Key and home security
Essential guide table of contents
Imagine the worst scenario:
You got up very early in the morning to catch your flight, you’ve been travelling for what seems like forever, you’re in a new city, it’s dark and you’ve finally arrived at your new vacation home. Your exchangers departed their home on the day you left yours, you probably jetted by each other in mid air but now you’re here and they’re there and… you can’t open the door.
What went wrong?
- Perhaps you’d arranged to get the key from a neighbour – but your flight was delayed and the neighbour has gone out.
- A friend was going to be there to let you in – only he had a sudden emergency and couldn’t be there. Or maybe he forgot.
- You’d arranged that the key would be hidden inside a plant pot outside the door. Which pot?
- You have the key, but you don’t have the key to the electronic security gate your exchangers simply forgot to tell you about.
- You’ve successfully opened the door but can you disarm the security alarm that is now ringing, waking up the entire neighbourhood?
- It’s too dark, where is the light switch? And where is the alarm system?
Plans go wrong for all kinds of unexpected reasons. Be prepared.
Now imagine the best scenario:
- Find a way to meet your exchangers at the airport and spend one night together getting acquainted with your new friends. If arrangements are so tight that you simply can’t meet your exchanger, then ask a reliable friend to meet them at the airport or at least be in your home to greet them on arrival.
- Alternatively, make adequate key provision beforehand. By far the easiest option is to arrange for a friend to welcome your exchangers and pass across the key or just mail a set of keys to your exchangers in advance, allowing of course adequate time for postal delays. Couples may require a duplicate set.
- Send detailed instructions about how to activate and deactivate your home alarm system. Leave details of the Security Company to ring, if your exchanger might have problems with the alarm. Home alarms can be very intimidating to those unfamiliar with them. Knowing you have only 30 seconds to deactivate the system before an alarm sounds can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when you are tired and you can’t locate the light switch. Think about sending a detailed drawing or photo of your system to your exchangers, with clear instructions about which buttons to press and which numbers to use. Do not send this in the same envelope as your keys.
Always think ahead. Be prepared for the worst scenario and then of course it won’t happen.