Whether you have just bought a new home or are renting one, it may be necessary to rekey your locks. Here’s what that means, and when it should be done.
If you’re moving into a new home, the previous owners could have lost their keys—or worse—and left them in the door lock. If this happens, you can usually change the pins in the lock yourself by buying a kit for about $30 at any hardware store. This process is known as “rekeying” and will ensure that no one has access to your new house without permission (or knowledge).
If someone does manage to break into your house while you’re away or after dark when no one can see them breaking in and stealing everything they can carry out with them through an open window or unlocked door, then that is going to be a major problem!
Why Rekey?
Rekeying a lock is a simple process that can make your life easier and safer. Here are just a few of the ways rekeying can benefit you:
Prevent unauthorized access. If you have an old lock, it’s possible for someone with the right tools and know-how to pick it open. (To be clear, “picking” doesn’t mean they need to be popping bubble wrap.) If they were able to get into your home without much trouble, they could cause damage or steal valuable items like jewelry or cash that you keep in your home office safe. Rekeying ensures that people who don’t have permission to enter your property won’t be able to do so without damaging your locks or breaking them down entirely.
Prevent lock-out situations caused by forgotten keys at work/school/etc., which are always inconvenient if not totally disastrous depending on how far away from home you are when this happens! With rekeying, however, if someone loses their key inside their house then all they have to do is call up the locksmith who did the job originally before coming back over with new keys after working his magic . . . no waiting period required! Rekeying also prevents lockout situations because it allows customers easy access through any door with their own personal set of keys rather than having only one set per household member which could easily disappear overnight – meaning nobody would ever have access again until someone else came out today too late after working at 8am earlier today during rush hour traffic hours.
When you first move into a property, there’s always a chance that keys were given to people who you don’t know. Though having spare keys around is convenient for the previous owners, it compromises your security, as those previously issued copies of the keys can still open your locks.
In the event that you have lost your keys, or found the previous owners to be somewhat careless with their spare copies, it’s important to rekey your locks as soon as possible. While having a spare key around is useful in many situations, it compromises your security by providing an extra copy of the original key. This means that anyone who has access to one of these keys can easily open up and enter your home without permission. When it comes to rekeying your locks, it is always best to call a professional locksmith.
When Should I Rekey?
If you have just moved into a new home, it’s always a good idea to rekey the locks. This will ensure that no one can get into your property due to having a copy of your key, and it’s also useful if you’ve lost your keys and need them replaced.
The same goes for if you’re thinking someone may still have a key from before. If they don’t live there anymore, it’s best not to take any risks—rekey!
As well as this, if there is any suspicion that someone has copied the key or copied another working set of keys in order to gain access without permission, then again: rekey!
Rekeying is an easy, affordable way to bring peace of mind to your home. Once you have a change in occupancy, whether it’s a new tenant moving into an apartment or the purchase of a home, rekeying should be done as soon as possible. To find out more about rekeying your locks, contact Tal Niv Locksmith today!
Tal-Niv Locksmith Services
874 4th St C-1, San Rafael, CA 94901
(415)994-6776
