Who to call for rekeying in Town 'n' Country, FL
Most homes in Town 'n' Country are 1960s to 1980s concrete-block ranch houses, and that means the locks on a newly bought one have probably been through several sets of hands. If you just moved in and want the locks changed, you are in the right place. One Call Locksmiths is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with an independent locksmith. We are not the locksmith and we do not do the work ourselves. Look for a locksmith who gives you the price before starting, asks for identification, and will tell you which local registration applies to the work.
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Locks on older homes here have usually had a hard life. Florida's heat and humidity corrode cylinders and pit brass and steel hardware, and Town 'n' Country adds daily summer thunderstorms and more than 50 inches of rain a year. A previous owner, a contractor, a former tenant or a letting agent may still hold a working key. Nobody can know how many copies exist. Rekeying makes all of them useless.
While you wait — please don't
- Don't assume the old keys are gone. The seller handed you a set, but you cannot know who else kept one.
- Don't skip the garage side door, gate or shed. Any lock that shares the old keying is still open to anyone holding an old key.
- Don't force a swollen or stiff lock. Humid weather can make a deadbolt bind, and forcing it can break the key or damage the lock.
- Don't hand out new keys before the job is done. Any key cut before the rekey will stop working, so wait until the locksmith has finished.
What the technician does
- You call, we arrange itCall (866) 690-5848 and tell us you have just moved in and want the locks changed. We arrange an independent locksmith for the job.
- Identification is checkedThe locksmith will ask for identification and proof that you are entitled to enter the property before opening anything. A deed, lease or closing paperwork usually covers it.
- You get the price firstThe estimate is free on every job. The locksmith gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first.
- Every exterior lock is dealt withEach exterior lock is rekeyed to one new key. Where hardware is worn or mismatched, it is replaced. The garage side door and any gate or shed are included.
- Old keys stop workingOnce the locks are rekeyed, the old keys are useless. That includes any copies you will never know about.
- Keys for everyoneKeys are cut for everyone in the household, so you leave with working keys for each person.
Why this happens in Town 'n' Country, FL
Town 'n' Country has a lot of half-century-old block homes on slab foundations, many with attached garages and original locksets well past their design life. On bay-side streets near Old Tampa Bay, salt air adds to the wear on exterior metal. In those cases a locksmith may suggest replacing a worn lock instead of rekeying it.
The summer moving season is when this work stacks up, so it is worth booking rather than leaving. Winter brings seasonal residents who open up homes, so demand rises again then. Florida has no statewide locksmith license. Rules are set by the county or city, and Hillsborough is among the jurisdictions that have historically required local registration. Ask the locksmith what applies, and check with the county or city licensing office where the work is done.
Questions people ask
- Is rekeying the same as getting new locks?
- No. Rekeying changes the inside of your existing locks so they work with one new key. If a lock is worn or mismatched, the locksmith can replace it instead. You see the price before either one starts.
- What do I need to show the locksmith?
- Identification, plus proof that you are entitled to enter the property. Florida practice is a government photo ID with something tying you to the address, such as a deed, lease or utility bill. A landlord or property manager can also confirm it.
- Does the humidity in Town 'n' Country affect my locks?
- Yes. Constant moisture rusts cylinders, and bay-side streets get salt air as well. Humid weather can also swell wood doors and frames so a deadbolt binds. Mention any stiff lock when you call.
- Is a locksmith license required in Florida?
- Florida does not issue a statewide locksmith license. Rules are set at the county or city level and change over time. Verify current requirements with the local licensing or consumer protection office where the work is done.
- Does rekeying cover the garage side door and shed?
- It can. The job covers every exterior lock, including the garage side door and any gate or shed. Tell us what you have when you call so the locksmith can plan for it.
One call
Call (866) 690-5848 and One Call Locksmiths will arrange an independent locksmith for your Town 'n' Country rekey. The estimate is free, and you approve the price before any work starts.
More from One Call Locksmiths
Something else in this area
- Locked out of the car
- Locked out of the house
- Lost car key or fob
- Keys lost or stolen
- Key broke in the lock
- Lock is stuck or broken
- New or upgraded locks
One Call Locksmiths arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.