Should you rekey or replace when you change locks?
Most people searching for a lock change service want one thing: for the keys that used to work to stop working. There are two ways to get there, and the right one depends on the hardware already on your doors, not on which option sounds more thorough.
Rekeying keeps your existing lock bodies and changes the internal pin arrangement, so the old keys no longer turn them. You end up with the same locks and new keys, and it is usually the more economical route. It suits hardware that is in good shape and that you're happy with. Our lock rekey service covers that path.
Replacing means removing the old hardware and installing new locks. That makes sense when a lock is worn, loose or damaged, when it's a low-grade builder set, when it doesn't match the rest of the house, or when you want a different style, finish or security level. The details are on our lock replacement page.
If you aren't sure which one you need, that's normal. Once we've looked at your doors, we can usually tell which category each one falls into. If rekeying will do the job, we'll say so, even though replacement is the bigger job. If a lock is too far gone to rekey sensibly, we'll say that too and show you why.
- Rekey when the lock turns smoothly, the finish and style are fine, and the only goal is making old keys useless.
- Replace when the lock sticks, spins loose, is visibly damaged, or doesn't fit the look or security level you want.
- Replace when you want to move to a keypad or smart lock instead of a traditional key.
- Mixed answers are common: a house often has some doors that rekey well and one or two that should be swapped.
Why change locks after buying a house or moving in?
You can't know how many keys exist for a house you didn't live in. Previous owners, their relatives, contractors, agents, house cleaners, ranch hands and friends who watered the plants may each have been handed one, and none of that is written down anywhere. Changing locks after buying a house settles the question in a single visit.
That is why a locksmith for new homeowners is usually one of the first calls after closing, often ahead of any upgrades. If you're looking for a locksmith for a new house, think of the lock change as a reset rather than a suspicion. You're not accusing anyone. You're simply making sure the people holding keys are the people you chose.
Others call a locksmith after moving because they want to know exactly who has access before the furniture goes in. The same reasoning applies when a tenancy, a working relationship or a household arrangement ends and keys are still out there.
If you are already standing outside the new place without a working key, that's a different situation and a different kind of call. Our house lockout page explains how we handle that. Once you're inside, the lock change can follow.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How a lock change visit works, step by step
We keep the process simple so you know what's happening at each point, and nothing gets done to a door before you've agreed to it.
- You call (213) 577-1366, at any hour. Tell us roughly how many exterior doors you have, what kind of locks are on them, whether there are gates, a guest house or a barn, and whether you want the keys to match across doors.
- We plan the trip. Hidden Hills is a staffed, gated city about 24 miles from our Westwood storefront, so we ask what the gate needs to let a service vehicle through and arrive prepared.
- On site, we walk every door you want addressed. We check that each lock turns cleanly, that the latch lines up with the strike plate, and that the door closes properly.
- We explain the rekey-or-replace choice door by door, including what each option involves and what drives the cost, before any work begins.
- We do the work you've approved: rekeying the cylinders, or removing old hardware and fitting new locks, then cutting the keys.
- You test every new key in every lock while we're still there. For rekeyed locks we also confirm that the old keys no longer operate them, then hand over the keys.
What affects the cost of changing locks?
We don't put prices on a web page, because a lock change on a one-door guest house and a lock change on an entire estate are different jobs. What we can do is tell you plainly what moves the final figure, so nothing about the quote is a surprise.
After we've seen your doors, we explain the cost in terms of what's actually there, and you decide what to do.
- How many locks are involved. Every exterior door, side door, garage entry and outbuilding adds work.
- Rekey versus replace. Rekeying existing hardware is usually the lighter-cost option; new hardware adds the cost of the hardware itself.
- Grade and brand of the hardware. A standard deadbolt and a high-security cylinder are very different products. See our high security locks page if that's your direction.
- Whether you want keys to match. Having one key operate several doors is often possible, but it depends on the existing hardware and brand.
- How many keys you need cut, and whether any need to be restricted.
- Electronic features. Keypads and smart locks cost differently from mechanical ones, and the choices are outlined on our smart lock installation page.
- Door condition. A door that has shifted or a strike plate that no longer lines up may need correcting before the new lock works properly.
- Time of day. A call in the middle of the night is handled differently from a daytime booking, and we'll tell you how when you call.
- Distance and access. We travel to Hidden Hills from Westwood, and the staffed gates are part of planning the visit.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What does changing locks look like across Hidden Hills?
Hidden Hills is an entirely gated, guarded city of large-lot equestrian estates. Many properties began as 1950s and 1960s ranch houses and have since been rebuilt as much larger custom homes. There are no sidewalks or streetlights, bridle trails run through the city, and properties often have their own driveway gates, barns and guest structures on top of the staffed community gates. For a lock change, that means the number of doors on a property is usually higher than a typical house, and the list is easy to underestimate.
