Rekeying your lock is almost always cheaper than replacing a lock. This is because of the cheaper price of the key pins inside the locks, whereas when you replace a lock, you are paying for all brand-new parts.
Costs of rekeying can vary for the locksmith company. In general, prices average between $20 and $50 for a single lock and can cost up to $130 for a house. However, if you call a locksmith out on an emergency you can expect it to cost an extra $100 to $150.
When you move into a new home, you should change the locks on your house. You have no idea how many copies of the house keys are floating around out there from the previous homeowners, so changing the locks will keep your new house more secure. Tom recommends changing the locks whenever a new home is purchased.
Rekey kits allow you to rekey a lock to match existing keys in the kit. You will receive several keys (often between three and six keys), all identically cut. A set of pins comes with the kit, numbered or color-coded to identify their positions in the plug. The new keys correspond to the new pins.
Change your locks.
The price range for this service is significant—from $50 to $300 overall, depending on how many locks you need changed and what types of locks you want. On a per-lock basis, the cost is between $40 and $100 for the lock itself plus another $15 to $40 per lock for labor.
If your locks were damaged during a break-in, your home insurance policy will normally cover the cost of any repairs or replacements needed to secure your home. And, as long as you have contents insurance, your lost belongings will be replaced.
Changing the locks (also referred to as rekeying the locks) on a new home is always a good idea, since you really can't be sure who has access to the property otherwise. The phrase for this is key control, which refers to the ability to be able to account for each of the keys to your home and who has them.
Rekeying a lock generally takes about 15 minutes, but this depends on the type of lock as well as the skills of the person working on it. The most time-consuming part of the process is removing the lock from the door – the actual rekeying is much simpler. If it's simple, should you rekey your lock yourself?
If you're in a pinch, it's relatively easy to rekey your door locks on your own. The easiest method is to purchase a rekey kit, including pins, keys, and various other tools. Rekey kits typically cost $10 to $25 each. However, don't buy the first rekey kit you find on the hardware store shelf.
If your deadbolt requires a separate key from your entry doorknob, you can rekey it if they are the same brand.
Yes, it is possible for you to rekey a lock without the original key. A locksmith can change your locks even if you have lost or misplaced the original key. In general, it is possible to pick or shim the lock and unlock the door. Then, the locksmith will have a much easier time removing the lock cylinder.
Since most homes have multiple doors with multiple locks, re-keying can get expensive. You can re-key a lock like a pro at a fraction of the cost. Re-keying kits are available for most lock brands but they're not interchangeable. You must buy a kit for each brand of lock in your home.
Rekeying Home Locks
Rekeying locks on your home typically costs $80 to $160. If you call the locksmith to your home, you might pay a trip fee of $50 to $100. The cost to rekey is $30 to $60 per lock, bringing you to that total.
How Long Does Rekeying Take? A standard rekey usually takes an average of 10 to 15 minutes per door. Most doors have two locks on them – the deadbolt and the doorknob. This time estimate includes removal, repinning, and reinstallation of the door lock.
"The way to combat it is to have the locks re-keyed," he said. To get your locks re-keyed, visit your local locksmith to have them do it for you. Or, just ask the store you're purchasing the locks from to re-key the lock to one you may already own. It's a process that should only take a few minutes.
Additional locksmith services are not covered under your home warranty, but you may pay the service provider directly to rekey your gates, windows, garage door openers, padlocks, or other devices while they're at your home. Moving is tough. There's lots to do, and even more to think about.
Over time, they will need replacing so that they can function correctly, without any problems and to the latest home security standards. It is recommended that you change your locks at least every 7 years, however, you can change them more frequently for your peace of mind or to simply upgrade.
Most locksmiths advise that a door lock should be changed once every seven years.
Most standard tenancy agreements clearly state that a tenant is not allowed to make changes to the rental property without the landlord's permission. Newsflash: changing the locks is considered a major change.
Usually, yes. A front door and its locks are considered part of the overall home, and so should be covered by home insurance. Of course, this is only if you have not caused the damage yourself. If damage has been done to your front door by an intruder, your insurance should pay out.
Car key insurance should cover the cost of replacing your keys if they're stolen, however some policies won't let you claim if you've simply misplaced your keys. It's also unlikely you'll be covered if the keys were stolen by a family member or someone who lives in your house – such as a lodger.
Home emergency cover, which you can also add to your policy, may include locksmith services if you're locked out or if your home is not secure. In fact, your insurance provider may be able to contact a locksmith on your behalf.
Rekeying a lock means to change the working key of the lock to a different key, without replacing the lock itself. In other words – you keep the same lock but the old key will no longer operate it. This is done by taking the lock apart and replacing some of the parts inside (called “tumblers” or “key pins”).
Once a locksmith has pulled the lock apart and deciphered the type of pins and their order, a key can be made to match.