As anyone who’s thought of doing a home renovation knows, it can really take a chunk out of your pocket. It can also be really disruptive with carpenters, electricians, and what-not trekking in and out of your home. That’s why it’s usually a good idea to remodel in phases.

If you want to make a quick update to set the stage for your renovation, consider updating your entry door hardware, interior door knobs, and cabinet hardware. You can do these projects yourself without spending a ton of time on them. Schlage door knobs have been specially designed to last a lifetime and come in a wide variety of designs, so you’ll have the freedom to coordinate every detail of your décor.

Start with your entry door and a keyless door lock. Our customers report success in getting a new keypad door lock installed in 20-25 minutes, with no prior experience required.

• Insert the latch assembly into the latch hole in the door edge.
• Place the keypad assembly on the outside of the door, threading the spindle through the latch.
• Slide the interior assembly onto the keypad assembly.
• Attach a 9v battery.
• Screw on the interior lockface over the mounting plate.

Schlage interior door knobs install quickly in existing doors. Using only a Phillips screwdriver, you can replace your old locks in about 10 minutes each. Here’s a brief how-to:

• Insert the latch assembly into the latch hole in the door edge and screw it in.
• Place the lockset assembly into the hole in the front of the door, inserting the spindle through the hole in the latch.
• Slide the opposite knob assembly onto the lockset until the backplate is flush against the door surface and screw it onto the door.

Check the door to be sure it closes securely.

With Schlage door locks, you can begin your renovation quickly, inexpensively, and all by yourself in just one afternoon. We’ve built our reputation on delivering the easiest-to-install door locks and door hardware in the business, backed by strong customer support. For example check out the numerous how-to videos on our website and our YouTube channel.

Electronic locks have gained popularity in recent years. An electronic lock operates by means of electric current generated by batteries. Electronic keypad door locks feature ten buttons that you can use to create custom entry codes and codes can be easily added or deleted right at the keypad. Some electronic locks relock after five seconds, ensuring your home is safe and secure at all times. Keypad door locks are ideal for exterior, side, back, or garage entry doors.

Because they’re keyless, keypad locks offer super convenience for busy people. A keyless lock means no worries about kids losing keys, no need to carry a key when you leave the house, and no need to hide a key outside (bad idea anyway!). You can assign each family member his or her own special code to unlock the door. You can add and delete codes as often as you want or need to in seconds! Schlage keypad locks come pre-programmed with 2 user codes and feature a 19-user code capacity with 10,000 user code combinations to choose from. They also have a battery life of over three years.

When looking for an electronic keypad deadbolt lock, be sure to look for Grade-2 or higher and one with wear-resistant keypad buttons, so potential burglars can’t guess a code based on wear and tear. Consumers rank Schlage locks highest in areas of importance such as durability and security. In fact, Consumers Digest rated Schlage keypad deadbolts as a “Best Buy.”

It’s unbelievable to think that school starts so soon. Where did the summer go? School supplies have filled store shelves for weeks, and August is Back to School Safety Month.

If school isn’t already back in session, it will be within the next 3 to 4 weeks; the school bell will ring and parents will once again scramble to get the kids out the door on time. For working parents, taking the kids to school and picking them up can be a scheduling nightmare, and sometimes it’s just impossible. That means kids may be leaving home on their own or arriving home to an empty house.

Here are a few tips to keep your kids safe before and after school:

1. Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your child can walk to school or ride with on the bus. Find a safe place where the kids can wait for the bus, away from traffic and off the street.

2. If your child walks to school, consider starting a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children walking to school.

3. Be sure your child has a list of phone numbers of people to call if they can’t reach. Put it on their cell phone or on a card they can carry in their backpack or wallet. Post emergency numbers by your home telephone.

4. If alternate adult supervision is not available, make special efforts to supervise your children from a distance. Consider using a home monitoring camera to check in on them.

5. Children should have a set time to arrive home and should check in with a neighbor or with a parent when they do. Wireless locks can notify you wherever you are when your front door is opened.

6. Make sure your children know to keep the doors locked when they are home alone.

7. Set guidelines on who they can have over (if anyone) and what they are allowed to do, such as watch television or use the stove. Use a home monitoring system to see if they’re following the rules.

Remote home monitoring offers peace of mind for many parents during the school year and anytime. Home monitoring cameras that can be viewed remotely from a cell phone or computer let parents check in on their kids to be sure they’re safe and doing what they’re supposed to do. Schlage LiNK home automation system starter kit comes with remote home monitoring camera and wireless door locks that you can program to open at certain times as well as notify you when they are opened.