Rekey vs Replace: Which Your Boston Home Needs After a Move

HMS Locksmith is an Allston-based locksmith that rekeys, repairs and replaces locks for homeowners and renters across Boston, from Brighton and Jamaica Plain to South Boston and Charlestown, and in nearby cities such as Watertown, Newton and Quincy. One of the most common questions we hear from people who have just moved is simple: rekey vs replace, which one do I actually need?

The honest answer is that most new homeowners need rekeying, and some need replacement as well. Here is how to tell the difference, what each one does, and what to check in the first week in your new place so the rekey vs replace decision is easy.

Why the locks matter the day you move in

When you buy or rent a home, you have no idea how many keys are out there. Previous owners, their relatives, a dog walker, a contractor from a kitchen job three years ago, an old tenant who never returned a copy. Any of those keys still work until you change something.

That is why changing the keying is usually the first security job after a move, ahead of cameras, alarms or smart gadgets.

What rekeying actually does

Rekeying keeps your existing lock and changes what key opens it. As our rekey and master key page explains, a technician removes the cylinder, changes the pins to match a new key pattern and reassembles the lock. The old keys stop working and new keys are cut.

What you keep:

• The same handles, knobs and deadbolts
• The same finish, so nothing looks different from the street
• The same door preparation, so no drilling or new holes

What changes:

• Every old key in circulation becomes useless
• You can have one new key work every exterior door, which is a nice upgrade if the last owner had a ring of five different keys

Our rekey page notes that rekeying is usually the more economical option when a lock itself is in good shape.

When replacement makes more sense

Rekeying only changes who can open a lock. It does not make a weak lock stronger or a worn lock smoother. Replacement is the better call when:

• The lock is worn or damaged. A key that sticks, a deadbolt that grinds or a knob that wobbles will keep getting worse.
• The hardware is low quality. Builder-grade locks are common in flips and older rentals. The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association grades many lock products 1, 2 or 3, with grade 1 being the highest, so it is worth asking what is on your door.
• You want a different type of lock. Moving from a knob to a deadbolt, adding a high-security cylinder, or going keyless all mean new hardware.
• Parts are no longer available. Some older Boston homes have vintage locksets that cannot easily be rekeyed.

There is a middle option too. Our lock change and repair page describes replacing only the cylinder, the center mechanism, on older locks that are worn or corroded. You keep the handles and faceplate you like and pay less than a full replacement.

When you do replace, look at the ANSI/BHMA grade levels; Grade 1 is the most durable rating for door hardware.

A quick decision guide

| Situation | Usually the right move | |—|—| | Locks work well, you just do not know who has keys | Rekey | | Different keys for every door and you want one | Rekey to match | | Lock sticks, grinds or is visibly worn | Replace or swap the cylinder | | You want stronger, harder-to-copy keys | Replace with high-security | | Vintage hardware you love but the cylinder is tired | Replace the cylinder only |

Your first-week lock checklist

Walk the house once with this list and you will know what to ask for when you call:

1. Count the exterior doors. Front, back, porch, basement, garage entry. People forget the basement door in older homes.
2. Try every key you were handed. Note which doors they open and which they do not.
3. Check each deadbolt. It should throw fully into the frame without you pushing or lifting the door.
4. Look at the strike plates. Short screws into soft trim are a weak spot. Longer screws into the framing help.
5. Find the mailbox key and any garage remotes. Those are part of your access too.
6. Decide how many copies you need. Our vans carry key cutting machines, so new keys can be cut on site after the rekey.

Renters: talk to your landlord first

If you rent, the locks belong to the building owner. Ask before changing them, and if your landlord charged you for a new lock and key at move-in, ask whether it was actually changed. A locksmith can rekey with the owner’s approval and hand both of you keys.

Massachusetts law already contemplates this moment: M.G.L. chapter 186, section 15B lets a landlord charge a new tenant for the purchase and installation of a new lock and key at the start of a tenancy.

Other systems worth checking after a move

Locks are the first thing to sort out, but a new home has other systems that come with someone else’s history. The heating and cooling equipment is a good example: many manufacturers require documented yearly maintenance to keep parts warranties valid, so ask the seller for those records the same way you ask for every key.

Rekeying across Boston and nearby cities

We rekey and replace locks across Boston neighborhoods including Allston, Back Bay, Dorchester, Roslindale and West Roxbury, and in nearby cities like Watertown, Newton and Brookline. If you have just moved to the area west of the city, our Watertown locksmith page has more detail. For the service itself, see our lock rekeying and master key service.

Frequently asked questions

Is rekeying as secure as new locks?

Rekeying makes old keys useless, which solves the main problem after a move. It does not upgrade the lock itself, so if the hardware is weak or worn, replacement or a high-security cylinder is the better choice.

Can all my doors use one key after rekeying?

Usually yes, as long as the locks share a compatible keyway. A technician can tell you on the spot and rekey everything to one new key.

How long does rekeying take?

It depends on how many doors you have and what kind of locks they are. A typical home with a few exterior doors is often done in one visit, with new keys cut before the technician leaves.

Trusted Local Network

We like to point readers toward businesses that do careful work in their own trades and markets. Two worth a look:

• A Dallas HVAC company that offers yearly air conditioning tune-ups points out that most equipment manufacturers require documented yearly maintenance to keep parts warranties valid, so ask a seller for those records the same way you ask for every key.
• A plumbing, heating and electrical company in the Las Vegas Valley handles water heater repair and replacement for all makes and models, the kind of after-hours home emergency that follows the same stay-calm rules as a lockout.

Your Greater Boston Rekeying Specialists

If you have new keys and no idea who else has a copy, reach our team through the contact page to book a rekey or a lock change, or call (617) 249-4949. Tell us how many doors you have and we will take it from there.

HMS Locksmith is based in Allston and serves Boston and nearby communities across Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk and Essex counties, including Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Newton and Quincy. Learn more about our rekeying service, or see what neighbors say in the HMS Locksmith Google reviews before you book.