Why you should rekey your locks when you move

You don't know who has a key

Previous owners rarely hand over every copy. Over the years keys go to dog walkers, cleaners, relatives, contractors and neighbors. A realtor lockbox and a builder's crew add more. None of those people mean any harm, but you can't account for the keys, and that's the problem.

Rekeying fixes this without replacing the hardware. The locksmith takes out the cylinder, swaps the pin stack for a new combination and cuts fresh keys. From that point, every old key stops working.

Rekeying versus replacing

Rekeying is usually the cheaper option. On this site's price list, rekeys start at $19 per lock plus the $29 service call fee, while a basic lock change starts at $25. Replacement makes sense when the lock is worn, damaged, mismatched or lower grade than you'd like. If the hardware works well, a rekey is enough.

While the locksmith is there, ask to have every exterior door keyed alike: front, back, garage entry and side gate. One key on the ring is easier to live with than four.

Renters: check your lease first

Many Colorado leases require the landlord's permission before any lock change, and the landlord usually needs a copy of the new key. Ask in writing. Many landlords rekey between tenants as standard; if yours doesn't, ask them to, or get approval to arrange it yourself.

A short move-in checklist

• Rekey or replace every exterior lock, including the garage-to-house door.
• Change the garage door opener code and re-pair the remotes.
• Reset any smart lock or keypad and delete old user codes.
• Check that deadbolts fully extend into the frame; if they bind, the strike needs adjusting.
• Decide where a spare key lives: a trusted neighbor or a lockbox, never under the mat.

Book it with the move

The easiest time to rekey is the day you get the keys, before boxes pile up in the doorway. Call 303-357-7675 with the number of doors and the lock brands if you know them, and you'll get an estimate before the visit.