Should I Change The Locks On My New Home

Yes, you should change the locks on a new home, and the real reason is simple: you genuinely have no reliable way of knowing how many people, previous owners, contractors, real estate agents, house cleaners, neighbors watering plants, still have a working key. This guide covers the actual, specific costs, methods, and full checklist beyond just the front door, so you know exactly what to prioritize.

I am Robbie English, Broker, REALTOR at Uncommon Realty, and I walk buyers through this exact step after closing across Austin. My goal here is to give you a practical, genuinely useful checklist, not a vague, generic safety reminder that doesn't tell you what to actually do.

Rekeying Versus Full Lock Replacement

Rekeying means a locksmith changes the internal pins of your existing lock so old keys no longer work, while a completely new key does; this typically costs $15 to $50 per lock, or roughly $50 to $150 for a whole-house job with a locksmith's service call included. Full lock replacement means installing entirely new hardware, generally $50 to $200+ per lock depending on the brand and features, worth it if your existing locks are outdated, damaged, or you want to upgrade to a smart lock system. For most buyers, rekeying existing locks in good condition is the more cost-effective choice.

Why This Matters More Than It Seems

A typical home sale involves more key copies in circulation than most buyers initially assume: the previous owner and any family members, a listing agent's lockbox key or code, a home inspector, contractors who did recent work, a cleaning service, and sometimes neighbors who watered plants or fed pets during showings. Even a seller acting in complete good faith likely can't account for every copy that's been made over the years they owned the home.

Smart Locks: A Real Alternative Worth Considering

Smart locks let you set your own unique code or use a smartphone app rather than a traditional key entirely, eliminating the "who has a copy" problem going forward. Popular options include keypad deadbolts and full smart-lock systems that integrate with home automation, generally running $100 to $300 per door installed. If you're already changing locks, this is a reasonable point to consider upgrading rather than simply rekeying to a traditional key system.

Beyond The Front Door: A Full Checklist

Changing your front door lock alone leaves real gaps. Also address the back door, side entries, and any exterior storage or shed locks using the same key system if you want single-key convenience. Garage door opener codes and remotes deserve equal attention, reset your garage door opener's rolling code and reprogram or replace remotes, since a garage often provides direct interior access to the home.

Don't Forget The Mailbox And Community Gate Codes

If your mailbox uses a separate key, contact USPS or your property management company about getting it rekeyed or replaced, since mail theft is a real, distinct risk from home entry. If your neighborhood or community uses gate codes, keypad entry, or a shared access system, contact your HOA or management company to request a new code, since a widely known old code offers little real security even after your home's locks are changed.

Alarm Systems And Smart Home Devices

If the home has an existing security system, confirm whether it's still monitored under the previous owner's account and change all access codes and any app credentials before relying on it. Smart home devices already installed, video doorbells, smart thermostats, garage systems, should have their accounts reset to your own credentials rather than continuing under a previous owner's login, both for security and so you actually have full control of the device going forward.

Timing: Do This Immediately At Closing

Change your locks as close to closing day as possible, ideally the same day you receive keys, rather than treating it as a task to get to eventually. The period immediately after closing, when you may not have moved all your belongings in yet and your daily routine at the home isn't established, is genuinely when this gap matters most.

Window Locks And Secondary Entry Points

Beyond doors, check every window's lock mechanism, especially ground-floor and easily accessible windows, since these represent a real entry point most buyers overlook entirely when focused on door locks. Older homes sometimes have outdated or worn window latches that don't fully secure, worth testing individually during your first walkthrough after closing rather than assuming they all function properly simply because the home passed inspection.

Sliding Glass Doors Deserve Special Attention

Sliding glass doors, common on patios and back entries, often rely on a simple latch mechanism that can be vulnerable to lifting or prying if not reinforced. A supplemental security bar or pin lock, a genuinely inexpensive addition, adds real protection beyond the door's original latch, worth considering specifically for any sliding door that provides access to a backyard or less visible side of the home.

Home Warranty And Insurance Considerations

Some homeowners insurance policies offer modest discounts for homes with updated locks or monitored security systems, worth asking your insurance agent about directly when you're already making these changes. If your home comes with a home warranty from the sale, confirm whether it covers any existing smart lock or security system components, since warranty coverage terms vary and this is worth understanding before you need to file a claim.

What A Previous Owner's Habits Might Mean

A home that hosted regular contractors, rental tenants before your purchase, or a period where the previous owner used a lockbox or hid a spare key outside genuinely increases the realistic number of people who've had access over time. Ask your agent directly whether the seller mentioned any of these situations during the transaction, since a home with a documented rental history or extensive recent renovation work is a stronger case for prioritizing a full lock change immediately rather than treating it as optional.

Combining Locks And A Broader Security Review

Since you're already addressing locks, it's a genuinely efficient moment to walk the exterior of your new home with a broader security eye: check that all exterior lighting works, note any hedges or landscaping that could conceal someone approaching a door or window unseen, and confirm that any existing exterior cameras or doorbell devices are either reset to your account or removed if you don't plan to keep them. This kind of combined pass takes little additional time once a locksmith is already scheduled, but covers meaningfully more ground than locks alone.

