Rekey vs. Lock Change: What Your New Home Actually Needs

By Eagle Locksmith Virginia Beach · October 29, 2026

Just bought a home in Hampton Roads? You don't know who has keys to it. Here's the honest difference between rekeying and changing locks — and how to choose.

The problem: keys you can't account for

When you buy a home, you receive the keys the seller hands over — not the keys that exist. Over the years, copies go to family, neighbors, house cleaners, dog sitters, contractors and teenage friends of former occupants. Studies of burglary consistently show many entries happen without any force at all. Until you rekey or replace the locks, you simply don't control access to your own home.

What rekeying actually does

Rekeying disassembles the lock cylinder and replaces the internal pins so they match a brand-new key. The old keys — all of them, including copies you've never seen — stop working immediately. The hardware on your door stays the same, which makes rekeying the fast, economical choice when locks are in good condition. A bonus: most homes can be keyed alike during a rekey, so one key opens every door.

When changing the locks is smarter

Replace the hardware when locks are worn, sticking or rusted; when builder-grade knobs offer little real security; after any break-in or attempted break-in; or when you want an upgrade — a proper deadbolt, a keypad lock, or a high-security cylinder whose keys can't be copied without your authorization. Coastal air around Virginia Beach is hard on cheap hardware, so older Oceanfront and bay-side homes often fall in this category.

A sensible plan for move-in week

Walk the home and count every keyed entry — front, back, garage, side doors, even the shed. Decide rekey vs. replace per door based on condition, then do them all in one visit. Add a keypad deadbolt at the door your family uses most, and you'll never hide a spare under the mat or get locked out again. Our Residential Locksmith page lists everything we can handle in that same visit.