Should You Rekey the Locks When You Buy a House? (Yes, Here's Why)

TL;DR: Yes, rekey the locks on any house you buy, ideally before or on the day you move in. A locksmith charges roughly $75-$200 for a standard three-lock home, and it closes the door on every copy of the old key floating around with a past owner, contractor, real estate agent, or neighbor who watered plants.

_Last reviewed: August 2026 · 6 min read_

You just closed on a house, and somewhere out there are keys you'll never see and can't account for. The seller's contractor, the dog walker, an ex-spouse, a real estate agent's lockbox code — any of them could still open your front door. Rekeying fixes that for less than the cost of a nice dinner out.

Okoniq Property Hub lets you log the rekey date, the locksmith's invoice, and every key you cut, so you have a record if you ever need to prove who had access and when.

Why does rekeying matter more than most buyers think?

Rekeying matters because a lock's physical hardware and its key are separate things, and buying a house does not change the key. The seller's real estate agent, home inspector, cleaning crew, landscaper, and often a handful of relatives all may have had a copy over the years. Standard title insurance and home inspections do not touch this risk at all.

The FBI's Uniform Crime Report has shown for years that roughly 20-25% of burglaries involve no forced entry, meaning the person walked in with a key or through an unlocked door. A previous occupant's spare key sitting in someone's junk drawer is exactly the kind of loose end that creates that statistic. If you're already reviewing carbon monoxide detector placement as part of your move-in safety pass, add rekeying to that same checklist — it's the same low-cost, high-payoff logic.

Should you rekey or replace the locks entirely?

Rekeying is usually enough, and it's roughly half the price of full replacement. Rekeying means a locksmith removes the internal pins on your existing lock cylinder and resets them to work with a new key, so the hardware you already have stays in place. Replacement means new lock bodies, new cylinders, and new keys from scratch.

| | Rekey | Full Replacement | |---|---|---| | Typical cost per lock | $15-$30 | $40-$150 | | Time per lock | 10-15 minutes | 20-40 minutes | | Keeps existing hardware look | Yes | No | | Fixes worn or damaged mechanism | No | Yes |

Rekey if the locks are less than 10-15 years old, still turn smoothly, and match your style preference. Replace if the hardware is worn, mismatched across doors, or you want to upgrade to a smart lock or a higher security grade. Many locksmiths will rekey all your exterior locks to a single master key for one visit fee, which is worth asking about upfront.

How much does rekeying actually cost, and how long does it take?

A standard rekey job for a three-door single-family home runs $75-$200 total, and a licensed locksmith usually finishes in 30-60 minutes on site. Pricing depends on the number of locks, the brand (Schlage and Kwikset are the most common and cheapest to rekey), and whether you're in a major metro area where labor rates run higher.

Big box hardware stores also sell rekey kits for $15-$25 per lock if you want to do it yourself with basic tools and a YouTube tutorial, though most first-time DIYers spend 20-30 minutes per lock working it out. If your new home also has outdated 2-prong outlets or other legacy fixtures, this is a good week to batch several small safety fixes together instead of scheduling separate visits.

What else should you check on the locks and doors themselves?

Check the strike plate screws, the deadbolt throw length, and whether every exterior door actually has a deadbolt, not just a knob lock. A deadbolt should extend at least 1 inch into the door frame, and the strike plate should be attached with 3-inch screws that reach into the wall stud, not just the door jamb trim. Many older homes have short screws that a firm kick can pop loose.

While you're at it, walk the exterior and note any door with a single-cylinder lock facing a window — those are easy to defeat by breaking the glass and reaching in. This is also the right moment to knock out a few affordable security upgrades under $100, like a video doorbell or motion-sensor lighting, since you'll already have a locksmith or handyman on site.

Is a smart lock worth installing instead of rekeying?

A smart lock can replace the need to hand out physical keys at all, but it doesn't remove the need to secure the deadbolt hardware underneath it. Most smart locks from brands like Schlage Encode or August still use a standard deadbolt mechanism, so a locksmith can rekey that mechanism the same way, then you layer the smart access on top. Budget $150-$300 for a mid-range smart deadbolt plus installation if you go this route instead of a traditional rekey.

FAQ

How soon after buying a house should you rekey the locks?

Before or on your move-in day. Many buyers schedule the locksmith for the same afternoon as closing, since the risk of an old key being used is highest in the first few weeks before anyone changes anything.

Can you rekey locks yourself without a locksmith?

Yes, with a rekey kit that costs $15-$25 per lock at most hardware stores, though it takes practice on your first lock. If your locks are high-security models or you're not comfortable with small mechanical parts, hiring a locksmith for $75-$200 total is usually worth the time saved.

Does homeowners insurance require you to rekey locks after buying a house?

No, standard homeowners insurance policies don't require it, but some insurers offer small discounts for verified smart locks or monitored security systems. Check your specific policy for security-related discounts when you rekey.

What's the difference between rekeying and changing the locks?

Rekeying resets the internal pins of your existing lock so old keys stop working, while changing the locks replaces the entire lock body and cylinder. Rekeying costs roughly half as much and keeps your current hardware in place.

Should landlords rekey between every tenant, not just at purchase?

Yes, most property managers rekey or change locks between every tenant turnover, not only at the point of purchase. The same $75-$200 cost applies per unit, and it's one of the cheapest liability protections a landlord can budget for annually.

This is educational information, not legal or safety advice. Call a licensed locksmith or security professional if you're unsure about your home's specific lock hardware or local security requirements.