New Homeowner Locksmith Checklist for Highlands Ranch
Closing on a house is not the end of the security question, it is the start of it. Every previous owner, agent, contractor, and sometimes a neighbor watering plants could still have a working key to your new home. Here is a simple new homeowner locksmith checklist to work through in your first week. Renting instead? See our renter’s guide to locks for what applies to you.
Rekey Every Exterior Door
You have no real way to know how many keys exist for a home you just bought. Rekeying swaps the internal pins so old keys stop working, without needing to replace the hardware itself. It is the single most important thing on this list, and usually the least expensive.
Check the Garage Entry Door and Any Side Doors
People forget the garage-to-house door and side entrances more often than the front door. If any of these use a separate lock, include them in the rekey so there is no leftover access point. See our garage entry and keyless entry page if you want to upgrade this door while you are at it.
Reset or Reprogram Any Smart Locks
If the home already has a smart lock, do not assume a factory reset by the previous owner actually happened. Reset it yourself, clear old user codes, and set up your own access from scratch.
Test Every Key You Were Given
Confirm which keys given to you at closing actually work, and label them. This is also a good time to check for a hidden spare key the previous owner may have left under a mat, rock, or planter, and remove it.
Consider a Garage Door Code Reset
If your garage has a keypad entry, change the code even if you plan to rekey the doors. Garage codes are often shared casually and rarely get reset during a sale.
Quick Checklist
- Rekey all exterior doors, including garage entry and side doors
- Reset or reprogram any existing smart locks
- Test and label every key given to you at closing
- Check for and remove any hidden spare keys
- Change the garage keypad code
Frequently Asked Questions
Just closed on a home in Highlands Ranch? We can rekey the same day you move in.
