Avoid this common mistake and ensure your business and it’s assets are safe and secure.
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Whether a tenant leasing, or a purchaser buying a commercial property in Perth, you’ll have a long list of tasks to tick off before moving day.
One of the jobs that we recommend clients complete (and that often doesn’t get thought of straight away) is organising a locksmith to come and change the locks on the commercial property. Whether you’re changing office, industrial, retail, medical premises, it’s important that you ensure the security of your business. You simply have no idea how many people have previously had a key or access to the premises prior to you taking possession.
At Perth Commercial Property, we utilise and recommend the services of one particular company that we know and trust. When choosing a locksmith you should do the same – either opt for the service provider that the commercial real estate agency you use recommends, or ensure that you do plenty of research into local providers. Most commercial property managers will be able to steer you in the direction of a quality service in Perth, but if they don’t, here are our top four things to look out for:
Ask for referrals
It can be a good idea to ask commercial leasing agents in Perth for suggestions, or check with other business owners you know, or even your local Chamber of Commerce or other Government body for recommendations.
Only choose a locksmith who is suitably qualified to complete the job
You wouldn’t hire a plumber or electrician who isn’t suitably trained, and the same thing applies to locksmiths – especially when you consider the value of your stock, intellectual property and other assets you will be moving into the premises when buying a commercial property.
You need to be sure that whoever you hire to change the locks for your property is going to do the job correctly. If you don’t have a commercial property specialist to ask for a recommendation, check qualifications by contacting a professional body such as the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia (MLA). In Australia, locksmiths need to comply with legislation and regulations that relate to security industry licensing. The MLA is recognised as an approved Security Industry Association, so you can rest assured that locksmiths that have joined the body satisfy all of their obligations.
Ask the locksmith you’re considering hiring if they are insured
If the company cannot produce proof of insurance, this should immediately raise a red flag. A locksmith should have insurance to cover the business in case of accidental material damage to the property, and to protect goods and the safety of workers.
Check to see if the locksmith provides 24-hour emergency service.
On the off chance that you ever have an issue with your locks (like a key breaking or copies being lost) you don’t want to get stuck without access when you need it. When choosing a locksmith we suggest that one of your criteria be that they can provide round-the-clock service if needed.
Also, don’t forget when hiring a locksmith to let them know that you are moving into new premises, so that they understand the locks aren’t being changed due to a security breach or payment issue. This will make the process much more straightforward.