Your Moving Day Lock List
Rekey on the day you get the keys, and change only the locks that are worn, weak or about to become smart locks. Then reset the garage opener, the keypads and the mailbox, because those change hands with the house too.
- Assume every old key still works.
- Handle every exterior door.
- Erase the garage opener memory.
- A smart lock reset does not rekey its cylinder.
Who Else Might Have a Key
More people than you think. Sellers, their kids, a dog walker, a cleaning service, a neighbor and a contractor may all have had a copy. A builder may have handed out construction keys before the first owner moved in. Almost nobody comes back to return a key.
In This Order
- Count every keyhole, including any interior door with a key and the door from the garage.
- Rekey the locks that work well.
- Change the locks that stick, drag or were damaged.
- Erase the garage opener memory, which clears old remotes, codes and any paired car.
- Factory reset any smart lock, and rekey its key cylinder.
- Reset the mailbox lock.
Questions and Answers
Is a brand new home safe to skip?
No. A builder may have handed out construction keys. New homes have fewer copies, but a rekey closes that gap.
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