New Home Lock Checklist
In short: You cannot know how many keys the previous owner issued. Rekey every exterior lock in week one, and do not forget the garage.
Assume keys exist that you do not know about
Previous owners, their family, contractors, cleaners, dog walkers, real estate agents, and whoever the owner before them gave a key to. None of it is malicious and none of it is knowable. Rekeying resets the entire history in one visit.
The obvious ones
Front door, back door, side door, and any door from a garage or utility room into the house. All of them, not just the one you use.
The ones people forget
The garage side door. The internal door between garage and house, which is frequently only latched. Gates and sheds. The mailbox. Window locks. And any lock box or key safe left mounted on the wall, which very often still holds a working key.
Check the frames while you are at it
Moving in is the cheapest time to fit reinforced strike plates with three-inch screws, because the locksmith already has the doors open. It is a small addition to a rekey visit and it addresses the way forced doors actually fail.
Consider keying alike
If you are rekeying everything anyway, having one key open every exterior door costs little extra and means you stop carrying five keys. It is easiest to specify at the same visit rather than later.
About this guide
Written by A 24 Hour Locksmith, a licensed Sacramento locksmith. California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services License No. LCO 6830. License numbers can be verified on the California BSIS public license lookup. Nothing on this page is a priced offer; call (916) 244-3934 for an estimate for your situation.
Common questions
Should I rekey or replace when I move in?
Rekey, unless a lock is worn, damaged or genuinely low-grade. Rekeying retires every old key and keeps the hardware you paid for with the house.
How soon should I do it?
The first week. Until then an unknown number of keys are in circulation.
What about a smart lock instead?
Reasonable, and it solves key distribution. The bolt still has to be a decent mechanical lock, so look at the grade as well as the app.
Questions about your own locks?
Call and you will get a straight answer, whether or not it turns into a job.
Call (916) 244-3934