Most people other than doing a simple key change have never replaced any of the locks on the exterior of their homes. This definitely leaves your home significantly less secure than it should be if this is the case with you. 
Why change your locks under certain circumstances and on a periodic basis? Lock manufacturers make a huge effort every year advancing the security of even their simplest locking mechanisms so you definitely need to take advantage of that once in a while. Criminals are constantly upgrading their breaking and entering techniques and upgrading your locks on a periodic basis is the only way to stay a step or two ahead of them.

Signs and Occurrences That Necessitate Replacing Your Locks
Here are some of the reasons that it’s likely time to replace or upgrade your home’s exterior locks:

• Age

One of the biggest reasons for changing your home’s locks is their age. If your home’s locks are over ten years old it’s almost guaranteed they no longer protect you and your possessions as adequately as they should. If you think about it that’s not a position you really want to find yourself in with your home’s locks.

Even though on the outside all door locks look the same that’s hardly the case on the inside. Newer locks feature much more sophisticated and safe key cuts and are contently being improved by lock manufacturers. Door hardware that offers such things as ‘bump proof’ locks is significantly harder to break into than the door lock technology that was used ten or twenty years ago.

• Your locks are worn or damaged

If the locks on the exterior of your home are showing signs of wear or damage that’s a pretty good indication that maybe it’s in your best interest to change your locks. Locks that are starting to wear out or are damaged will certainly not protect you, your family and the valuables in your home the way you want.
There are other less obvious signs of wear and tear that your home’s exterior locks will show to you. If you have locks that are so hard to open they almost break your key off when trying or your key slides in and out of them with little resistance, then these are also signs that it would be in your best interest to replace or upgrade those locks.

• When taking possession of a new home

Anytime you move into a new residence it’s a very wise move to get your locks changed. That’s because you don’t have any idea how many people had keys or codes to gain access to that home over the years and how trustworthy they are. Anyone forms the previous owners extended family to lawn maintenance people may have had those house keys in their hands at one time or another. 
This will also provide you with an excellent excuse to upgrade the exterior locks on your new place of residence with locks that offer much more security too. For what little extra money upgrading your locks will cost you it’s well worth doing it for the extra security you will get from it.

• After vandalism or break-in

If someone was inconsiderate enough to break into your home and steal things do you really think they would hesitate to use a stolen key to enter your house at a later date? You bet they wouldn’t. That’s why even if no keys are missing you still don’t take chances and get your locks rekeyed or upgraded after a break-in. 

• If you lost your keys

If you have had a roommate living with you and they have moved on that’s a good time to get the locks changed or upgraded at your place of residence too. You will want to do this with every lock they had access to including such things as garages and storage sheds.

• After a split with a roommate or significant other

After you get divorced or end a relationship with a long time significant other its best to get your locks changed too. This is especially true if there was a lot of animosity during the breakup. Many people who have ended long term relationships or marriages have lost jewelry, cash and other valuables because they did not change their locks after the breakup. This cannot be emphasized strongly enough even if you feel you left on good terms with your ex-partner.

• When upgrading offers more security

There comes a time when age, wear or circumstances don’t dictate that you change your home’s exterior locks but your wanting to be more secure does. As was mentioned, the quality of locks is constantly being upgraded and improved and it’s only natural to want to use them to improve your home’s security. Call your local locksmith to see what significant and affordable lock upgrades are out there in the marketplace for you.

Upgrade Your Home’s Locks Soon If It Has Not Been Done in a While
There is no reason these days not to keep your home’s exterior locks up to date. There is a wide variety of home exterior locking devices that work great and are priced affordably. Your family and your valuables are too important not to keep protected as much as possible. It just makes good sense to periodically update the quality of your home’s exterior locks. 

Not only are there many secure home exterior locks available these days at affordable prices but there are also many well-trained locksmiths to install them for you too. Locksmith companies such as Georgetown Locksmiths of Georgetown, Texas have the skill and knowhow to help you upgrade all the exterior locks on your home. This will help keep you, your family and valuables as safe and secure as they have ever been. Locksmiths like them will also come to your home and perform a free residential lock evaluation to let you know how well your home’s exterior locks are protecting you.