Should you rekey or replace when you change locks?
"Change the locks" can mean two different jobs, and the difference affects both the cost and the result. Rekeying keeps your existing hardware and changes what's inside the cylinder, so the old keys stop working and new keys are cut to match. Replacing means taking the hardware off the door and installing different locks, which also lets you change the grade, style or finish.
For most people who call us after moving in, rekeying is usually the more economical route, and it solves the actual worry: who else has a key. If the hardware is sound, that's normally where we start. Replacement makes sense when the hardware itself is the problem.
We don't push either option. We look at each lock, tell you what we see, and let you choose. Our pages on lock rekeying in West Hollywood and lock replacement go deeper on each job.
- Rekey when the lock is in good working order, you like how it looks, and you mainly want old keys to stop working.
- Replace when the lock is worn, loose, damaged or corroded, or when you want a better grade, a different finish, or a smart lock.
- Replace when the existing lock is a type that can't be rekeyed, or when parts are no longer practical to find.
- Mix the two when it suits the house: rekey the solid hardware and replace only the doors that need it.
When should you change your door locks?
There's no calendar rule, but there are moments when changing locks stops being optional. The most common one is a change in who has access to your door. A lock doesn't have to be broken to be a risk. A key you can't account for is the real problem.
- You just bought a house or condo and have no idea how many keys the previous owners, agents, contractors or cleaners made.
- You moved into a rental and the last tenant's keys were never collected.
- A key was lost or stolen, especially if it was on a ring with something that shows your address.
- A roommate, partner or former employee moved out and still has a copy.
- The key sticks, the cylinder turns roughly, or the deadbolt doesn't throw all the way.
- There was a break-in or an attempt, and the lock, strike plate or door frame took damage.
How do we change your locks, step by step?
A lock change is a small job when it's done in the right order. This is how we run it, whether it's one door or a whole property.
- You call (213) 577-1366, which is answered 24 hours a day, and tell us how many doors are involved, what kind of locks are on them, and why you're changing them.
- A technician comes to you in one of our mobile service vans. You don't have to bring anything to us.
- We inspect every lock: the cylinder, the latch, the strike plate, and how the door closes. Then we tell you plainly whether rekeying or replacing fits each door.
- We talk through what the job involves and what it will cost before we start work, so you're not surprised afterward.
- We do the work. For a rekey, we re-pin the cylinders and cut new keys. For a replacement, we install the new hardware and check that the latch and bolt line up with the strike.
- We test each new key in each lock, operate the lock from both sides, and confirm the door closes and locks without force.
- We hand over the keys and tell you how many exist. If you want every door on one key, or spare copies, we sort that out before we leave.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What if you just bought a house or moved in?
If you're searching for a locksmith for a new house, the honest advice is simple: make the lock change one of the first things you do, ahead of unpacking. Until then, you can't know who holds a working key. Previous owners hand over what they remember, but spares sit with relatives, neighbors, dog walkers and contractors.
On a typical move-in, we'll go through every exterior door, plus any door between the house and the garage. We'll also look at side gates, sheds, and anything else that locks. Many people use the visit to key all their doors alike so one key works everywhere, which is convenient after a move when you're already juggling boxes.
Moving in is also the right time to check whether the doors have what they should. If an entry door has only a knob lock and no deadbolt, that's a different job from a lock change, and our deadbolt installation page explains it. If you'd like keypad or app-based entry, read about smart lock installation first. Smart locks are worth considering, but they're a choice about how you want to live in the home, not something you have to decide the day you get the keys.
Whatever you choose, ask for the work to be done before the first night in the new place if you can. We're available around the clock, so it doesn't have to wait for a weekday.
What affects the cost of changing locks?
We don't quote prices on a web page because the job decides the price, and a number out of context would mislead you. Here's what moves the cost, so you can see where an estimate comes from.
The biggest factor is rekey versus replace. Rekeying uses the hardware you already have. Replacement adds the cost of the new locks themselves, and those range widely by grade, brand and finish.
- Number of locks: a single door is a different job from a house with several entries, a gate and a garage door.
- Hardware grade: basic residential sets, higher-security cylinders and smart locks sit at very different levels.
- Door and frame condition: a misaligned door, a damaged strike or a previous forced-entry attempt may need extra repair work.
- Key setup: keying every door alike is a small extra step, while restricted-keyway systems that prevent unauthorized copying cost more than standard keys.
- Older or unusual hardware: vintage locksets can take more time to open up, assess and rekey, or may call for matching replacement parts.
- Time of day: nights, weekends and holidays can carry a different rate than a daytime visit. We tell you before we start.
- Distance: our storefront is in Westwood, about 7 miles from West Hollywood, so travel is modest, but we do consider it.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What does a lock change look like in West Hollywood?
West Hollywood has a dense mix of buildings, and what you need depends on where you live. Most housing is 1920s and 1930s courtyard apartments, mid-century dingbats and newer condo buildings, and most residents rent. That shapes the lock-change calls we see.
