Should You Change the Locks When You Move Into a New Home?
Should You Change the Locks When You Move Into a New Home?
Short answer from a locksmith with 22+ years in the field: yes — and in most cases you don't even need new locks to do it. Here's what actually matters when you get the keys to a new place in Los Angeles, Ventura County, or the San Fernando Valley.
Why the old keys are the real problem
When you buy or rent a home, you have no way of knowing how many copies of the current key exist. Previous owners hand out spares to house cleaners, dog walkers, contractors, neighbors, and relatives — and almost nobody collects them all back at closing. Real estate lockboxes add another round of key handling during the listing period. The lock on your door may be perfectly good hardware; the problem is that strangers may still hold keys that open it.
Rekeying: the move most new homeowners actually need
Rekeying means a locksmith adjusts the pins inside your existing locks so they work with a brand-new key — and every old key stops working instantly. It's faster and considerably cheaper than replacing hardware, and if your locks are decent quality there's no reason to toss them. As a bonus, we can usually key every exterior door to a single key, so you're not carrying a ring of four.
When full replacement makes more sense
We'll recommend swapping hardware instead of rekeying when the existing locks are worn, builder-grade, damaged, or simply low-security. Moving in is also the natural moment to upgrade: many of our San Fernando Valley and Ventura County clients use move-in day to step up to a Grade 1 deadbolt or a smart lock with keypad codes for family members. If you'd rather pick out the hardware yourself, browse our store and use our Shop It, We'll Install It program — buy the lock from us and save 10% on professional installation.
Don't forget these on move-in day
Beyond the front door, think about the side and garage-entry doors, any exterior gates, mailbox locks, and sliding-door latches. If the home came with a garage keypad or smart lock, reset the codes and remove any previous users from the app. For condos and homes with existing camera or intercom systems, have the accounts transferred or reset so prior owners no longer have access.
What it looks like when we come out
A typical move-in rekey across LA, the Valley, or Ventura County takes under an hour for most homes. We're an owner-operated, licensed company — California BSIS LCO4897 and CSLB 995953 — so the person who shows up is an experienced professional, not a subcontractor from a call center. We handle residential and commercial rekeys, smart locks, security cameras, gates and access control, intercoms, and safes.
Book your move-in rekey
Moving is chaotic enough — this is a 30-second phone call that closes the biggest security gap in your new home. Call or text Barak Lock & Security Solutions at (818) 723-6800 and we'll get you on the schedule, often same-day. Serving Los Angeles, Ventura County, and 50+ cities across the San Fernando Valley.
Barak Lock & Security Solutions — Licensed CA BSIS LCO4897 · CSLB 995953 · 22+ years of experience · (818) 723-6800