Change Locks in Santa Monica, CA

Should you rekey or replace when you change locks?

Most people who search for a lock change aren't sure what they actually need. They know one thing: somebody else might have a key, and they want that to stop. That's the right instinct, and it doesn't always mean buying new hardware.

There are two honest ways to get there. Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing lock so the old keys no longer turn it and a new key does. Replacing means taking the lock off the door and installing a different one. Rekeying is usually the more economical route when the lock itself is sound. Replacing makes sense when the hardware is worn, corroded, damaged, or simply not the level of security you want.

We'll look at your doors and tell you which one fits. If your locks are in good shape, we'll say so and suggest rekeying the existing locks. If a lock is failing or a door has weak hardware, we'll say that too and explain what replacing the lock would involve. The decision is yours, and you'll have the facts before we start.

Why change locks after buying a house or moving in?

When you take over a home, you can't know how many keys exist. Previous owners, tenants, relatives, contractors, cleaners, real estate agents and neighbors who watered the plants may all have had one at some point. Nobody is necessarily acting in bad faith, but you have no way to account for those copies, and that's reason enough to change the locks.

The same applies to a rental you just moved into, a place you've shared with a roommate or partner who has left, or a home where a key went missing. A lock change resets the situation so that you know exactly who can get in.

• You bought a house or condo and the seller handed over some number of keys of unknown origin.
• You moved into an apartment or rental and want the keys to be only yours.
• A roommate, ex-partner, former employee or house sitter still has a key.
• A key was lost or stolen, especially if it was on a ring with your address or ID.
• The locks are a mix of mismatched brands and keys, and you want one key for every door.
• You're about to list a property for rent or vacation use and want clean keying.

How does a lock change work, step by step?

A lock change is a short, orderly job when the details are sorted out up front. Here is how we handle it, whether we come to you or you visit our Westwood storefront with a cylinder in hand.

1. You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us what you have: how many exterior doors, what kind of locks, and why you want them changed. Photos of the door and lock help if you can send them.
2. We talk through rekey versus replace based on what you describe, so you know what we're likely to recommend before anyone drives over.
3. On site, we confirm that you have the right to have these locks changed. A homeowner, a tenant with the landlord's permission, or a property manager are all normal cases, and we'll ask for reasonable proof.
4. We inspect each lock and door: the cylinder, the latch, the strike plate, the deadbolt throw and how the door closes. A lock that's sloppy because the door has shifted is a different problem from one that's worn out.
5. We give you the plan and the cost for that plan before we start work, so there are no surprises partway through.
6. We rekey or replace each lock, cut and test the new keys, and make sure every lock turns smoothly and the bolt fully engages.
7. You walk the doors with us, try the keys yourself, and ask questions. We'll tell you what to do with spare keys and how to keep track of them.

Rekey or replace: how we decide

We don't have a default answer. These are the things we look at when deciding for a particular door.

• Condition of the lock: if it operates smoothly and the finish and internal parts are in good shape, rekeying is usually the sound choice.
• Quality of the hardware: a basic builder-grade lock can be rekeyed, but you may decide a better lock is worth installing at the same visit. For stronger options, see our page on deadbolt installation.
• Damage or corrosion: a lock that sticks, grinds, or has a seized cylinder is usually better replaced than rekeyed.
• What you want to change: if you're only after new keys, rekey. If you want keypad entry, app control, or a different look, that's a replacement, and smart lock installation is a separate conversation.
• Matching doors: rekeying lets us put several locks on one key, which is hard to do if the brands are all different. Sometimes that points toward replacing a mismatched lock.
• Door and frame: a strong lock on a weak frame or loose strike plate doesn't protect much. We'll point that out if we see it.

What affects the cost of changing locks?

We don't quote numbers on a web page because the real cost depends on what's on your doors and what you want done. What we can do is show you what moves the total up or down, so you can judge a quote from us or from anyone else.

The biggest factor is rekey versus replace. Rekeying uses your existing hardware and is generally the lighter-cost option. Replacing adds the cost of the new lock, which varies a lot by brand, grade and type. A simple knob set, a heavy-duty deadbolt, a high-security cylinder and a smart lock are very different products.