In the renter-heavy Eastside, the typical call is a move-in rekey: new tenant, unknown keys, a unit door that needs to be secure from day one. In single-family pockets like West Hollywood West and the Norma Triangle, the call is more often the full new-homeowner visit: front door, back door, garage entry and any side gates, often keyed alike.
Along Santa Monica Boulevard and in the surrounding blocks, many multifamily buildings have controlled-access entries, buzzer or intercom systems and shared mailbox banks. Changing your unit lock is one job, but the building entry, the intercom and the mailbox are usually separate systems. We'll tell you which belongs to you and which belongs to the property. If your mailbox lock is part of the move-in, see our mailbox lock replacement page.
These jobs happen across the city's ZIP codes, including 90069, 90046 and 90048, and our mobile vans cover all of them. As for the weather, West Hollywood sits in a mild part of the basin, so hardware wear from climate is modest. Summer heat and strong sun on south-facing entries can dry and fade door finishes, though, so if you're choosing new hardware for a sunny entry, a durable finish is worth asking about.
Renting or living in an older courtyard building?
Renters in West Hollywood should start with the lease. In most rentals the landlord or property manager controls the locks, and changing them without permission can cause problems. Talk to them first. Many landlords are happy to approve a rekey, and some will arrange one themselves. If you manage rental units, our locksmith for landlords page explains how we handle turnover and multi-unit work.
If you're locked out while sorting all this out, that's a separate call, and our apartment lockout page covers it.
Older courtyard buildings bring their own considerations. Many keep vintage locksets and original wood doors, and that hardware has character worth keeping. We'll open it up, see what's inside, and tell you honestly whether it can be rekeyed. A lock of that age is often worth rekeying rather than replacing, since a new set can mean cutting into old wood or living with a lock that doesn't fit the door. When a vintage lock is too worn or has parts that can't be sourced, we'll say so and explain the options for fitting new hardware to the existing door preparation. We'd rather talk you through that than take out a door's original lock without a reason.
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 to change your locks?
We've been in business since 1987, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. West Hollywood is one of them, and it's close to our base.
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're calling us, not a national dispatch center that sells the job to whoever's available. The same company answers, quotes and does the work.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees how we work. That matters on a lock change, because the job is about judgment as much as labor: spotting a door that needs a repair before new hardware goes on, or a lock worth keeping instead of replacing.
The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year. If you moved in at night or lost keys on a holiday, you can still reach us.
What should you ask any locksmith before they start?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a Locksmith Company (LCO) license through the state's Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Ask any locksmith you're thinking of hiring for their license information, and check it for yourself. That goes for us as well as anyone else.
A few other questions are worth asking before anyone touches your door:
- Will you tell me what the job will cost before you start, and what could change that?
- Can this lock be rekeyed, or are you recommending replacement? Why?
- Who is coming to my home, and does the company have a real local address?
- Will you drill or damage anything, and is that actually necessary?
- How many keys will exist when you finish, and who gets them?
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to change locks or rekey them?
It depends on the lock. If the hardware is in good condition and you only want old keys to stop working, rekeying is usually the more economical route. If the lock is worn, damaged, or you want a different grade or a smart lock, replacing is the better choice. We inspect it and tell you which applies.
Should I change the locks right after buying a house?
Yes, it's one of the first things we'd recommend. You can't know how many keys the previous owners, agents or contractors made. Changing locks after buying a house means that anyone who held a key before you no longer has access. Do it before or right after you move in.
How long does a lock change take?
It depends on how many doors there are and whether you're rekeying or replacing. One door is a short visit. A whole house, especially with older hardware or door repairs, takes longer. We'll tell you what to expect when we've seen the locks.
Can I change the locks on my West Hollywood apartment?
Check your lease and talk to your landlord or property manager first. In most rentals they control the locks, and many will approve or arrange a rekey. We can work with you or with them. We'll also ask for some indication that you have the right to authorize the change.
Can you key all my doors to the same key?
Usually, yes. Keying doors alike is common for new homeowners, and it means one key opens the front door, back door and garage entry. Some locks can't be keyed alike, and we'll tell you if that's the case. If you need extras afterward, see our key duplication page.
Do you change locks at night or on weekends?
Yes. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366. Nights, weekends and holidays may be priced differently than daytime visits, and we'll tell you before starting work.
Can you change the lock on an old courtyard building door with original wood?
Often, yes. Many older West Hollywood courtyard buildings still have vintage locksets and original wood doors. We open up the lock and see whether it can be rekeyed. If it needs replacing, we'll explain how to fit new hardware to the existing door without damaging it any more than necessary.
Do I need to be home while you change the locks?
Someone with authority over the property should be there, at least at the start and the end. We need access to every door being changed, and we want to hand the new keys to you and test them with you in person.
Will a lock change affect my intercom, buzzer or mailbox?
Not usually. Your unit door lock, the building entry, the intercom and the mailbox are normally separate systems. We'll help you figure out which parts are yours and which belong to the building or property manager.
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Change Locks near West Hollywood
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.