This post was sponsored by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
When we moved into our new home 6 year ago, we didn’t know where to even start with DIY projects. There were so many small upgrades that we wanted to do. You see, we bought a house that was over 100 years old, and if you’ve ever lived in an older home, you know just how much work they are to maintain and upgrade.
But that was what we signed up for and what we were most excited about. Breathing fresh air and life into our 1920s colonial style home in the historic district of our small town.
One of the first things we decided to do, as most people do when they purchase or rent a new home, is change the door locks. Today, I’m sharing 3 reasons why it should be one of the first things you DIY in your new or old home!
New Keys
A door lock is a symbol of security in your home, but when a home is as old as ours, there’s no telling how many copies of keys are floating around. Putting in new door locks and getting new keys made for your home is one of the most important reasons you should change your locks as soon as possible.
Change to a BHMA Certified Label Lock
When you’ve decided to change the locks on your home, how do you go about choosing and shopping for door locks? While style might be at the top of your list, I’d encourage you to put the BHMA® Certified Secure Home label in it’s place.
The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) makes it easy when it comes to picking out new locks for your home. When you see a lock with the BHMA Certified Secure Home label, you know that it’s been rated and rigorously tested for a variety of things – security, durability, and finish.
The BHMA rating system consists of Good (C), Better (B), Best (A) and rates each lock system on its performance in the 3 categories above (security, durability, and finish). When you’re choosing an important item, such as door locks, to help maintain home security, these ratings definitely matter. I love that the BHMA label makes it an easy way to pick out the best type of door lock for my home!
When you’re shopping, be sure to look for the BHMA Certified Secure Home label. You can also learn more about the ratings and key features to look for, when you visit securehome.org.
Upgrade the style of your home
We still have a lot to our house that is original to the 1920s build. The hardwood floors are actually all original and so many of the fixtures have never been replaced from the original install. Our front door is original to the home also.
But most of the door locks and hardware were replaced in the early 1990s and the big, bold gold fixtures don’t match our style or the style or our home. Replacing your door locks and door hardware is a great way to bring in a new style both to the outer and inner design of your home.
It’s also a great way to refresh and reset your home’s style without a total redo or renovation, and easier on the DIY budget too.
I hope I’ve inspired some thoughts on reasons it’s a good idea to replace your door locks in an older home today. Really, no matter what style or age your home is, changing your door locks can add security and style to your beloved family space. And don’t forget to look for the BHMA Certified Secure Home label!