Moving house? Rekey vs replace your locks.

One of the first things worth doing in a new home is making sure the old keys don't work anymore. You've got two ways to do that — rekeying and replacing — and they're not the same job or the same price.

Why bother at all?

When you move in, you have no idea how many copies of the keys are out there. Previous owners or tenants, their family, tradies, cleaners, a real-estate lockbox, an ex-flatmate. None of them are necessarily a threat — but you can't know, and you can't un-give a key you don't know exists. Resetting who can get in is cheap peace of mind.

What rekeying is

Rekeying changes the internal pins of the existing lock so the old keys no longer work and a new key does. The lock stays on the door — only its "code" changes. It's quick, it's usually the cheaper option, and if you've got several locks that currently take different keys, a locksmith can often rekey them all to a single new key so you're not carrying a jailer's keyring.

What replacing is

Replacing swaps the whole lock for a new one. You'd choose this when the existing lock is worn, damaged, dated, or simply not secure enough — or when you want to upgrade to something better, like a quality deadbolt or a smart lock. It costs more than rekeying because you're paying for the hardware as well as the labour.

Which should you choose?

• Rekey if: the locks are in good condition and you just want the old keys retired, or you want several doors on one key.
• Replace if: a lock is faulty, stiff or broken, you're upgrading security, or the lock is so old that parts to rekey it aren't practical.

Getting it done

Both jobs are bread-and-butter for a mobile residential locksmith — we come to you and sort it on site, usually in one visit. If you're not sure which you need, describe your locks when you call and we'll tell you honestly. We cover homes right across the country, from Auckland to Christchurch.