KCs Northern Beaches Locksmiths recommend changing the keys to your locks when moving into a new premises, or if keys have been lost or stolen.
Changing the combination/rekeying your locks is a cheaper alternative than replacing the locks. Keying alike your locks will reduce the amount of keys needed to operate your locks and decrease the number of keys on your key ring.
Rekeying is changing a lock to allow a different key to operate it. The lock can be altered by a locksmith, so that only the new key/keys will work that lock.
Rekeying is the relatively simple process of changing the tumbler or wafer configuration of the lock, thus a new key will function while the old one will not. Rekeying is done without replacement of the entire lock, making it a more affordable option.
Rekeying is done when a lock owner may be concerned that unauthorised people have keys to the lock.
Whether it’s a flat, an apartment, a newly-bought house or building premise, you have absolutely no idea how many people own a copy of your key. It’s not as improbable as you may think. It could be neighbours, friends of the owner’s children, cleaners, maintenance people, tradesmen (if newly built), staff and security staff. All these people have good reason to obtain a copy of the key to the premises, and you have no way of knowing if they dropped it or lent it or left it somewhere for other people to find.
Rekeying your new premises should be one of the first things you do as soon as you move in. Too often people will purchase/rent a new home/business and not rekey or replace the locks directly after, leaving them vulnerable.
Even if they end up getting returned by someone afterwards, you have no idea what the person’s intentions are. They may have had the key duplicated in the time, before being returned. This may leave you vulnerable to theft.
Many people provide spare key to friends, family or neighbours in the event they get locked out, or going on holidays, to feed pets etc. Unfortunately sometimes when you lend your keys, they may not be returned or they may be mislaid. Even if you trust the person, it never hurts to have a home quickly rekeyed.
Once your roommate moves out, getting the locks changed is important. Even if he or she left on good terms, or even handed back the keys, you should considering rekeying your home as you don’t know who they have provided a key to.
This is another one of the most common reasons a house might get rekeyed. Despite how you felt about your ex in the past, it is important to rekey the house to protect your possessions.
This will reduce the risk of the key being used for malicious or criminal reasons.
This is more about convenience than security. It may be best to replace old or broken locks. Repinning the locks to new keys will bring them back to working easily, rather than having to lift or jiggle them, to make them function.
Rekeying the locks will prevent them from accessing your home again, in the case a key may have been taken or found in your home.
There are many more reasons why you may want to seriously considering getting your property rekeyed. However, these are just some of the most common ones. KC’s Northern Beaches Locksmiths are able to provide you with a quote to rekey your property, giving you an added sense of security and peace of mind, because you will know exactly how many keys you have and who has those keys.
