Considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the United States, San Diego with its long history, beautiful parks, excellent schools and of course beautiful beaches has been a preferred home, especially the beach front property, for many years now. Robert Olpaski, a lawyer originally from El Cajon, CA has such a property on the boardwalk of the Mission Beach area of San Diego. Two years ago he purchased the home. At sixteen hundred square feet and with two bedrooms, two baths the home was made even more perfect by the fact that it is two levels.
"I absolutely love the house. Ever since I can remember this is where I wanted to live and when the opportunity presented itself to purchase it, of course I jumped at the chance."
Perfect place, yes, always the perfect scenario, not all of the time.
"I wouldn't sell this place for the world, but sometimes, being right on the boardwalk and you know, the party atmosphere that exists around here, well that can bring some unsavory types, " says Robert.
Robert says that there have been multiple occasions where he's arrived home after business trips to find homeless people sleeping on the deck of the house and also that the front patio entrance has been forced open, beer cans and cigarette butts strewn about and of course the inconvenience of constantly having to repair the old lock on the patio door.
"It doesn't bother me so much that they are having fun or if any of the local homeless guys need a place to rest. I was a kid once and I grew up in San Diego and had my fun so I get it. But the mess and the worry that they might break all the way into my house has forced me to make some changes."
The first thing Robert did was to surf the internet and start doing some research on ways to secure his property without it making his home look uninviting. After reviewing a few links he was directed to a local locksmith that services the greater San Diego area who was able to come out and show him multiple options for the home.
"One improvement we made was to take the old gate out front and put a new lock in it. Ever since I moved in the lock had been removed and was nothing other than a hole that I used to open or close the door. The locksmith put a new high security lock in there and it works wonders."
Robert didn't want his house to feel like Fort Knox so big bulky locks were out of the question. The locksmith suggested a jimmy proof rim lock be installed for the patio door as it wouldn't be viewable from the outside but it would provide higher security than his current lock. Robert also installed locks for his windows so he can leave them open on those beautiful San Diego days while he is out enjoying the sand and surf, right in front of his house.