Should You Rekey or Replace Your Locks When You Move?

Published August 19, 2026. Updated October 11, 2026

By Ezra

You have no idea how many copies of your new house key exist, so the first day in the house is when the locks get rekeyed and every stored code gets wiped.

• Rekey whenThe hardware is solid and you simply want every previous key dead. Roughly $20 to $50 per lock plus the visit.
• Replace whenLocks are worn, damaged or builder grade, or you want smart locks or a higher security grade.
• Every door countsHandle every exterior door and any interior door with a key, including the garage entry door.
• Wipe the garageErasing the opener memory kills old remotes, old keypad codes and any car the last owner paired.
• Reset smart locksA factory reset clears stored codes, but the key cylinder on the same lock still needs a rekey.

Who Else Might Still Have a Key

A house key travels much farther than most buyers expect. The sellers had copies, and so did their kids, the dog walker, the cleaning service, a neighbor who watered the plants, and probably a contractor or two who needed access during a repair. The listing agent may have used a lockbox, and a builder may have handed out construction keys before the first owner ever moved in. Nobody keeps an accurate list, and almost nobody comes back to return a key.

The garage is the entrance people forget about. An opener usually ships with two remotes, and ACME Locksmith points out that if the sellers left only one behind, the other one may still be working somewhere. Keypad codes and the buttons built into the previous owner's car operate the same way, and they keep working after the sale. Assume every old key, remote and code still works until you prove it does not.

That is the entire case for acting on closing day. You are not repairing a broken lock, you are taking back control of exactly who can open your doors.

Rekey or Replace in a New Home

Inside every pin tumbler lock is a row of pins matched to the cuts on your key. Rekeying swaps those pins for a new combination, so the lock stays on your door but every previous key becomes useless metal. The work takes a few minutes per lock and costs a fraction of new hardware, which makes it the right call for most new homes whose locks operate smoothly.

Replace a lock when the lock itself is the problem, such as a key that sticks, a bolt that drags, damage from a previous break in, or a cheap builder grade lock you would rather upgrade to a Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolt. A move is also the natural moment to install a smart lock, and our guide to the best locks for your home walks through the options. Paying to rekey a deadbolt you intend to replace next month simply means paying twice.

For the complete price comparison, with public cost guides and a worked example, read is it cheaper to replace locks or rekey. The short version for a new owner is to rekey the good locks and replace only the tired ones in the same visit.

The Move In Checklist, Door by Door

Start with every exterior door, including the door from the garage into the house and any side or back gate with a keyed lock, and then work through the items the closing paperwork never mentions.

Garage opener. On Chamberlain and LiftMaster openers, ACME Locksmith says to hold the Learn button on the motor unit until the indicator light goes out, which takes about 6 seconds and erases every remote, the keypad and any paired vehicle at once. Afterward, program back only the remotes you actually have and choose a new keypad code.

Smart locks and keypads. A factory reset clears the codes the last owner set. On a Schlage Encode the reset button sits under the back cover, and the light turns blue when the reset is done. Remove the old owner's app account too, and have the key cylinder rekeyed. The reset does nothing to the metal key.

Gate codes and alarm codes. Ask the HOA or community manager for a new gate code in your name. Have the alarm company change the master code and the account holder too.

Mailbox. If your home uses a cluster box owned by the Postal Service, the lock change goes through your local post office, not a locksmith. Budget Mailboxes notes that owners of a private box can change the lock themselves or call a pro.

Getting It Done in One Visit

The most efficient move in appointment covers every keyed door in a single trip. A residential locksmith can rekey the good locks, replace the tired ones, key them all alike so one key runs the house, and check that each deadbolt throws fully into a solid strike plate. Our home rekeys start at $79.99, and you hear the complete price before any work begins.

Do the garage, keypad and app resets yourself that evening, since they need no tools. If a smart lock gives you trouble, the technician can walk you through it on site.

Before you call anyone, a quick read of how to avoid locksmith scams helps you recognize a misleading quote. Ask every company for its license number and check it. Ours is City of Las Vegas Locksmith License #P64-00012, and you can confirm it on our license page.

Watch Us Work

Opening a Knob Cylinder to Start a Rekey

Questions We Get Asked

Just picked up the keys? See our residential locksmith services, what rekeying costs next to new locks and the best locks to secure your home, or call any hour and we will secure the whole house in one visit.

Sources

• ACME Locksmith, How to Clear a Garage Door Opener From a Car (updated September 10, 2026)
• ACME Locksmith, How to Factory Reset Schlage Smart Locks (updated June 10, 2026)
• Budget Mailboxes, Legal Mailbox Lock Replacement