Rekey or Replace? What to Do With Your Locks After Moving In

Rekeying means a skilled locksmith reconfigures the pin tumbler or wafer mechanism inside your existing lock cylinder so that only a brand-new key will operate it. The hardware — the deadbolt body, the strike plate, the mortise lock chassis — stays exactly where it is. This works on virtually every common residential lock type: Schlage, Kwikset, door knob locks, single-cylinder deadbolts, and even more complex mortise lock assemblies found on older Florence homes or higher-end entry doors. A mortise lock, for context, is that beefy rectangular unit recessed directly into the door edge — common on craftsman-style homes and commercial storefronts alike. Rekeying a mortise lock is a job that requires real skill and the right tools, which is why it's worth calling an experienced professional rather than attempting a DIY fix with a rekey kit.

Lock replacement, on the other hand, means swapping out the entire hardware unit — cylinder, body, and all. This makes sense when hardware is visibly damaged, when you're upgrading to a higher-security grade (say, moving from a builder-grade door knob lock to a Grade 1 deadbolt), or when you're installing a smart lock that doesn't have a rekeyable cylinder. For most new Florence homeowners, though, the locks on the door are perfectly functional — they just need the pins reset. Rekeying accomplishes the exact same security goal as replacement at a fraction of the disruption, and our team can handle every exterior door on your home in a single visit.

Moving day is prime time for lockouts. You're propping doors open, handing keys to movers, juggling boxes — and then suddenly the door swings shut and the key is sitting on the kitchen counter. If you find yourself wondering what to do when locked out of your house in the middle of an already stressful day, here's the practical checklist: First, stay calm and do a full walk-around. Check every other exterior door (back door, garage entry, basement door) and every accessible window you may have left unlocked. Ask anyone on-site — movers, family members — if they grabbed a spare. If a neighbor was given a key by the previous owner and you haven't rekeyed yet, now's the time to ask. If none of those options pan out, call a professional. A qualified locksmith can verify your ownership and get you back inside without damaging the door or the lock — no forced-entry techniques, no damage, no drama.

What you should NOT do: don't try to pry a window, force a door, or use improvised tools on the lock. Beyond the obvious damage risk, you could void a warranty on newer hardware or, worse, hurt yourself. Florence Locksmiths operates 24/7 across the Florence area, so whether it's 2 p.m. on a Tuesday or midnight on a Saturday, we can dispatch a trained technician to your address. Call us at (859) 217-6974 the moment you realize you're locked out — our team will walk you through what to expect before anyone rolls a truck.

If your new home was built before the 1970s, or if it's a higher-end newer build with solid-core exterior doors, there's a good chance you're dealing with a mortise lock rather than a standard cylindrical deadbolt. Florence, KY has a mix of housing stock — from post-war ranches near Main Street to newer subdivisions built in the 2000s boom — and the type of lock on your door matters a great deal when choosing between rekeying and replacement. Mortise locks are more secure by design: the lock body is set deep into the door rather than surface-mounted, making them far more resistant to kick-ins and forced entry. They also typically include multiple latching points in a single unit.

The tradeoff is complexity. Mortise lock service requires a locksmith who genuinely knows the hardware — pulling the cylinder, resetting the pins, and reinstalling everything correctly so the mechanism operates smoothly. Our team works with mortise lock systems regularly, both on residential doors and on the commercial locksmith side of our business (retail shops, offices, and multi-unit buildings throughout the Florence area). If you're not sure what type of lock you have, that's fine — describe it when you call and we can talk you through it before we arrive.

You may have seen self-service key copy kiosks at big-box retailers — some positioned as a quick, convenient option for duplicating house, office, car, or access card keys. These kiosks, sometimes branded under names like KeyMe, market themselves as a one-stop solution: copy any key at a kiosk near you, covering home keys, office keys, car keys, access cards, and fobs, with a location inside stores like Menards. Here's the honest truth a locksmith will tell you: a kiosk copy is only as secure as the key it copies from. If an unauthorized copy was already made before you moved in, having a fresh cut of that same key changes nothing. The kiosk has no way to verify who is making the copy or how many duplicates may already exist.

