Closing day comes with a long list of things to think about, and the actual locks on the house are easy to overlook once the paperwork is signed and the keys are finally in your hand. But those keys are only part of the picture — there's no way to know how many other copies exist until you've actually reset the lock yourself.
Why This Matters Regardless of the Home's History
For a resale home, a previous owner may have handed out spares to family, a dog walker, a contractor, or a neighbour who used to check in during vacations. For a new build, the various trades involved in construction — framers, electricians, site supervisors — often have some form of key access before a family ever moves in. Either way, the honest answer to "who has a key to my new house" is usually "more people than you'd expect," right up until you rekey.
What a Move-In Rekey Actually Involves
- Assessment of your existing locks to confirm they're good candidates for rekeying
- Pin removal from the lock cylinder
- New pin installation, matched to a freshly cut key
- Testing every lock to confirm smooth, reliable operation
- Key handoff — you leave with new keys, and every previous key stops working immediately
Rekeying vs. Replacing Your New Home's Locks
Rekeying resets who holds a working key while keeping your existing hardware exactly as it is — same deadbolt, same finish, same look. It's faster and less expensive than replacing the locks outright, and for the large majority of move-ins, it's genuinely all that's needed. Replacement only makes sense if the existing hardware is damaged, outdated, or you specifically want to upgrade the style or security grade.
What to Do Before Move-In Day, If Possible
Booking a rekey to happen the same day you get keys, or as close to it as possible, is the cleanest approach — it means there's no window where the home is accessible to anyone but you. If that's not possible before moving in, it's still worth doing as soon as reasonably practical afterward.
A Good Time to Consider Other Upgrades Too
Since a technician is already assessing every lock in the home, a move-in rekey is a natural moment to ask about smart locks, higher security-grade deadbolts, or consolidating mismatched hardware from past renovations into a single working key.
Why New Homeowners Choose Can-Lock Security
Can-Lock Security is a mobile, family-owned locksmith that handles move-in rekeys quickly and without pushing unnecessary upgrades. We're happy to explain what we find and let you decide what's actually worth doing beyond the rekey itself.
Book Your Move-In Rekey
Whether it's a resale home or a new build, Can-Lock Security can get your locks reset before or right after you move in. Reach out to schedule.
Related pages: Rekey and Lock Installation | Residential Locksmith Services | Smart Lock Installation | Residential Lock Replacement
