Post by deborah on Sept 21, 2015 0:08:30 GMT
Mosa5 months ago
Key Advice
Hey East Bay-ers!
I just had a guest leave with my key for the first time, and he's unable to return it. Annoying. I've already had the place rekeyed, and my guest has agreed to pay for that. I also want to charge a service fee (because spending my Sunday at the hardware store getting my lock rekeyed was not without cost).
Anyone have any experience with this? Curious what you have charged -- I would like to go with a standard rate if there is such a thing.
Much thanks,
Mosa
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Jordie
Jordie5 months ago
How is someone "unable" to return a key?? Unless they live hours from the nearest fedex I don't see how this is possible. I require guests to overnight the return of the key or they get a $75 fine (covers the cost of a new key and my time). Rekeying seems like overkill, but maybe that's me and maybe you really didn't trust this guest?
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Mosa
Mosa5 months ago
Really appreciate the response. Thanks, Jordie. He offered to mail it, but I've had bad experiences with that before (friend sent a key via mail once and all I got was an empty envelope).
It was only $20 to rekey, but think I'll charge $50 total for my time. Again, really appreciate your response.
Mosa
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Deborah
Deborah5 months ago
I only once had a guest depart with the key, and he told me he would send it back in the mail, and I believed him and he did. I didnt' have to rekey the place. However, at another time I had a guest overstay his reservation by more than 3 hrs -- left his things in his room and I could not find him and was unable to reach him by phone or email. So I had to "rekey" his room -- actually replaced the lock.
I have planned in advance for all these things, and I will tell you what I do and suggest you do this as well. If you use my method it will only take you a few minutes time and you won't have to go to the hardware store.
What you do, is you buy extra locks for all those locks you might need to "rekey" or change out, in the event that a guest doesn't turn in the key. These might be exterior door locks or they might be a bedroom lock, depending on what keys the guest has and which you are concerned about. Get a "spare" set of such locks, both deadbolts and keyed entry locks as needed. Then, if a guest doesn't turn in a key, you simply remove each of the locks that have that key, and replace them with the spare set of locks that you have purchased in advance, which use a DIFFERENT key. You of course get multiple copies of keys for that spare set of locks so you have some for you , some for a soon to arrive new guest, and some as extras. IT only takes about 5 minutes to change a standard deadbolt or keyed entry lock. Now if you have a mortise lock on your front door you are out of luck for that because that isn't one you can easily get a replacement for.
Then after a period of time, the "old" set of locks will become your new "Spare" set and you can switch back to those if the same thing happens again.
But to your question of how much to charge. I would charge for the rekey fee as well as your labor time, the time it took you to get this done, at a reasonable hourly rate.
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Deborah
Deborah5 months ago
I see you posted a note just now on what you expect to charge him. Yes, I think $50 total is fair. I would probably charge about $40 an hour for my time plus the rekey fee.
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Mosa
Mosa5 months ago
Thanks, Deborah. I really appreciate your advice and time. Great idea! Love this community!
Reply Like Delete
Robert
Robert5 months ago
Had anyone tried the "Lockitron" device? It seems like it would be a really simple solution to this.
Reply Like Delete
Jordie
Jordie5 months ago
I had a client (I manage a few Airbnbs for others) who tried a similar product called August Lock and he hated it, but it was based mostly on looks. That's my only experience.
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Peter
Peter5 months ago
I bought a combination key lock box from Home Depot. I installed it in the gas meter box next to the front door. I instruct my guests to access the key that way. It only takes a minute or so. From time to time, I change the combination. Cheap, easy, effective. Have never lost a key this way, plus I have a way to get back in whenever I lock myself out (which is more often than I care to admit) :-)
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Danielle
Danielle5 months ago
There are locks you can install that make re-keying a non issue. Check out www.kwikset.com/Videos/How-to/rekey-deadbolt-pin-tumbler.aspx - Or just get a re-keyable Kwiset lock which comes with a pickle fork. Re-keying takes about 30 seconds.
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Noah
Noah4 months ago
I have been very happy with my kwikset smartcode for the past 3 years -
Reply Like Delete
Jordie
Jordie4 months ago
I was happy w the kwikset until the time when it failed on a guest at 11 pm (no key worked at all!) and I had to pay a locksmith about $250 to drill the thing out! He said it happens from time to time
Reply Like Delete
Noah
Noah4 months ago
I had the batteries die one time while a guest was at the front door. Keeping an extra key in a lockbox on the property somewhere should eliminate that from becoming a big problem-
Reply Like Delete
Key Advice
Hey East Bay-ers!
