Rekey a new home in Fort Myers, FL
Fort Myers homes run from 1920s wood-frame houses near downtown and along McGregor Boulevard to concrete-block-and-stucco builds from the 1970s through the 2000s. Whichever one you just bought or rented, the locks were set up for someone else. A previous owner, a contractor, a former tenant or a letting agent may still hold a working key, and nobody can know how many copies exist. Rekeying fixes that. Every exterior lock is changed to one new key, and the old keys stop working.
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It matters more here than in many places. Salt air from the Gulf and the Caloosahatchee River reaches well inland. It corrodes exterior lock cylinders and deadbolts, and Florida's constant humidity can swell wood doors until a deadbolt binds against its strike plate. A lock that is worn, rusted or mismatched may be better replaced than rekeyed. The locksmith can tell you which when they look at it.
While you wait — please don't
- Do not assume the old keys are all accounted for. The seller or landlord may have handed you every key they remember, but they cannot know about copies made years ago.
- Do not wait until after you have settled in. Until the locks are changed, anyone holding an old key can still get in, so it is better to book before the boxes are unpacked.
- Do not forget the garage side door, gates and sheds. Any lock left on the old key keeps the old key useful, so list every one of them before the visit.
- Do not leave a stiff or rusted lock for later. A deadbolt that sticks now may fail completely, and it is easier to replace it during the rekey than to deal with it when you are locked out.
What the technician does
- You call and describe the jobCall (866) 690-5848 and say you have just moved in and want the locks changed. We arrange an independent locksmith for the job. We are a referral and scheduling service, not the locksmith.
- The locksmith checks identificationBefore opening or changing anything, the locksmith asks for identification and proof that you are entitled to enter the property. A deed, lease or utility bill is the usual proof.
- You get the price firstThe estimate is free. The locksmith gives you the price before any work starts, and nothing begins until you approve it.
- Every exterior lock is rekeyedEach exterior lock is set to one new key. Where the hardware is worn or mismatched, it is replaced instead. The garage side door and any gate or shed are included.
- Old keys are made uselessOnce the work is done, the keys the previous owner, tenant or contractor held no longer work.
- Keys are cut for your householdYou leave with new keys for everyone who lives there, and you can check that each lock works with them.
Why this happens in Fort Myers, FL
The summer moving season is when this work stacks up in Fort Myers, so it is worth booking rather than leaving it. Demand rises again from October through April, when seasonal residents return and open homes that sat closed through the humid summer. If you are buying in that stretch, a new set of keys is a sensible first step. Hurricane season, June through November, also brings plenty of work to the area.
Hurricane Ian rebuilding and fast suburban growth along the Daniels and Colonial corridors have kept contractor demand high. That means many homes have had more tradespeople through them than the owner can list. In the historic districts near downtown and along McGregor Boulevard, original openings and older wood framing may carry older hardware too. Gated and HOA-governed communities are common here, and so are condominiums. Entry points, mailbox locks and amenity locks are often controlled by management, so ask your property manager or HOA what is yours to change.
Questions people ask
- What does rekeying a new home actually do?
- It changes every exterior lock so that one new key works them all. The old keys stop working. You get keys cut for everyone in your household.
- Will salt air in Fort Myers mean my locks need replacing?
- Sometimes. Salt air reaches well inland here and can rust deadbolts and exterior cylinders earlier than in drier climates. The locksmith will rekey the locks that are sound and replace any that are worn or mismatched.
- What do I need to show the locksmith?
- Be ready to show identification and something that ties you to the address, such as a deed, lease or utility bill. The locksmith checks this before opening or changing anything. It protects you as well.
- Does Florida license locksmiths?
- Florida has no statewide locksmith license. The trade is regulated at the county or city level, and requirements vary. Check current rules with the county or city office where the work is done.
- Should I book now or wait until I have settled in?
- Book now. Summer is the busy moving season in Fort Myers, and until the locks are changed, old keys may still work.
One call
Call (866) 690-5848 and we will arrange an independent locksmith to rekey your Fort Myers home. The estimate is free, and the locksmith gives you the price before any work starts.
More from One Call Locksmiths
Something else in this area
- Locked out of the house
- Locked out of the car
- Lost car key or fob
- Keys lost or stolen
- Key broke in the lock
- Lock is stuck or broken
- New or upgraded locks
- Business locked out
One Call Locksmiths arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.