Whether you're in the Long Valley Road corridor near the main gate, the Round Meadow Road area, or along Jed Smith Road, we approach it the same way: count every door that has a key, then decide which ones to rekey and which to replace. The same applies to properties near the western edge by Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space or toward the southern edge near The Commons at Calabasas. All of it falls under ZIP code 91302.
One scenario comes up often enough to plan for. When an original ranch home is being remodeled or rebuilt, a good number of people carry keys: designers, framers, finish crews, deliveries. The cleanest time to change locks is at the end of the project, so every key issued during construction stops working. If you're partway through a rebuild and want to talk about timing, call us and we'll help you sequence it.
Outbuildings deserve the same attention as the front door. Barns, tack rooms and guest structures on bridle-trail lots often have older padlocks or basic keyed knobs that nobody has thought about in years, and they're easy to leave off the list. We'll include them in the walk-through.
Driveway gates are their own category. A lock change covers the doors, while gate keypads, intercoms and gate latches are a different kind of work, which is handled on our gate lock repair page. If you've just bought a property, it's worth changing gate codes and door keys at the same time so nothing from the previous owner is left active.
How heat and wind affect exterior locks here
Hidden Hills sits in an inland valley with hot, dry summers and the occasional Santa Ana wind off the Simi Hills. Sun exposure and repeated heat cycling are the main stresses on exterior hardware, gates especially. Locks that face the sun year after year can feel stiff, loosen in their mounting, or wear faster than ones inside the house.
That matters for the rekey-or-replace decision. A rekey can't fix a worn latch, a loose handle or a sticking deadbolt. If an exterior lock has been fighting you, we'll point it out during the walk-through and suggest replacing it rather than rekeying a tired part. If it works smoothly, rekeying it is perfectly sensible.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key
We've been in business since 1987, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. We run from a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, with mobile service vans that come to you. When you call (213) 577-1366, you're reaching our own company, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. There is no dispatch middleman between you and the person who does the work.
We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, so Hidden Hills isn't a stretch for us. Our mobile locksmith service is built around coming to your door with the tools and hardware to finish the job on the same visit where possible.
What to ask any locksmith before they start
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith company for it before work begins. It's a reasonable question and a reputable company won't mind it.
A few other things are worth asking, whoever you call:
- Who is actually coming, and are they from the company you called?
- Will they look at the hardware first, or go straight to replacing everything?
- Will they explain rekey versus replace for each lock, and what drives the cost?
- Will you test every key before they leave?
How to prepare for a lock change at your Hidden Hills property
A few minutes of preparation makes the visit smoother, especially on a large property with many doors.
- Walk the property and list every door and outbuilding with a lock, including the barn, tack room and guest structure.
- Gather every key you currently have, so we can test them and see what's already out there.
- Decide who needs keys. Family, house staff and caretakers should be counted before we start cutting.
- Tell us if you're interested in a keypad or smart lock on any door.
- Check what your gate staff need in order to admit a service vehicle.
- If you want spare copies afterward, our key duplication page explains the options.
Frequently asked questions
Should I rekey or replace the locks on a house I just bought?
If the existing locks are in good condition and you like them, rekeying is usually the more economical route and does the main job, which is making all previous keys useless. If any are worn, loose, damaged or low-grade, replacing those is the better choice. We look at each door and tell you which makes sense.
Will my old keys still work after you change the locks?
No. After a rekey or replacement, the old keys will not operate the locks we've changed. We test this with you before we leave. Any door we haven't touched keeps its old keys, which is why it matters to list every door up front.
Can you change locks on barns, tack rooms and guest houses?
Yes. Outbuildings are a regular part of lock changes on large estate properties, and they're often the doors people forget. We'll include them in the walk-through so every key on the property is accounted for.
Do you come to Hidden Hills at night or on weekends?
Yes. Our phone line, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. We'll ask what the community gate needs in order to admit our vehicle so the visit goes smoothly.
How much does it cost to change locks?
It depends on the number of locks, whether you rekey or replace, the grade of hardware, how many keys you need, and the time of day. We explain these once we know what's on your doors. We don't quote numbers online because every property is different.
Can all my doors use the same key?
Often, yes, though it depends on the brand and type of the locks involved. We'll tell you what's possible for your doors when we look at them, and whether it's best done by rekeying or by replacing some locks.
Does someone need to be home during the lock change?
Someone who can authorize the work should be there, and ideally you'll test the keys with us at the end. If you're remodeling or rebuilding and the house is occupied by crews, tell us when you call so we can plan access.
Is installing a smart lock the same as changing the lock?
It counts as a change, since the old key stops being the way in, but it's a bigger decision involving the door, the power source and how you want to manage access. If you're considering one, mention it when you call and we'll go over it on site.
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Change Locks near Hidden Hills
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.