After that, the main factors are:

• How many locks are being changed, and whether you want them all on one key.
• How many keys you need cut.
• The type and condition of the locks, since some older or unusual hardware takes more time or needs special parts.
• Whether the door or frame needs adjustment or repair for the lock to work properly.
• Whether you want upgraded or restricted-key hardware.
• The time of day and your location, since night, weekend and holiday calls and longer drives are part of the picture.
• Whether you come to our storefront or want us to come to you.

Changing locks in Santa Monica: what the housing and the sea air do to your hardware

Santa Monica is a mix of building types, and each calls for a slightly different approach to a lock change. The 1920s to 1940s bungalows and Spanish-style homes in Sunset Park and Ocean Park often still have original wood doors and older hardware. Large Craftsman and traditional homes North of Montana can have several exterior doors, side doors and garage access points, so the number of locks to account for adds up quickly after a purchase. Condo buildings along the Ocean Avenue and Wilshire corridors tend to have fewer doors per unit but their own set of building rules about who handles what.

The coastal climate matters just as much. Santa Monica has a persistent marine layer, and salt air corrodes exterior locks, hinges and gate hardware faster than it does inland. Wood doors near the beach can also swell in damp months, which makes a lock bind and feel as though it's failing when the door is the real culprit. None of this is an emergency, but it's a routine reason people call us. A common job is replacing salt-air-corroded exterior locks on beach-adjacent Ocean Park buildings, where rekeying a corroded lock doesn't make sense because the hardware itself is on its way out.

If you've just bought a place in 90405 or 90404, for example, we'll look at the finish and the cylinders, check whether the door swells or rubs, and tell you whether the existing hardware is worth keeping. For side gates and garage doors on bungalow lots in Sunset Park, we'll often point you to our gate lock repair service, because a gate latch seized with corrosion is a repair issue as much as a keying one.

We work across Downtown Santa Monica (90401), North of Montana (90402), Ocean Park, Sunset Park, Mid-City, the Pico District, Wilmont and Northeast Neighbors. Our storefront in Westwood is about 5 miles away, and our vans cover the city. You can see everything we do in town on our Santa Monica locksmith page.

Renting in Santa Monica: who can change the locks?

Most Santa Monica residents rent, and many buildings fall under the city's rent-control rules. That matters here because lock changes in a rental involve more than the lock. Your lease, your landlord and the building's master keying all affect what you can do.

If you're a tenant, start by reading your lease and talking to your landlord or property manager. Many will handle a lock change or give permission for you to arrange one, and some will want a copy of the key. We won't change the lock on a unit unless the person asking has the right to authorize it. If you're locked out of your unit rather than wanting a change, see apartment lockout help.

If you own rental property or manage it, changing locks between tenants is routine. Rekeying between tenants is usually the economical way to make sure the last tenant's keys are dead, especially across mid-century apartment buildings in Wilmont and Mid-City where there are a lot of similar doors. We have more on that on our page for landlord locksmith services.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a lock change?

We've been in business since 1987, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees our work. A lock change is a simple job in theory, but small details such as a door that has dropped, a mismatched strike or a cylinder with the wrong cam are what separate a lock that works on the first day from one that sticks six months later. Experience helps there.

We're one company with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles and mobile service vans. When you call, you reach us, not a dispatch center that hands your job to whoever's available. Our phone line, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, so a lock change on a Sunday evening after closing on a house is as reachable as one on a weekday morning. If you'd rather we come to you, our mobile locksmith service handles that.

One more thing worth knowing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith you call for it. A company that hesitates to answer is telling you something.

What to have ready before you call

A few details make the call quicker and the quote more accurate. You don't need all of them, but the more you can tell us, the better we can plan the visit.

• How many exterior doors, garage entries and gates you want changed, and whether there are mailbox or storage locks too.
• Whether the locks are knobs, levers, deadbolts or a combination, and whether any look worn or corroded.
• Whether you want everything on one key.
• How many keys each person in the household needs.
• Whether you own the property or rent it, and who needs to approve the change.
• A photo of the door and lock, if you can take one.

More locksmith help in Santa Monica

• Deadbolt Installation in Santa Monica
• Gate Lock Repair in Santa Monica
• High Security Locks in Santa Monica
• Key Duplication in Santa Monica
• Lock Installation in Santa Monica
• Lock Rekey in Santa Monica
• All services in Santa Monica

Change Locks near Santa Monica

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