If you just closed on a house in Atlanta, you have no way of knowing how many keys to it are still out there. The previous owners had some. So might their relatives, a dog walker, a cleaning service, or the contractor who redid the deck. Rekeying the locks makes every one of those keys useless, and it costs less than new hardware.
Rekeying is not always the right call, though. Sometimes the lock itself has to go.
What rekeying actually does
A standard door lock has a row of small pins inside the cylinder that only line up when the right key goes in. Rekeying swaps those pins for a new set, so the old keys stop turning and a new key opens the lock. The lock itself stays on the door: same handle, same deadbolt, same finish.
With us, rekeying starts at $49. It is the least expensive way to take back control of who can get into your house.
When rekeying is the right call
- You just bought or moved into a home.
- You lost a key, or it was stolen along with something that shows your address, like a wallet or a bag with mail in it.
- A roommate, a tenant, or a former partner moved out and did not return every key.
- You want one key for every exterior door. Locks that share the same keyway, which usually means the same brand, can be rekeyed to work with a single key.
When to replace the lock instead
- The lock was damaged in a break-in or a forced entry.
- It is worn out: the key sticks, the deadbolt drags, or the cylinder turns loose in the door.
- You want different hardware, such as a sturdier deadbolt or a new finish.
- Your doors have locks from different brands and you want them all on one key. The odd ones out get replaced, and the rest can be rekeyed to match.
Lock replacement with us starts at $99, and the hardware you choose affects the final price. We confirm the number before any work begins, and every starting price is on our pricing page.
| Rekey | Replace | |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | The pins inside the cylinder | The whole lock |
| Old keys | Stop working | Stop working |
| Your hardware | Stays on the door | New hardware goes on |
| Starting price | $49 | $99 |
| Best for | A new home, lost keys, someone moving out | Damage, wear, or an upgrade |
Three questions to ask before a locksmith comes out
- Does the quote cover one lock or every lock you want done?
- Can your locks be keyed alike, so one key opens every exterior door?
- If a lock turns out to be worn, will the technician have replacement hardware on hand, and what will it cost?
Asking these on the phone keeps the visit short and the price where you expected it.
Locked out of the house?
House lockouts with us start at $89. Before we open anything, we check a photo ID that shows the address. That rule protects you, because it means we would not open your door for anyone else either. If your ID shows a different address, tell us when you call.
Own a business?
The same logic applies to storefronts and offices. Rekeying is the quickest way to cut off a key after an employee leaves or a tenant moves out, and we handle it along with master key systems on our commercial locksmith calls.
Book a rekey or a lock change
Call (470) 668-2196 and tell us how many doors you have and what brand the locks are, if you know. We work Tuesday through Sunday from 7 AM to 7 PM (Wednesday until 5 PM) across Atlanta and more than 20 surrounding cities. More about our home services is on our residential locksmith page.