What does it mean to change locks: rekey or replace?
Changing locks is a loose phrase that covers two different jobs. Rekeying keeps your existing lock hardware and changes the pins inside the cylinder, so the old keys stop working and a new key operates the lock. Replacing removes the hardware and installs a new lock, which means different parts, a different finish, and sometimes a different level of security.
Most people who call us to change door locks after a move only need rekeying. The hardware is fine. The problem is that other people may still hold keys: previous owners, tenants, contractors, an agent, a cleaner, a neighbor who once watered the plants. Rekeying fixes that directly, and it lets you run every door on one key.
Replacement is the right call when the hardware is worn, damaged, loose, mismatched, or when you want something different, like a keypad or a smart lock. We'll tell you which one your door needs, even when that's the smaller job. For the details on each, see our pages on lock rekeying and lock replacement.
- Rekey when the locks work and look fine but you don't know who has keys.
- Replace when a lock sticks, wobbles, is visibly worn, is a cheap builder-grade set you don't trust, or is a mix of brands that all need different keys.
- Replace when you want a feature the old lock can't offer, such as a keypad, a higher-security cylinder, or a deadbolt where there isn't one.
When should you change locks after buying a house or moving?
The short answer is before you spend your first night there, or as close to it as you can manage. When you close on a house, you receive some keys, but you have no way of knowing how many copies exist. Previous owners hand keys to family, repair people, and house sitters, and nobody keeps a list.
A lock change after buying a house is one of the simplest ways to start fresh. It's also a good moment to look at the whole property rather than only the front door. Side doors, garage entry doors, back slider locks, gate latches, and mailbox locks all tend to get forgotten, and any of them can still be keyed to a stranger.
The same logic applies if you're renting, you've had a roommate move out, a relationship has ended, or you've lost a set of keys. If you're a locksmith customer after moving, treat it as a checklist item right beside setting up utilities.
- Bought a home: change or rekey every exterior lock on the property.
- Moved into a rental: ask your landlord first, then call us about what's allowed. Landlords can see our page on locksmith services for landlords too if they're coordinating.
- Lost keys or had a break-in: change right away, not next month.
- Ended a roommate or relationship arrangement: rekey so old keys don't open anything.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How do we change your locks, step by step?
There's no mystery to it, and you should be able to follow what's happening at your door. This is the usual sequence when we come to a Sherman Oaks home.
- You call (213) 577-1366, day or night, and tell us what's going on: new home, lost keys, a sticking lock. We'll ask how many doors and what kind of hardware you have.
- We come to you in one of our mobile vans. Many jobs can be done on the doorstep without a trip back to the shop.
- We look at each lock in person. We check the brand, the condition, whether the door and strike line up, and whether the lock is worth keeping.
- We explain the options plainly: rekey, replace, or a mix by door. You decide before any work begins, and you'll know the cost factors on your specific job at that point.
- We do the work. For rekeying, that's servicing the cylinders and cutting new keys. For replacement, we remove the old hardware and fit the new, checking that the bolt throws smoothly into the frame.
- We test every lock with the new keys, confirm old keys no longer work where we rekeyed, and hand over the keys. If you want extra copies, we can cut them, and our key duplication page explains how.
What affects the cost of changing locks in Sherman Oaks?
We don't quote numbers on a web page, because they'd be guesses, and a guess helps nobody. What we can do is tell you what moves the cost, so a quote over the phone makes sense to you.
Rekeying is generally the lighter job and replacement the heavier one, but the details of your property matter more than the headline.
- The number of locks. Rekeying one front door and rekeying a whole hillside property with several entries are different amounts of work.
- Rekey or replace. Replacement adds the cost of the new hardware itself.
- Hardware grade. A basic knob set, a quality deadbolt, a high-security cylinder, and a smart lock sit in very different places.
- Condition of the door. A warped door, a loose strike, or a mis-drilled bore may need adjustment before any lock works properly.
- Keys. The count of keys you want, and whether special key blanks are involved.
- Timing. A middle-of-the-night call is different from a scheduled daytime visit.
- Distance. Our storefront is in Westwood, and Sherman Oaks is about 8 miles away, which we factor in for mobile service.
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 for a lock change?
We've been in business since 1987. That's a long stretch of watching what works on real doors and what fails after a couple of years. We bring that to every job, including the smaller ones.
