You’ve signed the closing documents and taken possession of your new home. Your real estate broker hands you the keys and you’re excited to move on in. But there’s one thing you should do as soon as you get those keys, and it’s not moving in.
The first thing you should do is have the locks rekeyed!
You don’t know who still has keys to the property. The seller might have extras, the neighbor might have had a key for an emergency. Former roommates or adult children who have moved away may still have keys too. Contractors may have had access to a key as well. There have been countless people through the house while it was on the market, and while unlikely, a key could have been misplaced, stolen, or copied.
Rekeying is inexpensive and the best thing you can do to protect your investment, your personal property, and yourself. Even if you purchase a condo, you should have the front door rekeyed. With condos, you might have to have permission of the Homeowners Association and they may have a vendor they want you to use.
In rekeying, a locksmith comes to your home and changes out the barrels in your locks. They work onsite and will make as many new keys as you like. I have found that in the Seattle area, rekeying typically costs $100-$150 and includes 4-6 locks and includes a couple of keys.
Be careful and take this simple step to protect your home and yourself. For more information, contact me at 206-790-0081 or email [email protected].