House Rekey in DFW: Why It's the First Thing You Should Do When You Move

The Hidden Security Risk of a New Home

When you buy a home, the seller gives you the keys. But how many copies exist out there? The previous owner, their family, their housekeeper, their dog walker, a neighbor, a contractor who did renovations, a real estate agent, a friend who house-sat — any of them could have a copy.

You have no way of knowing. And you have no way of getting those copies back. The only way to be sure no one else can enter your home is to rekey the locks — change the internal tumblers so only your new key works.

Why Rekey Instead of Replace?

If the existing locks are in good mechanical condition (they turn smoothly, the bolts engage properly, the hardware isn't corroded), there's no need to replace them. A rekey changes the internal pins so the old keys don't work, at a fraction of the replacement cost.

Rekey: $100-$180 for all exterior doors keyed to one new key. Replace: $150-$300 per lock. If the locks are fine, rekeying saves you $50-$120 per lock and gives you the same security.

What a House Rekey Involves

Here's what we do when we rekey your home:

• We remove each exterior door lock cylinder
• We replace the internal tumbler pins with a new set
• We cut new keys to match the new pin arrangement
• We key all exterior doors to the same key — one key opens every door
• We test every lock to ensure smooth operation
• The old keys no longer work — they're useless
• Total time: 30-45 minutes for a typical 3-door home

What It Costs to Rekey a House in DFW

2026 pricing:

• 1 exterior door: $80-$120
• 2 exterior doors (keyed alike): $100-$150
• 3 exterior doors (keyed alike): $120-$180
• 4+ exterior doors: $150-$220
• Add $20-$40 per door if we also rekey a deadbolt to match
• Additional spare keys: $5-$10 each

When to Replace Instead of Rekey

If any of these apply, consider replacing the locks instead:

• The locks are over 15-20 years old — internal wear means they'll fail soon anyway
• The locks are cheap builder-grade hardware — upgrade to better security
• The locks stick or are hard to turn — worn tumblers need more than a rekey
• You want smart locks or high-security deadbolts — a rekey can't upgrade hardware
• The locks are different brands and you want to standardize on one key type

Book Your Rekey for Move-In Day

The best time to rekey is the day you get the keys — before you move your belongings in. That way, you're the only person who has access from day one. Call (682) 666-2966 to schedule a rekey for your move-in date.

We can also assess your locks and recommend whether to rekey or replace, install deadbolts if your doors don't have them, and upgrade to high-security hardware if you want extra protection. One visit, complete security.