Sheet 01Why you should rekey the locks when you move
Why you should rekey the locks when you move
Nobody can tell you how many copies of your new front-door key exist. Rekeying ends that question for less than new locks.
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The keys you were never handed
Think about everyone who might have had a key before you: the sellers and their family, earlier tenants, a property manager, a cleaner, the pool service, a contractor from the last renovation, a realtor's lockbox. In Boca, add the house-watch company that checked on the place each summer. Most of them are honest. You still can't collect every copy.
A rekey makes every one of them useless, all at once.
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What a rekey is
A pin-tumbler lock opens when the cuts on the key lift small pins to just the right height. Rekeying replaces those pins with a new set that matches a new key. The handle, the deadbolt and the finish stay on the door. Only the inside of the cylinder changes.
No new hardware, so it usually costs less than replacing locks, and several doors can be done in one visit. If the locks share a brand and keyway, they can all go on one key.
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Rekey or replace?
- Rekey when the locks work smoothly and the only problem is old keys.
- Replace when a lock is corroded, loose or sticks with the right key; near the beach this happens sooner.
- Replace when you want a different lock, such as a Grade 1 deadbolt or a keypad.
- Not sure? Ask for both prices; the locksmith can tell once they see it.
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Renters
Talk to the landlord before touching the locks. Many rekey between tenants as a matter of routine; ask whether it was done. Rules differ by place and by lease, so read yours.
If it was not done and the landlord agrees, offer to arrange it and hand over a copy of the new key. Changing a rental's locks without permission can breach the lease.
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The locks people forget
Garage side doors. The door from the garage into the house. Pool-cage doors, patio gates, mailbox locks, storm-shutter padlocks. List every lock before you call so the quote covers them all. In Boca Raton, call 561-692-4280 for a price before any work.