Keys get copied for all sorts of people over the life of a house: cleaners, contractors, a pet sitter, the neighbor two doors down. When the house sells, nobody collects them.
The fix is inside the lock
A standard cylinder has a row of pin stacks. Rekeying swaps them for a new set cut to a new key. The handle and the finish don't change. Every key that worked yesterday now doesn't.
What it costs
Rekeying starts at $19.00 per lock in labor, plus the $29.00 service call fee, on the price list. With four or more locks, the rekey coupon makes the fifth one free.
Count your doors first
- Front and back doors
- The side or garage entry door
- Sliding door locks that take a key
- Side gates and sheds
Most Winnetka houses have four or five once the garage is counted.
When to replace instead
A knob lock alone on a back door, a worn deadbolt, or hardware that sticks with a new key: those are worth replacing. A Grade 1 or 2 deadbolt is the sensible baseline for outside doors.
Renters
Talk to the property manager first. Many rekey between tenants as standard; others agree if you hand over a copy.
Do it on moving day
It's one short visit, and it means only your household can walk in. See the residential page for everything else a locksmith can do at home.
