How to Rekey Your Home After Moving In — DIY vs. Professional (Fort Collins Guide)

The Most Important Security Step New Homeowners Skip

You just closed on your new Fort Collins home. You're focused on moving boxes, setting up utilities, and painting walls. But there's one critical security task that most new homeowners delay — or skip entirely: rekeying the locks.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: you have no idea who has a copy of your new home's key. The previous owners. Their real estate agent. Their dog walker. The contractor who renovated the kitchen. The neighbor who held a spare. Every person who held a key during the previous ownership still has a key that works perfectly — until you rekey.

Rekeying vs. Replacing Locks: What's the Difference?

This is the most common question we get from new Fort Collins homeowners, and the answer matters for your budget:

• Rekeying — The locksmith reconfigures the internal pins of your existing lock so that only a new key works. The physical hardware stays in place. Old keys become useless. Cost: $20-$35 per lock.
• Replacing Locks — Complete hardware replacement (new lock, new deadbolt, new strike plate). Necessary if the existing hardware is damaged, low quality, or you want to upgrade. Cost: $75-$250 per door including hardware.

For most Fort Collins homeowners moving into a home with functioning, quality locks, rekeying is the right call. Same security result, significantly lower cost.

Everything You Should Rekey When Moving In

Most people only think of the front door. Here's the complete list:

• Front door deadbolt and knob — Obviously, but do both if they're separate locks keyed differently
• Back door and side entry doors — Often forgotten, frequently targeted
• Garage entry door — The door between your garage and home interior, not the garage door itself
• Garage door locks — If it has a manual lock cylinder, rekey it
• Basement or utility entry doors
• Mailbox lock — Often keyed to the same key; mail theft is a real issue in Fort Collins
• Any outbuilding with a lock — Shed, detached garage, workshop

For maximum convenience, ask us to key all locks alike during the rekeying — so one key opens every door. This is included in a professional rekey service and eliminates the key ring nightmare.

DIY Rekeying: Is It Worth It?

Yes, DIY rekeying kits exist. Kwikset's SmartKey line and some Schlage models allow homeowner rekeying with a simple tool. Here's when it makes sense — and when it doesn't:

When DIY Rekeying Works

• You have SmartKey-compatible Kwikset locks already installed
• You're only rekeying 1-2 locks
• You're comfortable following the tool instructions carefully
• The locks are in good working condition

When to Call a Professional

• You have standard Schlage, Kwikset (non-SmartKey), or other brands that require pin removal
• You're rekeying 3+ locks and want them all keyed alike
• You're not sure what brand or model your locks are
• The locks are older or showing signs of wear
• You have deadbolts AND knobs that need to match keys

What a Professional Rekey Service Costs in Fort Collins

Most Fort Collins homeowners spend $130–$250 for a complete whole-home rekey on move-in day. This is dramatically less than replacing locks ($400-$700+) for the same security result.

How Long Does a Professional Rekey Take?

For a typical Fort Collins home with 4-6 exterior doors and locks, a professional rekey takes 45-90 minutes from arrival to completion, including key testing. We bring all pins and tools on our truck — no ordering parts, no delays.