Windsor sits between Fort Collins and Greeley, and plenty of people moving to Northern Colorado end up in one of its newer neighborhoods. Whether you bought a new build or an older home, the locks are worth a look in your first week.

1. Assume other keys exist

Builders, previous owners, real estate agents, cleaners and contractors may all have had keys or codes. You cannot know how many copies are out there, so the simple fix is to rekey the exterior locks. Rekeying changes the pins inside the lock so old keys stop working, and you keep the existing hardware.

2. Do not forget the garage

The door between the garage and the house is often left on a knob lock only. Change the garage opener code, clear any remotes you did not receive, and make sure the entry door has a working deadbolt.

3. Reset every keypad and smart lock

Electronic locks keep old user codes until someone deletes them. Do a factory reset or remove every code, set your own, and replace the batteries so you start with a full set.

4. Check the strike plates

Open each exterior door and look at the metal plate on the frame where the bolt goes. Longer screws that reach the framing behind it make a door much harder to force. It is a small job that makes a real difference.

5. Sort out your spare keys

Decide where your spare lives before you need it: with a neighbor, a family member in town, or a lockbox that is not in plain sight. Avoid the doormat and the fake rock.

6. Look at sheds, gates and mailboxes

Padlocks and mailbox locks often come with the house too. Replace any you do not have the key or combination for.

If you would rather have it handled in one visit, Choice City Locksmith is a locksmith serving Windsor, CO for rekeying, lock changes, deadbolts and lockouts. Phone (970) 803-1100.