Moving Into a New Home? Why Rekeying Your Locks Should Be at the Top of Your List
Introduction
Moving into a new home is an exciting time. Whether you've purchased a brand-new house, moved into an apartment, or bought an established property, there's always a long list of things to organise.
Utilities need to be connected, boxes need to be unpacked, addresses need to be changed and there's plenty of cleaning and decorating to do.
But there's one important task that many homeowners overlook: rekeying or changing the locks.
Having your locks rekeyed by a professional locksmith should be one of the first things you consider when moving into a new home. It's a simple step that can give you greater control over who has access to your property and valuable peace of mind.
Why Should You Change Your Locks When Moving House?
The main reason is straightforward: you don't know who has copies of the existing keys.
If you've purchased an established home, the previous owners may have given spare keys to family members, friends, neighbours, cleaners, tradespeople, property managers or tenants.
There's also no guarantee that every copy of the key was handed over when you received the keys to the property.
Even if the previous owner assures you that they have given you every key, you have no way of knowing how many additional copies may have been made over the years.
That's why changing or rekeying your locks when moving into a new home is such an important security measure.
Once the locks have been rekeyed, the old keys will no longer operate them, giving you a fresh start with your new property.
Do New Homes Need Their Locks Rekeyed?
You may think that a newly built home doesn't need new locks because nobody has lived there before.
However, a new property can have had plenty of people accessing it during construction.
Builders, contractors, subcontractors, electricians, plumbers, inspectors and other tradespeople may have required access throughout the building process.
Keys may have been shared or copied during construction, and you may have no idea who has previously had access.
While this doesn't mean that someone has retained a key or that your new home is unsafe, rekeying the locks gives you control over access from the moment you move in.
For many homeowners, that peace of mind is well worth it.
Rekeying Your Locks vs. Replacing Them
When you contact a locksmith after moving house, you may have the option of either rekeying your existing locks or replacing them completely.
What Is Lock Rekeying?
Rekeying involves changing the internal components of a lock so that the existing lock will work with a new key.
The physical lock hardware can remain in place, but the old keys will no longer work.
Rekeying can be an excellent option if your existing locks are in good condition and you're happy with their appearance and functionality.
When Should You Rekey or Change Your Locks?
The best time to arrange a locksmith is before you move your belongings into the property or as soon as possible after receiving the keys.
You should also consider rekeying or replacing your locks if:
- You've recently purchased a home
- You've moved into a previously occupied property
- You've moved into a newly constructed home
- You've lost your keys
- Your keys have been stolen
- A former tenant or housemate may still have a key
- You've recently completed renovations
- You've experienced a change in who has access to your home
- You're concerned that someone may have an unauthorised copy of a key
Make Rekeying Part of Your Moving Checklist
There are plenty of jobs to take care of when moving house, but securing your new home should be one of the first.
Changing or rekeying your locks is a relatively straightforward job, but it can make a significant difference to your peace of mind.
You don't need to know who has previously had access to the property, how many copies of the keys were made or where those keys might be today.
Instead, you can start fresh.
New home. New keys. New beginning.
Moving Into a New Home? Call a Professional Locksmith
Whether you're moving into a brand-new build or a home with decades of history, having your locks inspected should be part of your moving checklist.
A professional locksmith can assess your existing locks and help you determine whether rekeying, lock replacement or an upgrade is the right solution for your property.
Don't wait until there's a problem to think about your home's security.
If you've just received the keys to your new home, make changing or rekeying the locks one of your first priorities.
Contact Pinkerton Locksmiths today to arrange a residential locksmith service and start life in your new home with confidence and peace of mind.