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Home › Rekey

Old keys out, new keys in, one visit.

After a move, a sale, a rebuild or a season away: the locks are rekeyed or replaced, and the new keys go only to the people you choose.

Rekeying, explained simply

Rekeying changes the inside of a lock so the old keys stop working, while the lock itself stays on the door. It's the usual answer after buying a home, since there's no telling how many keys the last owners handed out. For a code instead of a key on the front door, see smart lock installation.

When replacement makes more sense

A lock that's worn, loose in the door or corroded from years of humid air is replaced instead. So is a light-duty deadbolt on a door that deserves better.

Keypad deadbolt installed on a front door in Fort Myers, FL
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Every exterior door

Front, back, garage entry and side doors, all on the new key.

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One key for the house

All the locks set to a single key where the hardware allows.

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Sturdier deadbolts

Heavier deadbolts where the old ones fall short.

New deadbolt being installed in a front door, FLPinning tray and new keys for a master key system, FL

The visit

Four steps, usually one visit.

  1. Walk the doors

    Every lock that takes a key, including the garage entry and any side doors.

  2. Show it's your home

    Closing papers, a deed, or ID with the address.

  3. Rekey or swap

    Good locks are rekeyed; worn ones are replaced, and you hear which.

  4. Hand over the keys

    The new keys are counted out to you.

Keep a spare somewhere outside the house, with someone you trust.

After a move, a sale or a rebuild

A new home comes with keys from the builder, the previous owners, their family and anyone they trusted. A home rebuilt after a storm adds contractors to the list. A rekey closes all of it at once.

Snowbirds coming back for the season often rekey too, especially when a neighbor or a service had a key over the summer.

Older homes near the river

Houses in the older neighborhoods often have a mix of locks from different decades: an original deadbolt, a newer knob, a side door nobody has used in years. Getting them onto one key sometimes means replacing a lock or two, and you hear which ones before anything is swapped.

Older doors also settle. A deadbolt that has to be forced to lock usually means the door has dropped, and the strike is adjusted during the visit so the new keys turn smoothly.

You're left with every door on one key where the locks allow it, locks that turn easily, and a spare or two for the people you choose.

Keypad deadbolts

A keypad deadbolt goes into the existing holes in the door. The strike is adjusted so the bolt moves freely, and the codes are set with you.

They're handy for homes that sit empty part of the year: a code for the pest service or a neighbor can be deleted later without collecting a key.

Rekey questions

Do I need new locks, or just new keys?

New keys, usually. Rekeying keeps your locks and retires the old keys; replacement is for worn or weak locks.

I'd like just one key for the house.

Usually possible when the locks come from compatible families; any that doesn't gets swapped.

I don't have keys for every lock.

That's fine. Locks can be rekeyed without their keys; having them only makes it quicker.

Can you rekey a condo?

Yes, with proof you own it. Check whether the association keeps a key and wants a copy.

Can you put in a keypad lock?

Yes, installed on the door you have and programmed with you.

How long does it take?

One visit for most homes; more doors, more time.

What do you need from me?

Proof you own the home: closing papers, a deed, or ID with the address.

Will you tell me what it involves first?

Yes, with a free estimate before any work.

Our side door hasn't been opened in years.

It's included. A lock that hasn't turned in a long time is checked and replaced if it has seized.

Can new locks match our older hardware?

Often, in a finish close to what's already on the doors, so the house still looks consistent.

Should I rekey after a divorce or a breakup?

If someone who no longer lives there still has a key, yes. A rekey means only the people you choose can get in.

Can the rekey happen before we move our things in?

Yes, and it's the easiest time: the house is empty, every door is reachable, and nobody else has a reason to hold a key.

Does the condo association need to know we rekeyed?

Many associations keep a key for emergencies. If yours does, give the office one of the new keys; the manager or the bylaws will say what's expected.

We're on our way

One call and we get a tech dispatched to you.

Call now
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