I just had a guest leave with my key for the first time, and he's unable to return it. Annoying. I've already had the place rekeyed, and my guest has agreed to pay for that. I also want to charge a service fee (because spending my Sunday at the hardware store getting my lock rekeyed was not without cost).
Anyone have any experience with this? Curious what you have charged -- I would like to go with a standard rate if there is such a thing.
Much thanks,
Mosa
12 comments
Following
Like
Delete
Hide
Jordie
Jordie5 months ago
How is someone "unable" to return a key?? Unless they live hours from the nearest fedex I don't see how this is possible. I require guests to overnight the return of the key or they get a $75 fine (covers the cost of a new key and my time). Rekeying seems like overkill, but maybe that's me and maybe you really didn't trust this guest?
Reply Like Delete
Mosa
Mosa5 months ago
Really appreciate the response. Thanks, Jordie. He offered to mail it, but I've had bad experiences with that before (friend sent a key via mail once and all I got was an empty envelope).
It was only $20 to rekey, but think I'll charge $50 total for my time. Again, really appreciate your response.
Mosa
Reply Like Delete
Deborah
Deborah5 months ago
I only once had a guest depart with the key, and he told me he would send it back in the mail, and I believed him and he did. I didnt' have to rekey the place. However, at another time I had a guest overstay his reservation by more than 3 hrs -- left his things in his room and I could not find him and was unable to reach him by phone or email. So I had to "rekey" his room -- actually replaced the lock.
I have planned in advance for all these things, and I will tell you what I do and suggest you do this as well. If you use my method it will only take you a few minutes time and you won't have to go to the hardware store.
What you do, is you buy extra locks for all those locks you might need to "rekey" or change out, in the event that a guest doesn't turn in the key. These might be exterior door locks or they might be a bedroom lock, depending on what keys the guest has and which you are concerned about. Get a "spare" set of such locks, both deadbolts and keyed entry locks as needed. Then, if a guest doesn't turn in a key, you simply remove each of the locks that have that key, and replace them with the spare set of locks that you have purchased in advance, which use a DIFFERENT key. You of course get multiple copies of keys for that spare set of locks so you have some for you , some for a soon to arrive new guest, and some as extras. IT only takes about 5 minutes to change a standard deadbolt or keyed entry lock. Now if you have a mortise lock on your front door you are out of luck for that because that isn't one you can easily get a replacement for.
Then after a period of time, the "old" set of locks will become your new "Spare" set and you can switch back to those if the same thing happens again.
But to your question of how much to charge. I would charge for the rekey fee as well as your labor time, the time it took you to get this done, at a reasonable hourly rate.
Reply Like Delete
Deborah
Deborah5 months ago
I see you posted a note just now on what you expect to charge him. Yes, I think $50 total is fair. I would probably charge about $40 an hour for my time plus the rekey fee.
Reply Like Delete
Mosa
Mosa5 months ago
Thanks, Deborah. I really appreciate your advice and time. Great idea! Love this community!
Reply Like Delete
Robert
Robert5 months ago
Had anyone tried the "Lockitron" device? It seems like it would be a really simple solution to this.
Reply Like Delete
Jordie
Jordie5 months ago
I had a client (I manage a few Airbnbs for others) who tried a similar product called August Lock and he hated it, but it was based mostly on looks. That's my only experience.
Reply Like Delete
Peter
Peter5 months ago
I bought a combination key lock box from Home Depot. I installed it in the gas meter box next to the front door. I instruct my guests to access the key that way. It only takes a minute or so. From time to time, I change the combination. Cheap, easy, effective. Have never lost a key this way, plus I have a way to get back in whenever I lock myself out (which is more often than I care to admit) :-)
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Danielle
Danielle5 months ago
There are locks you can install that make re-keying a non issue. Check out www.kwikset.com/Videos/How-to/rekey-deadbolt-pin-tumbler.aspx - Or just get a re-keyable Kwiset lock which comes with a pickle fork. Re-keying takes about 30 seconds.
Reply Like Delete
Noah
Noah4 months ago
I have been very happy with my kwikset smartcode for the past 3 years -
Reply Like Delete
Jordie
Jordie4 months ago
I was happy w the kwikset until the time when it failed on a guest at 11 pm (no key worked at all!) and I had to pay a locksmith about $250 to drill the thing out! He said it happens from time to time
Reply Like Delete
Noah
Noah4 months ago
I had the batteries die one time while a guest was at the front door. Keeping an extra key in a lockbox on the property somewhere should eliminate that from becoming a big problem-
Reply Like Delete