First Thing: Change The Locks

After we got the keys to the house, the first thing we needed to do was change the locks, because we were told that every real estate agent in west Georgia had a key to them. So, we went to Wal-Mart and bought a package of Brinks locks. You would think that a big security name like Brinks would be good quality, but think again. The very first lock we took out of the package, for the entry door knob regular lock, fell apart in my hands before we could get it to the door to install it! We had already taken the old lock out, so we had to put that one back in the door, and go to plan B.

The next day, we went to an Ace Hardware Store in Bremen, and bought some Kwikset Locks. I have always been told that Kwikset is the best for locks anyway. They cost the same amount as the Brinks ones, which I took back to the store for a refund. We managed to get the regular door knob and the deadbolt installed on the front door the second day. Then we started on the locks on the back door.

When we went to put the deadbolt lock in the hole where we took the original lock out, it didn’t fit! The hole was not big enough for the new lock. The original lock was seated flush to the door, but the new one had a piece that was supposed to fit inside the hole. Because we didn’t have anything to enlarge the hole with, we just put the old deadbolt back in, and left it for the next day.

Before we left, we decided to use some plastic tablecloths to cover the windows until we can get some curtains going on. A quick hit of a staple gun took care of that:

Next day, we went back to the  hardware store, and bought a hasp. Fabgrandpa took about twenty minutes of filing the metal on the door to make the deadbolt lock fit. Finally, after three days, we were able to get all the locks changed. You’d think it would be a simple thing to do.

Next up, we looked under the kitchen sink, and found that the people who used to live there had cut the water supply line, probably to take out a water filter, when they moved out. So, back to the hardware store for a supply line for the water. We wouldn’t be able to turn the water on to the kitchen sink until that was fixed. Fabgrandpa is turning out to be quite handy!