Congratulations on the new house. Before you finish unpacking, there is one job that is cheap, quick and easy to put off: finding out who else has a key. The seller handed you a few. The seller’s agent, the previous owner’s family, the contractors who did the pre-sale repairs, a cleaning crew and a neighbor with a spare may each have one too, and none of them are on a list. This checklist covers what to do on day one, in order, and which locks need a locksmith and which don’t.
Why the keys you were handed are not enough
A lock doesn’t know who owns the house. Every key cut to it works until the lock itself changes, no matter who is holding it. Over the years a house collects copies: spares hidden outside, keys given to a dog walker or a relative, sets used by tradespeople, and duplicates made by anyone who ever borrowed one. When you buy, you inherit all of that. Rekeying changes the inside of the lock so every old key stops working and only the new ones do. The lock stays on the door.
The first-day checklist
1. Count every keyed lock
Walk the house and write them down: the front door (often a deadbolt plus a keyed knob, which is two locks), the back or patio door, the door from the garage into the house, any side door, and any gate lock. Add sheds, detached garages and the keyed lock on a sliding door if it has one. The count decides the price and the time, and it is the first thing we ask when you call.
2. Rekey every exterior lock first
These are the doors an outsider would use. Have them done together so every lock takes the same new key. Interior locks such as bedrooms, an office or closets can wait.
3. Reset the codes
Keypad deadbolts, smart locks and garage keypads usually keep the previous owner’s codes until someone changes them. Delete every old user code and set your own. Do the same for the garage door opener memory and keypad, and call the alarm company to remove the old codes and move the account to your name. None of that needs a locksmith. The key cylinder behind a keypad lock still gets rekeyed like any other lock.
4. Check the hardware while someone is there
A locksmith on site can see what you can’t: a deadbolt that doesn’t fully extend, a strike plate held with short screws in soft frame wood, a loose knob, a door that has to be lifted to latch. These are common in resale homes and cheap to fix, and the best lock does little if the frame gives way.
Rekey, replace or leave it alone?
Most of the time the answer is rekey. If the locks work, feel solid and are a brand you recognize (Kwikset, Schlage, Defiant, Weiser), rekeying costs a fraction of new hardware and gives the same result: nobody else’s key works. Replace a lock when it is loose, sticky or worn out, when it is the thin builder-grade kind that has seen many years, when the door has been forced before, or when you want something you don’t have, like a keypad or smart lock. See our smart lock installation page for that. For the full decision, read rekey or replace: how to decide. If you’re not sure about a particular lock, we look at it and tell you which ones are worth keeping.
What it costs
We charge a $75 service call (it varies a little with distance; we ask where you are and quote it on the phone) plus $25 to $40 per lock, depending on the lock. Most standard knobs, levers and deadbolts are $25. A typical house with a front deadbolt and knob, a back door deadbolt and a garage entry lock is four standard locks, so $100 plus the call. Commercial hardware, high-security cylinders and locks we have to rekey without a working key are quoted separately. The full breakdown is in how much it costs to rekey a house.
New home lock FAQ
When should I call?
Right after closing, once the house is yours and you have the keys. Until the locks are rekeyed, keep valuables and paperwork with you instead of in the house.
How long does it take?
About ten to fifteen minutes per lock. A typical house takes under an hour.
Do I need to be there?
Yes, someone should be there to let us in and take the new keys.
Can every door use one key?
Yes, if the locks are the same brand or a compatible keyway. Mixed brands can be matched by changing a cylinder or two.
Do I get extra keys?
A couple come with the job, and more can be cut on the spot at a per-key charge.
Ready to secure the new house? Count your doors and locks, note the brand if you can, and call (602) 301-5243. We come to you in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale and the rest of the Valley. More on our rekey locks page.