Who might still have a key
- Previous owners and their family
- Former tenants
- Real estate agents and lockbox users
- Cleaners, dog walkers and contractors
- Neighbors who were given a spare years ago
Why rekeying beats replacing
Rekeying keeps your existing hardware and swaps the pins, so it costs less and takes less time. A locksmith can usually do every exterior door in one visit and, where the locks are compatible, put them all on one key.
If you rent
Ask the landlord whether the locks were rekeyed after the last tenant. Many will arrange it; don't change locks yourself without permission.
When to replace instead
If the locks are worn, damaged or basic, moving in is a good time to upgrade to Grade 1 deadbolts or a keypad lock. The move-in coupon offers 15% off; see the coupons and rekey or replace.
A moving-in checklist
- Rekey or replace exterior door locks
- Change garage door and gate codes
- Check sliding door and window latches
- Replace the mailbox lock if you didn't get the key
