Moving to a new home, or your roommate moving out makes you think about the locks and keys to your home. It is vital that you feel safe at your old or new home, and luckily there are ways in which you can improve some safety measures. Not only will rekeying provide you with more safety, but it will also make your everyday life more convenient. This is why we have created this useful guide that will answer the question of whether you should rekey your house or not based on your current life situation. Let us see what are the benefits of rekeying your home.
Rekeying or changing locks?
Most people think that they need to change the locks to compensate for the missing keys. However, rekeying is almost always enough. This process means that the locksmith changes pins and tumblers instead of replacing the entire lock mechanism. The lock will remain the same, while the old keys will no longer be suitable for them.
When should you rekey your house?
Rekeying your home is the perfect solution in several life events. Let us see when you should rekey your house.
Moving to a new house
Moving to a new house does not necessarily mean that you are the only one with access to it. Copies of your keys have been handed over to subcontractors while the house was built. There is absolutely no way to find out how many copies of your keys there are and who has them. If the locks are new and aesthetically appealing there is no reason why you should change the locks on the door. In this case, the solution is to rekey the house.
Roommate moving out
In this case, a roommate can be substituted with your partner or a business partner. If you are going through a tough divorce, or your loved one is moving out, rekeying your doors is the perfect thing you can do for your safety. Why change the locks when you can make old keys useless when opening the doors in just a few minutes?
When you have a lot of tenants
Tenants moving in and out of your apartments can make several copies of keys and use them. As soon as they leave your apartment, you should rekey the doors to your home. Only you and your family members should have access to your house. No matter how much trust you have in someone, safety always comes first.
When you lose your keys
If you or any member of your family lose their keys, safety is under question. Nowadays, keys can be copied even from a single photo, let alone with the original key. Changing locks is expensive, and in this case unnecessary. Simply rekey your house, and the old keys will not function anymore.
When you want to create a master key system
Rekeying your home to have a master key system is one of the best things you can do to make life easier in your office or household. You don`t need to have separate keys for your home, garage, rooms in which your children are not allowed for their safety, etc. Instead, you can have one single key that will open all of the locks. At the same time, your kids can have keys that only open their room, or house, for example, thus having limited access. You can apply this at your business offices as well. To have the master key system, you need to have your house rekeyed so that they all fit a single key.
Can all the doors be rekeyed?
If you are worried about whether you can have your house rekeyed, the answer is yes. Only if your locks are in really bad shape, you need to change the locks before rekeying. However, in all other situations, you can have your house rekeyed?
Is rekeying more expensive than changing locks?
One of the best things you will hear today is that rekeying your house is much less expensive than changing locks. Rekeying requires only 10-15 minutes per door, it needs to be done by a locksmith and requires a special tool, that is true. However, pins are cheap, and changing them is not expensive. So, when you lose your keys, there is no need to panic. Simply call your locksmith, and they will change the pins in no time. On the other hand, changing locks are more expensive, as you have different materials to choose from, and it needs to fit into your interior.
When should you change locks on your house?
Rekeying is a great thing to do, but sometimes you just need to change locks on your house to get the best results. You should change your locks if they are worn out. A locksmith will tell you in what shape are your locks and whether they need to be completely changed or not. If they are damaged, or malfunctioning, changing them is the best way to go. If you are renovating your house, perhaps the old locks do not match what you want to achieve aesthetically. In this case, you should opt for locks that will match the new look of your home. Finally, if your locks come from different materials, and brands, you may need to change several of your locks so that they are ready to be rekeyed successfully.
Should you rekey your house?
Rekeying your house is a step towards a safer home. Whether you are moving in, out, changing rooms, tenants, gardeners, subcontractors, etc. if there is anyone besides your family who had access to your keys, you should rekey your house. You never know how many copies are there, and whether someone has an intention to do something with your keys. It is better to be safe than sorry, and rekeying is an inexpensive way to secure your home. Check it with your reliable locksmith services. Good luck!