For a new homeowner, rekeying is the only step that actually resets your security — it renders every previously existing key useless, full stop. Kiosk copies are handy for making a spare once you've already rekeyed. They are not a substitute for professional lock service. Similarly, if you're dealing with a vehicle lockout or need a replacement transponder key or fob programmed, that's a job for a mobile locksmith with the right diagnostic equipment — not a retail kiosk. Our team handles vehicle locksmith services including car lockouts, key-in-ignition retrievals, transponder key cutting and programming, and replacement fobs for most makes and models, all on-site at your location across Florence and the surrounding Northern Kentucky area.

Two of the most common questions we hear are some variation of 'how much does an emergency locksmith cost near me?' and 'what is a locksmith call-out fee?' Here's how to think about it: locksmith pricing is never one-size-fits-all, and any company that quotes you a flat price over the phone without knowing the details of your job should be a red flag. Legitimate factors that shape your final price include the type of lock or vehicle involved (a standard door knob lock rekey is different from a high-security mortise lock or a transponder-equipped car key), the time of day (overnight and holiday calls involve different resource costs), travel distance to your location, and whether any parts — new cylinders, keys, lock hardware — are needed. Florence Locksmiths gives you a confirmed, exact price before any work begins. No surprise charges when the job is done.

We also hear the question 'what to do if you can't afford a locksmith?' — and the honest answer is: call and ask. We'll explain exactly what the work involves and what the confirmed price will be before we start. There are no hidden fees, no pressure, and no vague estimates. As for 'who is the cheapest locksmith?' — we'd encourage you to reframe that question. The right question is which locksmith will do the job correctly, protect your home's security, and stand behind their work. Our team is insured, experienced, and available around the clock. For non-emergency situations like a planned rekey after move-in, scheduling in advance gives you the most flexibility. For everything else — lockouts, lost keys, damaged locks — call (859) 217-6974 any time, day or night, and we'll get to you.

Whether you just moved in or you've lived in your Florence home for years, here's a snapshot of what our mobile locksmith team handles across residential, automotive, and commercial work: 1. Residential lock rekeying (single door or whole-home) 2. Mortise lock service, repair, and cylinder replacement 3. Deadbolt installation and upgrade 4. Door knob lock installation and replacement 5. Smart lock installation and setup 6. High-security lock upgrades (Schlage, Kwikset, and others) 7. Master key system design for multi-door homes 8. Broken key extraction from locks and ignitions 9. Lock repair after attempted break-in or weather damage 10. New construction lock installation 11. Safe opening and combination changes 12. Garage door lock service 13. Sliding door and patio lock installation 14. Window lock installation 15. Mailbox lock replacement 16. Car lockout service (all makes and models) 17. Transponder key cutting and programming 18. Key fob replacement and programming 19. Ignition repair and replacement 20. Trunk lockout service 21. Motorcycle lockout and key service 22. Commercial locksmith services (office buildings, retail, warehouses) 23. Commercial door hardware installation and repair 24. Access control system installation 25. Panic bar and exit device installation 26. Emergency lockout response — 24/7, any day of the year 27. Re-keying after tenant turnover (landlords and property managers) If your specific situation isn't listed, call us — if it involves a lock, a key, or a door, there's a good chance we can help.

The single best thing you can do in your first week in a new Florence home is schedule a whole-home rekey. It takes one visit, covers every exterior door, and leaves you with a set of freshly cut keys that you hand out on your terms — to family members, a trusted neighbor, whoever you choose. You'll know exactly who has access, because you controlled every copy from day one. If you have a mortise lock, older hardware that needs inspection, or a mix of lock types on different doors, our team will assess everything on arrival and walk you through the options before touching anything.

And if you ever find yourself in the middle of a move — or any other situation — and you're stuck outside wondering what to do if you're locked out of your house, you already have the answer: call Florence Locksmiths at (859) 217-6974. We're mobile, we're local, and we're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — including holidays. We'll confirm a clear price upfront, get there promptly, and get you back inside safely. Florence is our home too, and we take that seriously.

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