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Does The Lock Need Fixing Or Is The Tenant Too Picky?

By
Property Manager with HomePointe Property Management, CRMC 00691121

We recently had a new lock installed at one of the homes we manage here in Sacramento.  The lock was a dead bolt, key outside, and a switch or latch inside.  It all seemed to go well until the tenant called a day later.

It seems that the technician installed the lock so the switch works backwards.  In most cases, the switch moves over the top to the jamb to lock the door and goes back over the top toward the door hinge side to open the lock.

In this case, if you move the switch to the jamb, it opens, and away it locks.  It seems a minor point  and the lock works just fine.   Our tenant however feels disrespected and says the lock functioning this way is not "natural".  Now I don't know where you come from, but prehistoric man did not have locks, so natural does not seem to be a part of this discussion.

After I got over the part of don't these people have more to do in their lives, we sent our guy back out to reverse the switch. 

Now everyone can sleep a little better tonight and it will only cost me some money, which seems to be the "natural" order of things.

Posted by

Robert A. Machado, CPM, MPM

HomePointe Property Management

Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, and Placer Counties

We manage residential and commercial property.

916-429-1205 x 105

rmachado@HomePointe.com

Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

It seems sometimes you can't please everyone all the time they will be unhappy no matte what.

Apr 05, 2010 12:16 PM
Bubba Fife
Complete Property Maintenance - Nashville, TN

 

H-m-m-m!!! Some folks would gripe if you hung them with a new rope...

 

Apr 05, 2010 12:20 PM
Richard Strahm
American Foursquare Realty - Lansdale, PA
Lansdale and North Penn Real Estate

Perhaps you can be just as picky when you are doing the move out inspection and the tenant wants the deposit back!

Apr 05, 2010 12:30 PM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

I agree she is being picky, but with my habits, I can somewhat understand...I would be thinkiing I was locking it and leave it unlock all night (but maybe that comes with age anyway!)

Apr 05, 2010 01:34 PM
Jeremy Butts
Real Estate Entrepreneur - Louisville, KY
Investor

WHAT A PAIN! BUT I CAN'T HELP WONDER - WHAT WAS THE REPAIR-PERSON THINKING?
Jeremy B.
FlipsInFocus.net

Apr 06, 2010 01:40 AM