Day-one rule: someone else has your keys
When you move into a new home, bought or rented, assume that at least one person you don’t know has a working key. Maybe the prior owner. Maybe the cleaner. Maybe a contractor who never returned theirs. That’s not paranoia; it’s how key control actually works in practice.
Rekey or replace?
For most move-ins, rekeying is the right call. The hardware is usually fine; you just want old keys to stop working. A whole-home rekey is typically completed in a single visit and costs a small fraction of replacing all the locks.
Replace instead when the existing locks are visibly worn, low-grade builder hardware, or when you want to upgrade, for example, switching the front door to a smart lock or moving up to a high-security Grade 1 deadbolt.
Renter checklist
- Read your lease, most allow rekeying with landlord notification
- Ask the landlord whether they need to retain a master key
- Schedule the rekey for the day you take possession
- Keep a copy of the receipt and the old key for return at lease end
Homeowner checklist
- Schedule rekey for the day after closing
- Inspect side, back, and garage entries, not just the front door
- Replace any obviously worn or bargain-grade exterior locks
- Add deadbolts where there are none
- Reinforce strike plates with 3-inch screws (we include this on every visit)
What about smart locks?
Move-in is actually the ideal time to install a smart lock. The front door is empty of keys for the only time it ever will be, and you can configure user codes for family, dog walkers, and house cleaners from day one. See our smart lock installation page for the models we install most.
What we’d do
For a typical move-in, we’d rekey every exterior cylinder, swap out any one obvious weak lock, and reinforce the front strike. That’s a single appointment that materially improves security on day one. If you want, request a quote and we’ll size it for your specific home.