You finally unpack the last box, plop onto the sofa, and sigh, “Home at last!” But pause for a second. Somewhere out there, a dog walker, a former roommate, or even the listing agent may still hold a key that fits your shiny front door. One slight twist of metal could let an uninvited guest stroll straight in. Rekeying the locks may seem like a tedious task, but it’s the most affordable and efficient method to secure every entrance and ensure your peace of mind. Let’s dig into the numbers, myths, and must-know tips that explain why those new keys matter more than fresh paint.
Before you toast the move, consider everyone who handled those keys over the years: sellers, friends, cleaners, handypersons, and delivery folks. A UK survey found 32 % of people still keep a key to a former home—sometimes by accident, sometimes “just in case.” If even one spare remains, your brand-new nest isn’t as private as you believe.
Quick Tip: Rekeying changes the pin setup inside the cylinder, making the old key useless while your hardware stays put.
Consider these ordinary but overlooked key holders:
Each extra copy widens the circle of trust—sometimes far beyond people you’ll ever meet.
| Entry Point | Share of Break-Ins | Why It Matters |
| Front door | 34 % | Thieves try the obvious first, often with a key or quick kick. |
| Back door | 22 % | Less visibility leads to crooks lingering longer. |
| Windows | 23 % | Specifically, the panes on the ground floor remain unlatched. |
Controlling every front-door key is the easiest first defense if a third of burglars walk through the main entrance.
On moving day, one often finds welcome cookies from next door, and, in addition, there are plenty of strangers strolling past open garages. By rekeying, you not only signal that security matters to you, but also, by extension, to the whole street. It is also important to note that a study conducted by the University of North Carolina revealed that blocks where owners updated their locks within 30 days of moving experienced a 15% reduction in opportunistic thefts over a span of two years.
Inform your neighbors that you have changed the pins; as a result, they may follow suit, thereby creating an informal watch network. First, please consider sharing these initial tips: Ensure porch lights are on at dusk. Additionally, exchange phone numbers for vacation alerts. Please ensure that any unusual activity is reported promptly. Strong locks, in addition to friendly eyes, equal a safer, tighter community—one fresh key at a time.
| Service | Typical Price Range* | What You Get |
| Rekey one lock | $50–$100 | New pins, new key—same hardware |
| Replace standard lock | $130–$220 | Entire new knob or deadbolt. |
| Upgrade to smart lock | $150–$400+ | The device includes hardware as well as Wi-Fi/Bluetooth features. |
*National averages, 2024–25.
Bottom line: Rekeying usually costs less than a pizza night for a family of four, yet it bars every old key for good.
Quick Stat: Over half of new homeowners admit they don’t change or rekey their locks within the first month, leaving a security gap exactly when they’re still learning the neighborhood.
When strangers hold your spare key, these headaches may follow:
Think of rekeying as a small inoculation against big bills later.
Rekey kits exist at hardware stores, yet tiny springs and pins can launch across the room faster than your dog can chase them. Pros bring:
Unless you’re confident with needle-nose pliers and patience, hiring out is quicker.
It is also important to keep in mind the side gates, detached garages, and sliding-door cylinders. Meanwhile, a thief who can’t get through the main entry will, therefore, test secondary spots next.
Pro Move: Consider asking the locksmith to create a master key. This way, you can also hand a single, limited-access copy to house sitters.
Rekey first, upgrade second—that order keeps costs low while adding cool tech. Once your cylinders hold fresh pins, you can pop on “smart” covers that read fingerprints or phone taps without swapping the whole latch.
Quick Fact: A 2024 Realtor® survey found homes that pair rekeying with smart locks sell 3 weeks faster because buyers love built-in security. Still, if Wi-Fi ever fails, your rekeyed metal key remains as a no-battery backup. That layered plan means convenience never overrides safety.
Most homes also have three to six exterior locks. A seasoned tech rekeys them all during one sitcom rerun. When done, snap a photo of the new key, label spares clearly, and stash one in a friend’s safe—not under the doormat.
Rekeying, therefore, is the fastest and cheapest way to claim every doorway from day one. For approximately the cost of a dinner out, you effectively shut out unknown key holders, thereby shrinking the odds of burglary, and consequently, you can sleep more deeply in your new space. At A & S Locksmith LLC, we believe fresh paint can certainly wait—but fresh locks, on the other hand, cannot.
Keeping a company safe isn’t about piling on gadgets; it’s about choosing a partner who…
Divorce often moves fast, yet the security questions it raises linger long after the papers…
The street is quiet, the lights are off, yet your door will not budge. Because…
Losing the only key to your home, office, or car can turn an ordinary day…
Car keys disappear—door locks jam. Batteries die. And, unfortunately, car lockouts happen at the worst…
Every second a door stands unsecured, profit is at risk. Therefore, store owners, office managers,…