Rekey or Change Locks After Buying a Home in Brampton?

Congratulations on your new home. Somewhere between signing the papers and unpacking the kitchen, you should deal with one important question: who else has a key? Previous owners, their family, cleaners, dog walkers, contractors, real estate lockboxes and, on new builds, the trades may all have had access. The two ways to fix that are to rekey or change locks. Here is how to choose.

What rekeying means

Rekeying keeps your existing locks on the door and changes the tiny pins inside the cylinder so a new key works and every old key stops working. The handles, deadbolts and finishes stay exactly as they are. It is fast, uses minimal hardware and usually costs noticeably less than replacing locks.

What changing locks means

Changing locks means removing the old deadbolts and handle sets and installing new hardware with new keys. You pay for the hardware and a little more labour, but you can upgrade security, change the style, or replace locks that are worn or damaged.

Rekey if…

• Your locks work smoothly and are in good condition.
• You like the look of your existing hardware.
• You mainly want to control who has keys.
• You want one key for every door and the locks share a compatible brand or keyway.
• You want the most cost-effective option.

Change locks if…

• The locks are old, stiff, loose or damaged.
• The previous owner installed cheap builder-grade hardware on exterior doors.
• A door has only a knob lock and no deadbolt, which is common on garage-to-house and side doors.
• You want better resistance to picking, bumping or forced entry.
• You want to switch to a smart lock.

The hybrid approach most homeowners choose

In practice, most Brampton homeowners do a bit of both. They rekey the locks that are in good condition, replace the one or two that are worn, add a deadbolt to the door from the garage, and key everything alike so one key opens every door. It is the best balance of cost and security.

Don’t forget these extras

• Garage door opener codes and remotes. Reset them; old remotes still work otherwise.
• Smart lock codes and apps. Remove previous users and reset to factory settings.
• Alarm codes. Change the master code and user codes.
• Strike plate screws. Replace short screws with three-inch screws that reach the framing.
• Basement suite entrances if the home has a second unit.

What about condos?

In a condo, you can usually rekey or change your unit door lock, but building entrances, mailrooms and parking fobs are managed by the condominium corporation. Check the building rules before changing hardware on fire-rated corridor doors.

Next steps

To compare options in more detail, see Rekey Locks Brampton and Change Locks Brampton. If you decide to upgrade hardware, our Lock Installation Brampton page explains lock grades and installation details.

Frequently asked questions