How soon after buying a house should the locks be changed?
As soon as you have the keys. Ideally the locks are rekeyed in your first days in the house, before you have settled in, so that from the start the only working keys are the ones you hold.
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The exact timing matters less than doing it early. If you can, book it for the first days after closing rather than leaving it for later. The summer moving season is when this work stacks up, so booking ahead is better than waiting.
Why the first days matter
When you buy a house, you cannot know who else has a working key. A previous owner, a contractor, a former tenant or a letting agent may still hold one, and the number of copies is unknowable. The seller handing over a set does not mean that set is the only one.
Rekeying fixes this. The lock is changed internally so that the old keys no longer work and a new key does. Because it is done on the lock you already have, it is often all a new home needs. Where the hardware is worn or mismatched, the locksmith can replace it instead.
It also brings the house onto one key. Many homes have front, back and side doors that each take a different key. After a rekey, one key can work every exterior lock.
What you can check yourself before booking
- Count what you were handedGather every key from the seller or agent and note which door each one belongs to. A missing or unlabelled key is a good reason to rekey sooner.
- List every exterior lockWalk around and note the front door, back door, garage side door, any gate and any shed. Giving the full list when you call means the estimate covers everything.
- Note worn or loose hardwareMake a note of any lock that is stiff, loose or visibly worn. The locksmith can then say whether it is better replaced than rekeyed.
- Decide who needs keysWork out how many keys your household needs so they can all be cut during the same visit.
When to call a locksmith
Call once you have the keys and a list of the locks, ideally before your first week is out. Call (866) 690-5848 and we will arrange a visit with an independent locksmith. The locksmith looks at the locks and gives you the price, and work starts only once you agree it. The estimate is free.
If you are ever locked out of the new house instead, the locksmith checks identification and proof that you are entitled to enter before opening anything. A driver's licence with the address, a utility bill or closing paperwork showing the address are examples. Licensing for locksmiths varies by state, so check with your state or city if you want to know what applies where you live.
What the locksmith will do
- Rekey every exterior lock to one keyThe exterior locks are set so that a single new key works all of them, and the old keys stop working.
- Replace worn or mismatched hardwareWhere a lock is too worn to rekey well, or does not match the others, it is replaced and keyed to the same new key.
- Cover the garage side door, gates and shedsSecondary locks are included, so no door is left on the old key.
- Cut keys for the householdKeys are cut for everyone who lives there, and you are shown that they work before the locksmith leaves.
Related questions
- Should I rekey or replace the locks?
- Rekeying is usually enough if the locks are in good working order, since it makes the old keys useless. Replacement makes sense when the hardware is worn, damaged or does not suit you. The locksmith can advise when they see the locks.
- Will the old keys still work afterwards?
- No. Once the locks are rekeyed, the previous keys no longer operate them. Only the new keys cut at the visit will work.
- What affects the cost of changing the locks?
- The main factors are the type of lock, how many locks and doors are involved, whether any hardware has to be replaced, how many keys are cut, and the time of day. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed before work begins.
- Do I have to be home during the visit?
- It is best if you are, so you can agree the price, confirm which locks are included and collect your new keys. If you are asking someone else to be there, tell us when you call.
- Should the gate and shed locks be changed too?
- Yes, if they are part of the property. Those locks may also have keys held by former owners or contractors, and they can be rekeyed to the same new key.
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