Just Moved In? Rekey or Replace Your Locks First

When a property changes hands, the key history travels with it. Previous owners, former tenants, contractors, housekeepers, dog walkers, relatives, and real estate agents may all hold copies that were never returned or documented. In a coastal community like Redondo Beach — where short-term rentals and tenant turnover are common — that list can get surprisingly long. Even brand-new construction is not immune: builders routinely use construction master keys shared across dozens of workers on a job site, and those keys are not deactivated when you close escrow. The moment you take possession, the clock is ticking on your window to establish true key control.

Rekeying or replacing your locks is not a sign of distrust toward anyone — it is simply the responsible first step every new homeowner should take. Locksmiths who work in this area know the local housing stock well: older properties along the South Bay Bike Path corridor often still have original mortise lock hardware from decades past, while newer builds in the North Redondo grid tend to use modern cylindrical locks. Knowing what you have before you call helps, but a trained locksmith can assess everything on site and walk you through your best options.

Rekeying means a locksmith disassembles the lock cylinder and replaces the internal pin tumblers with a new set. The result is that all old keys stop working and a fresh set of keys — cut to a new code — is the only thing that will operate the lock. The hardware itself stays in place. This is almost always the right call when your existing locks are in good mechanical condition, properly installed, and meet your security needs. It is also the fastest way to establish key control across multiple entry points in a single visit.

Lock replacement means removing the entire lock assembly and installing new hardware. This is the right choice when a lock is worn, damaged, poorly fitted to the door, or simply not up to the level of security you want. It is also the conversation to have when you are dealing with a mortise lock — the deep, rectangular lock body that sits inside a pocket cut into the door's edge, common in older Redondo Beach homes and in commercial-style front doors. A mortise lock is a more complex mechanism than a standard door knob lock or cylindrical deadbolt. When a mortise lock is functioning well, rekeying is entirely possible and keeps the period hardware intact. When it is worn or damaged, replacement with a quality brand like Schlage or Kwikset gives you a fresh, warranted starting point. Either way, your locksmith should evaluate each lock individually rather than applying a one-size-fits-all answer.

Most Redondo Beach homes have at least two — and often three — distinct lock types across their entry points. A typical front door might have a keyed door knob lock paired with a single-cylinder deadbolt above it. Sliding glass doors leading to a patio or deck may use a separate latch and pin lock. A detached garage with an interior access door often has its own keyed entry. Side gates, exterior storage closets, and secondary entries add more layers still. A thorough security review on move-in day accounts for all of them, not just the front door.

Older properties — and Redondo Beach has a good number of them, particularly in the historic avenues south of Torrance Boulevard — often feature mortise lock hardware that is beautifully built but may not have been serviced in years. A mortise lock contains multiple moving parts including a latch bolt, a deadbolt, and sometimes a night-latch function, all within a single case. A skilled locksmith can rekey the cylinder, replace worn components inside the case, or swap in a compatible new case while keeping the original trim plates and levers if you want to preserve the look of the door. If you are unsure what you have, a quick photo of your door edge and the surrounding trim plate sent to our team before your appointment can help speed up the process. You can also call us any time at (310) 218-1536 — we answer around the clock and can give you a clear sense of what to expect before we ever arrive.

Pricing for rekeying or lock replacement is not fixed across the board — it depends on a specific set of variables that your locksmith will assess before quoting you a number. The type and brand of lock matters significantly: rekeying a standard Kwikset cylindrical deadbolt is a faster, simpler job than servicing a multi-component mortise lock or a high-security Schlage cylinder with a patented keyway. The number of doors being serviced in a single visit, your location within the Redondo Beach area, and whether the work is scheduled in advance versus requested on an emergency basis all factor into the final figure. For after-hours or emergency locksmith calls — say, a situation where you are locked out late at night near the King Harbor Marina area — the time of day is a relevant variable. Any parts needed, such as new cylinders, replacement lock bodies, or additional key copies, are factored in transparently. At Redondo Beach Locksmiths, we confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

It is also worth separating the concept of an emergency locksmith call from a planned rekey visit. An emergency locksmith situation — locked out, key broken in the cylinder, lock malfunctioning after an attempted break-in — carries different logistics than a scheduled appointment. Both are services our team handles, but understanding which category your situation falls into helps you communicate clearly when you call and helps us prepare the right tools and parts for your specific door hardware.

Here is a straightforward process you can follow in the first 48 hours after getting your keys. Start by walking every entry point — front door, back door, side doors, garage access door, any gate with a keyed lock — and test each lock with your key. Note any that feel stiff, sticky, or uneven. Look at the strike plates: a strike plate secured with short screws can be kicked in easily regardless of how good the lock is; longer screws anchored into the door frame's framing members are a simple, effective upgrade your locksmith can handle at the same time as a rekey. Check whether any locks are keyed differently from each other, and decide whether you want a single key to operate all entry points — a convenience feature called key-alike service that a locksmith can set up during a rekey.

For sliding doors and windows, verify that secondary security bars or Charlie bars are present and functional — these are separate from keyed locks but part of the same security picture. If you have a smart lock or keypad entry already installed, change the codes immediately and check whether the device firmware is current. If you would rather start fresh with a new smart lock installation, that is also something our team handles on-site. Once you have your full picture, call (310) 218-1536 to schedule a visit — we are available 24/7 and can typically get to most parts of Redondo Beach, from the pier area up through the north end toward Marine Avenue, without a long wait.