We have a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, plus mobile service vans that come to you. When you call (213) 577-1366, you reach our company. We're not a call center that sells your job to whichever contractor picks it up, so the person who quotes the work is the company responsible for it.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. If a question needs a decision, it goes to someone who's been doing this for decades rather than someone reading a script.
The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. A lock change is often not an emergency, but sometimes it is: a lost wallet with an address in it, a broken lock after a break-in, a move-in that couldn't wait. You can call at any hour, and for lockouts specifically, our house lockout page covers what to expect.
Changing locks in Sherman Oaks: what the local homes call for
Sherman Oaks isn't one kind of housing, and the right lock change depends on where you live. North of Ventura Boulevard, the flats are mostly 1930s-50s ranch and traditional homes. Many of these have had decades of owners and remodels, so the odds that old keys are floating around are real. Rekeying every exterior door and the garage entry is the practical move after a purchase, and a remodeled ranch in Chandler Estates is a common spot to pair that with a smart lock on the front door. We cover that choice on our smart lock installation page.
South of Ventura, the hillsides mix mid-century homes with newer custom houses. Hillside properties frequently have gates, side-yard doors, and multiple entry points, which is why a change of locks after a sale or move-in off Mulholland Drive is rarely just one door. If you're in Longridge Estates or Royal Woods, walk the whole perimeter with us: front door, side yard, rear door, and any gate. A gate latch that's worn out is a repair issue as much as a key issue, and our gate lock repair page covers that side.
Condos and apartments cluster along Ventura, Sepulveda, and Riverside, including many HOA-managed buildings from the 1960s-80s. In those, check your HOA rules before replacing exterior hardware, because the building may control what's allowed on shared doors. Rekeying your own unit's lock is usually the cleaner option.
Climate matters a little too. Summer valley heat is moderated slightly near the Sepulveda Pass, but hillside homes see more wind and sun, which ages weatherstripping and exterior door finishes faster. If your front door finish is tired when we replace the lock, we'll point it out so the new hardware isn't sitting on a failing door.
We work across all of Sherman Oaks, including ZIP codes 91403, 91423, 91401, and 91411, and the Magnolia Boulevard and Riverside Drive corridors. If you're not sure we cover your block, call and we'll tell you.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you ask any locksmith before they change your locks?
Locks protect your home, so it's fair to question whoever touches them. California requires locksmith companies to hold a license through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as BSIS, with a Locksmith Company (LCO) license. Ask any locksmith you call for their LCO license number, and verify it with the state before work starts. A company that dodges the question is telling you something.
A few other things are worth asking, whoever you call:
- Will the person who quotes me be the person doing the work, and will they identify the company by name?
- Do you explain rekey versus replace honestly, or push the bigger job?
- Will you explain what affects the cost before you start working?
- Do you have a physical address I can check?
- Will you test every lock with the new keys before leaving?
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to rekey or replace locks when I buy a house?
For most homes, rekeying is enough. It makes old keys useless without replacing hardware that already works. Replace when locks are worn, damaged, low quality, or when you want a keypad or smart lock. We'll look at each door and tell you which makes sense.
Can you change locks the same day I call?
We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we'll tell you when we can arrive once we hear where you are and what you need. Many lock changes can be done at your door from our mobile vans.
How much does it cost to change locks in Sherman Oaks?
It depends on how many locks, whether you rekey or replace, the hardware grade, the condition of the door, how many keys you want, and when you call. We explain these factors when you phone and confirm the specifics at your door before starting.
Do I need to be home while you change the locks?
Someone needs to be there to let us in and approve the work, since we explain options at the door. Once you've agreed on the plan, we test every lock with the new keys before we leave.
Will my old keys still work after you change the locks?
If we rekey, the old keys stop working in those locks and the new keys take over. If we replace, the old hardware is removed entirely, so the old keys have nothing to open. We test to confirm.
Can all my doors be keyed to the same key?
In most cases, yes. We can often rekey or match exterior locks so one key opens front, back, side, and garage entry doors. Some hardware or brands limit this, and we'll tell you if that applies at your door.
Can I change the locks myself in a condo or HOA building?
Check your HOA rules first, because the association may control exterior hardware on shared doors. Rekeying your own unit's lock is usually the simpler path. If you're unsure, call us and we'll talk through what's typical.
How do I know a Sherman Oaks locksmith is legitimate?
Ask for their BSIS LCO license number, which California requires of locksmith companies, and verify it with the state. Also check that they have a real address and that the person quoting the job names the company clearly.
More locksmith help in Sherman Oaks
Change Locks near Sherman Oaks
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.