Moving Into a New Home in DC? Start with Security
Moving into a new residence in Washington DC, whether a restored historic rowhouse in Logan Circle or a modern high-rise condo in the Wharf, comes with a long to-do list. Security is usually near the bottom.
It should be at the top. The first call after receiving the keys should go to a professional locksmith to rekey or replace the locks.
The Hidden Danger of Existing Locks
When the real estate agent or previous owner hands you the keys to your new home, they are handing you the known copies. What you cannot know is how many unknown copies are floating around the city. Over the lifetime of a typical property lock, keys are regularly duplicated and distributed to:
- Previous homeowners and their extended family members
- Dog walkers and pet sitters
- Housekeepers and cleaning services
- Contractors, plumbers, and electricians who did renovations
- Previous roommates or subletters
Every unaccounted-for key is a massive liability to your family’s safety and your personal property. The only way to guarantee that you have absolute control over who enters your home is to change the lock mechanics entirely.
Rekeying vs. Replacing Locks
You generally have two options when securing a newly purchased home:
1. Rekeying (The Practical Choice): If the existing door hardware is highly secure, stylish, and in fully functioning condition, you do not need to buy brand new locks. A professional locksmith can extract the lock cylinders, change the internal pins, and cut a brand new set of keys to match the new pin configuration. The old keys will instantly be rendered useless.
2. Lock Replacement (The Upgrade Choice): If the existing locks are worn out, rusty, cosmetically unappealing, or standard builder-grade locks lacking heavy duty security, this is the perfect time to upgrade. Many new DC homeowners take this opportunity to install high-security bump-proof deadbolts or transition to modern smart keypad locks for keyless entry convenience.
Trust DC Local Locksmith for Your Move
Whole-house rekey or full hardware upgrade, DC Local Locksmith’s technicians are stationed across the District and can accommodate moving day scheduling. We dispatch the nearest available technician the moment you call, and every technician is fully licensed, bonded, and insured.
When you call, our dispatcher assesses the number of doors and lock types and provides an exact quote over the phone before anyone is sent out. No surprises on a moving day.
Call DC Local Locksmith at (202) 830-0706 to schedule your move-in rekey.
