Moved in? Rekey before you unpack
The keys you were handed are rarely the only ones. Here's why a rekey belongs near the top of the moving list, next to forwarding the mail.
- Dispatch across Oakland, flats to hills
- Starting prices posted online
- All major credit cards
Where the old keys went
Think about who passed through before you. Listing agents and lockbox codes. Stagers and photographers. The previous owner's relatives, gardener, house cleaner. If the house was a rental, every past tenant and whoever they lent a key to.
Duplexes and houses with an in-law unit add more doors, and more keys, to the count.
How a rekey works
Inside a pin-tumbler cylinder, small pins sit at different heights. The right key lines them up and the cylinder turns. Rekeying swaps in a new set of pins and cuts keys to match. The lock stays on the door, so you pay for labour and pins, not new hardware.
Starting prices are on the price list. With five locks, the rekey coupon makes the fifth one free.
Rekey, or new lock?
Rekey if the locks work smoothly. Replace them if they're loose, worn or flimsy, or if an exterior door has a knob lock and no deadbolt.
If you rent
Check the lease before changing anything. Many Oakland leases require the landlord's approval and a copy of the new key. Ask in writing, and keep the reply.