Security Upgrades for Edmonton Rental Properties
Almost every property manager we’ve met has a similar key ring – that giant ball that barely fits into a pocket and takes ten seconds to sort through. It also makes you wonder how many of those keys are floating around. Building security means tenant safety comes first, and people need to feel safe and secure in their homes. As a property manager, it’s also about turnover cost, liability, and insurance every time a key changes hands or a lock wears out. Here is a list of security upgrades you can make at your apartment or condo buildings.
Rekeying on turnover instead of replacing locks
This is the highest-return habit for rental portfolios. Simply rekey the locks instead of changing them every time. If you’re hiring a subpar or unlicensed locksmith, they’ll often recommend the highest margin service on their end: replacing all the hardware. Instead, rekey your locks.
Master key systems across a building
Creating master keys for your buildings is one of the most efficient things you can do – having one key simplifies access for contractors, staff, or inspectors. However, don’t be tempted to master key across multiple buildings (same key, different buildings). If a key goes missing, then you’re re-keying multiple buildings. Learn more about master key systems or key cutting.
Astragals & Interlockers
These are one of our most requested commercial upgrades. They provide a significant increase in security to any exterior or lobby door, as they close the gap where the two doors meet, which is the spot most vulnerable to prying. Tenants will notice this upgrade too, as the added hardware will make the door appear more robust and secure. Learn more about our astragal & interlocker installation here.
A note on access control
Keyless entry, fobs, and access control across a building is the biggest upgrade you can make, but it’s in a separate category as the investment is much more substantial. Not only that, it entirely changes how people interact with your building. There are many considerations to be made here. Property managers ask us the most about these systems, so we’ll write our own post about it soon. For now, consider it the end point rather than the starting point: the above upgrades we listed deliver most of the security gain for a fraction of the cost, which is the best place to start.
If you’re not sure where to start, we’re happy to visit your properties for a free security assessment. We’ll diagnose what’s working and what needs improvement, with recommendations that meet your budget and current building state.
Give us a call at (780) 999-0456 or fill out our contact form today!