Rekeying Multiple Locks To One Key

If your home's exterior doors currently use different, mismatched keys, a locksmith can rekey them all to operate on a single new key during the same service call, a genuine convenience worth requesting specifically since it typically costs little to no extra given you're already paying for the service visit. This single-key setup is worth doing at the same time as your initial rekey rather than as a separate future project.

Finding A Licensed Locksmith

Verify any locksmith is licensed and carries insurance before hiring them, and get a clear price quote before work begins rather than after. Many locksmiths offer same-day service for a straightforward rekeying job, and this is genuinely worth prioritizing scheduling around your actual move-in date rather than treating it as a lower-priority task once you're settled.

DIY Rekeying Versus Hiring A Professional

Some lock brands, particularly Kwikset's SmartKey line, are designed for genuinely simple homeowner rekeying using a small included tool, no locksmith required, typically taking just a few minutes per lock. Older or higher-security lock brands generally require a professional locksmith's specialized tools and expertise. Check your specific lock brand and model before assuming either approach applies universally to every lock in your home.

What This Costs In Total

For a typical single-family home with a front door, back door, and one or two additional exterior entries, budget roughly $100 to $300 total for professional rekeying of all locks, or more if you're opting for smart lock upgrades on some or all doors. This is a genuinely modest cost relative to your overall closing expenses and moving budget, and it's not a place to cut corners given what's actually at stake.

What Sellers Should Know

If you're selling, providing all known keys and any gate or garage codes to your buyer at closing is standard practice, but don't assume your buyer won't (or shouldn't) still rekey the locks regardless of how thorough your handoff is. This isn't a reflection on your honesty as a seller; it's a standard, sensible step any buyer should take given how many people can accumulate access to a home over years of ownership.

A Practical Move-In Day Checklist

On or before move-in day: rekey or replace all exterior door locks, reset the garage door opener code and reprogram remotes, request a new mailbox key if applicable, update any community gate or entry codes through your HOA, reset alarm system codes and confirm monitoring account ownership, and reset credentials on any existing smart home devices. Treating this as one complete checklist, rather than a single "change the locks" task, closes the real gaps that a front-door-only approach leaves open.

Smart Lock Battery And Backup Considerations

If you install a smart lock, understand its backup access method before you rely on it exclusively; most models include a physical key backup or a manual code entry option for when batteries die or the app malfunctions. Set a reminder to check and replace batteries on a regular schedule, since a dead smart lock battery at an inconvenient moment is a genuinely common, avoidable frustration that proper maintenance prevents.

New Construction Homes Aren't Exempt

Buyers of newly built homes sometimes assume rekeying isn't necessary since no previous owner lived there, but construction crews, subcontractors, the builder's sales staff, and site supervisors typically all had access to the home during the build process, often for many months. Treat a new construction purchase with the same rekeying diligence as a resale home, since the number of people with potential key access during construction can genuinely rival or exceed that of a previously owned home.

Homeowners Association Considerations

If your community has specific HOA requirements around exterior lock hardware, appearance standards, or approved security system providers, review your HOA's governing documents before making changes, particularly if you're installing a visible smart lock or security camera on a home's exterior. Most HOAs don't restrict interior lock changes, but exterior modifications sometimes require notification or approval depending on your specific community's rules.

Coordinating With Your Moving Timeline

Schedule your locksmith appointment to align with your actual move-in schedule rather than an arbitrary date, ideally completing the rekey before your movers arrive with your belongings so you're not managing multiple keys or temporary access arrangements simultaneously. If you're managing a tight closing-to-move-in timeline, call locksmiths in advance to confirm same-day or next-day availability rather than assuming you can schedule this on short notice during a busy week.

What To Do If You Can't Immediately Rekey

If scheduling constraints mean you can't rekey immediately at closing, take interim precautions: ensure all doors and windows are locked when you're not present, avoid leaving spare keys in obvious hiding spots, and prioritize scheduling the rekey within the first few days rather than letting it become an indefinitely postponed task. This isn't a substitute for actually rekeying, but it genuinely reduces real risk during the interim gap before you can.

Bringing It All Together

Changing the locks on a new home is a genuinely worthwhile, modestly priced step that closes a real security gap most buyers don't fully think through: the unknown number of keys and codes that circulated during the previous owner's time in the home. Rekeying costs $15-50 per lock, smart locks run $100-300 per door, and a complete approach covers garage codes, mailbox keys, community gate access, and smart home device credentials, well beyond the front door alone.

Whether you're closing on a home soon, already moved in and haven't addressed this yet, or selling and wondering what you owe your buyer in terms of keys and codes, I'm glad to point you toward reliable local locksmiths and walk you through the full move-in checklist, step by step. You can browse current, up-to-date listings on my website or through my app at any time.

Written for buyers and sellers in the Greater Austin, Texas area by Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty.