or WhatsApp at 87582418.

Frequently Asked Questions