We have a new house! Now if only we could get in.
January 7, 2015 6:07 AM Subscribe
We got the keys to our new house!
Specifically: We got around ten keys. Mostly not super-well labeled. The place we are moving into is currently divided into three separate apartment units. Last night we spent about an hour futzing with various keys. We were able to get into two of the three apartments. But we were unable to find a key that could open the door to the third one.
I don't know if the problem is that we are actually missing the key we have, or if the problem is that the key we need is a bit sticky, and hidden somewhere in those ten unlabeled keys.
As an added twist: The third apartment is the one that (we think) contains the thermostat for the whole house, and it's super cold (-17 celcius) today.
We have some tradespeople coming in an hour to work on the house. (We don't move in for another couple of weeks). We don't have any contact with the previous owner (that's all handled by lawyers). I called our real estate agent and our lawyer to see if they can help.
I wonder if anyone has any advice: Strategies for how to find a key in a mess like this? Ideas for what we might do that we have overlooked?
Thanks!!
I don't know if the problem is that we are actually missing the key we have, or if the problem is that the key we need is a bit sticky, and hidden somewhere in those ten unlabeled keys.
As an added twist: The third apartment is the one that (we think) contains the thermostat for the whole house, and it's super cold (-17 celcius) today.
We have some tradespeople coming in an hour to work on the house. (We don't move in for another couple of weeks). We don't have any contact with the previous owner (that's all handled by lawyers). I called our real estate agent and our lawyer to see if they can help.
I wonder if anyone has any advice: Strategies for how to find a key in a mess like this? Ideas for what we might do that we have overlooked?
Thanks!!
Response by poster: First question: Is spraying a bit of wd-40 into the lock a terrible idea? I know you're supposed to use powdered graphite, but we're in a bit of a rush, and I have Wd-40 and I don't have powdered graphite...
posted by ManInSuit at 6:10 AM on January 7, 2015
posted by ManInSuit at 6:10 AM on January 7, 2015
Call a locksmith.
posted by chiababe at 6:10 AM on January 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by chiababe at 6:10 AM on January 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
Call a locksmith to either re-key or replace the door lock.
If you've tried all 10 keys, that's the best tack.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:11 AM on January 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you've tried all 10 keys, that's the best tack.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:11 AM on January 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you're desperate to get in, drill out the lock and force your way in.
You can try wd-40, I used it all the time on our door locks.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:13 AM on January 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
You can try wd-40, I used it all the time on our door locks.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:13 AM on January 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
The last time I had to call a locksmith, it cost about $80 to pop open a locked door. Rekeying locks on a new place is a good idea anyway, since you don't know who the previous owners gave keys to. (And if you are going to be renting out the apartments, you will want to rekey between tenants anyway.)
Don't use WD40, there are better options for sale at the hardware store for locks.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:13 AM on January 7, 2015 [15 favorites]
Don't use WD40, there are better options for sale at the hardware store for locks.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:13 AM on January 7, 2015 [15 favorites]
Check your local laws (assuming you intend to lease the units)--around here, I have to re-key entry doors between tenants, so you might need a locksmith anyway, but that's honestly the fastest easiest way to get into the unit.
posted by crush-onastick at 6:24 AM on January 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by crush-onastick at 6:24 AM on January 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
A vote for cylinder locks, keyed alike for each unit, since you're starting fresh. Beginning with a new set of keys and locks provides peace of mind. As does having a working relationship with a trusted locksmith.
I have not lived with keypad doorlocks but that's another option; several friends use them and don't complain. Perhaps others will weigh in.
Recommend walking through your intent and preferences with a locksmith and having them describe your options, including "restricted" (do not duplicate) keys.
posted by xaryts at 6:43 AM on January 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have not lived with keypad doorlocks but that's another option; several friends use them and don't complain. Perhaps others will weigh in.
Recommend walking through your intent and preferences with a locksmith and having them describe your options, including "restricted" (do not duplicate) keys.
posted by xaryts at 6:43 AM on January 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
including "restricted" (do not duplicate) keys
Don't bother with this one, especially if someone wants to charge you extra to do it. I have never been denied any of the times I've gone and had a DO NOT DUPLICATE key cut. No one has even hesitated. It's not like there's some kind of key law. Definitely not worth bothering with it on top of your other door woes here.
posted by phunniemee at 6:58 AM on January 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
Don't bother with this one, especially if someone wants to charge you extra to do it. I have never been denied any of the times I've gone and had a DO NOT DUPLICATE key cut. No one has even hesitated. It's not like there's some kind of key law. Definitely not worth bothering with it on top of your other door woes here.
posted by phunniemee at 6:58 AM on January 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
For the immediate problem, call a locksmith to come and open the apartment. You might need to show them proof of ownership.
If your intent is to keep the individual apartments intact and rent them out, I would suggest you get ALL the locks replaced and re-keyed with individual keys and a master key. You really have no idea how many copies of the existing keys are actually out there.
And, then, have the master thermostat moved to a more central location that doesn't require you to enter an apartment to adjust.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:07 AM on January 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
If your intent is to keep the individual apartments intact and rent them out, I would suggest you get ALL the locks replaced and re-keyed with individual keys and a master key. You really have no idea how many copies of the existing keys are actually out there.
And, then, have the master thermostat moved to a more central location that doesn't require you to enter an apartment to adjust.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:07 AM on January 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
Do not use WD-40. It may get it open right now, but it will, in the long run, jam up the lock.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:39 AM on January 7, 2015
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:39 AM on January 7, 2015
Since you will (or should) replace all the locks, WD-40 can't hurt.
posted by Obscure Reference at 7:40 AM on January 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Obscure Reference at 7:40 AM on January 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't have powdered graphite
Do you have a pencil? It should work just as well.
posted by soelo at 7:56 AM on January 7, 2015
Do you have a pencil? It should work just as well.
posted by soelo at 7:56 AM on January 7, 2015
Seconding the pencil; it's what I use all the time on keys that get glitchy and on doors that aren't closing easily etc. It usually works like magic.
posted by yoink at 9:27 AM on January 7, 2015
posted by yoink at 9:27 AM on January 7, 2015
I didn't know that WD-40 jams up locks. That explains my last door nob. I used WD-40 on it every few months until it froze locked and had to be removed with brute force. You will probably be replacing all the locks anyway, so, using it today won't hurt. Also check the windows, one might not be locked.
posted by myselfasme at 10:57 AM on January 7, 2015
posted by myselfasme at 10:57 AM on January 7, 2015
depending on how tight fitting your doors are, I've had great success with sliding a blood pressure band into door jams, pumping it up, and then sticking things in on the angled side of the door "tongue" thing to pop open doors. if you have a ton of extra keys and a file a bump key is also really easy to make! just google it.
both of these options will make you sad how easy it would be to break into your house, though.
you can also always just call a locksmith, but it was like $60 to open a door last time I did it, which is why I've learned all these dodgy methods.
posted by euphoria066 at 9:39 PM on January 7, 2015
both of these options will make you sad how easy it would be to break into your house, though.
you can also always just call a locksmith, but it was like $60 to open a door last time I did it, which is why I've learned all these dodgy methods.
posted by euphoria066 at 9:39 PM on January 7, 2015
Response by poster: We called a locksmith. He drilled out the old deadbolt and installed a new one. It came to a little over $300! Still, I guess worth it to get into our house.
posted by ManInSuit at 9:33 AM on January 8, 2015
posted by ManInSuit at 9:33 AM on January 8, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by chrillsicka at 6:10 AM on January 7, 2015 [3 favorites]