The Keys To Mailing Keys Successfully

DON’T MAKE THESE MISTAKES WHEN SENDING KEYS IN THE MAIL

There are plenty of things you can’t legally send through the mail but keys are not on that list. Quite often we at Nexus will have keys mailed to us by outgoing tenants or onboarding owners and more often than not there are no issues. That being said, Nexus’ Worcester franchise office received an empty envelope (actually an empty envelope within another empty envelope) this week and it seemed an appropriate time to remind the general public how best to send keys through the mail.

First of all, if you can deliver keys in person, it’s likely worth it. That’s the only way you can 100% guarantee delivery without incident and it relieves any anxiety that might grow from the potential that keys could be lost along the way. Here are a couple simple “do’s and don’ts” for those who do not have the option of delivering keys themselves:

DO:

…Take the added step of spending a little more on secure packaging if the keys are especially important. From a box to bubble-mailers, bubble-lined envelopes, or soft-lined envelopes, anything thicker and sturdier than an envelope is going to add security and success. There’s likely a different sweet spot for everyone when it comes to balancing cost with ensuring the keys are safe. If you don’t want to spend extra to send your keys as a parcel, the other options should do just fine.

DON’T:

…Just place loose keys in an envelope, or an envelope within an envelope (see video above).

DO:

…Securely tape single keys to a piece of cardboard. Similarly, wrap a group of keys in rubber bands and/or place in a plastic bag. Your goal is to decrease jangling and overall movement. Keys with freedom find their way to corners where they can pierce envelopes along their journey. Securing keys and ensuring they can’t use their teeth like a saw is essential.

DON’T:

…Write the address on the keys or keyrings themselves. If those keys wiggle out of that envelope and are found by a random person, you do not want them to know where those keys came from. Instead, attaching a phone number for someone to call can be an effective insurance policy should your keys get away.

DO:

…Reinforce the seams and seal points if you use an envelope. A set of keys in an envelope will have a much harder time getting loose if you’ve reinforced the top and bottom (which would then include the corners) with clear packing tape. When in doubt, tape it up.

DON’T:

…Guess how much your envelope weighs and hope your postage is enough. If you don’t have a scale of your own, take the added effort of going to the post office to find out how much your package weighs. While there, you can ask about the security of your package choice as well.

LEARN MORE: THE BEST WAY TO MANAGE LOCKS AND KEYS AT YOUR PROPERTY

CONCLUSIONS AND NEXT STEPS

Sure, we’re just talking about keys, but universally the thinking is the same as it is when you think about your investments: Do what you can to minimize risks. Is it a little more work to secure your keys rather than just throwing them in an envelope and hoping for the best? Of course. And in the same way, you could try to manage a multi-family apartment yourself, but hiring a professional property manager will limit your risks and ensure you get the best results possible.

If you’re interested in learning more or discussing management services, contact any of our Nexus offices across Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

LEARN MORE: THE 3 PROS AND CONS OF HIRING A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

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Mick Lefort is the General Manager of Nexus' New Haven County Franchise Office and the Vice President of Operations for Nexus Property Management®, a National Property Management Franchise that manages all types of rental property from single family homes or condos to large apartment buildings and complexes.

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