Residential locksmith — lockouts, rekeys and door security

Do I need to replace my locks when I move into a new home?

Not necessarily. Rekeying is almost always enough and costs significantly less than full replacement — the hardware stays on the door, and only the internal pins change so old keys stop working. Replacement makes sense when the lock is worn, damaged, or you want a genuine security upgrade.

Either way, do it in the first week. Previous owners, their contractors, cleaners, dog walkers and estate agents have all held that key at some point.

My lock is hard to turn. Do I need a new one?

Not always. A stiff or difficult lock can often be repaired or adjusted on the spot. In Southwest Florida the usual culprits are salt air, humidity and a door that has swollen or dropped on its hinges so the bolt no longer meets the strike cleanly. Fixing the alignment often fixes the lock.

What is the most secure lock for a front door?

A high-security deadbolt with a reinforced strike plate is the most effective upgrade. Most forced entries in family homes are not sophisticated — they are a boot against a door where the strike plate is held by two half-inch screws into soft trim. Three-inch screws into the frame stud change that maths immediately.