You signed, you got the keys, you carried in the boxes. One question rarely gets asked: who else has a key to this place? Rekeying answers it. It changes the inside of the lock so every old key stops working, and it costs far less than replacing hardware.
What rekeying actually does
A standard pin-tumbler lock opens when the right key lifts a row of small pins to exactly the right height. Rekeying means swapping those pins for a new set that matches a new key. The lock body, the handle and the finish stay the same. Only the key changes.
A replacement swaps the whole lock. That is worth doing if the lock is worn, sticks, or is a weak grade on an outside door. If it works smoothly, rekeying is usually enough.
Who might still have a key
- Previous owners or tenants, and their relatives
- Real estate agents and lockbox users
- Cleaners, dog walkers, babysitters
- Contractors who worked on the house
- Old roommates of the previous resident
A seller may hand over every key they know about. Copies made at a hardware store years ago are another matter. Nobody keeps a list.
If you rent
Check your lease before touching the locks. In many rentals the landlord controls the locks and must keep a key. Ask the landlord to rekey between tenants; many will, and some leases already require it.
One key for every door
While the locks are open, a locksmith can often set them all to the same key, as long as they share a keyway. Front door, back door, garage entry, side gate. One key on the ring instead of four.
What it costs in Mountain View
The posted price list for this service shows rekeying starting at $19.00 per lock, plus the service call fee, with the final price depending on the lock's security level. A house with three or four exterior locks is usually a single visit. Get the quote on the phone first.
Rekeying several locks? Look at the coupons page: one offer covers a free fifth rekey when you rekey four.
Do it on day one
Before the furniture, before the housewarming. It is a short job and it closes a gap you can't see. See residential locksmith services for the full list.
