Every buyer should rekey at closing, and the agent is usually the one who makes it happen. Send us the property address, the close or possession date and a door count. We confirm the appointment, show up once your client has keys, rekey every exterior door in one visit, and hand the new keys only to the named buyer. Same day in most cases across San Diego County.
What you get
- Book for a client with an address, a close date and a door count
- New keys handed only to the named buyer, never left on a counter
- Your lockbox stays where it is; we work around it
- Keyed alike so the buyer walks away with one key
- Smart lock closing gifts, invoiced to you or to the buyer
Why the rekey question lands on your desk
Somewhere between the final walkthrough and the key handoff, the buyer asks you: who do I call about the locks? You are the person they trust, so the answer comes from you.
The case for rekeying is simple. A key sat in your lockbox for the whole listing. Showing agents, inspectors, appraisers, stagers and repair crews came through. The seller, their family and any past tenant still hold copies. A rekey erases all of that, usually in under an hour, and keeps the hardware the buyer just paid for.
Agents who have a locksmith lined up before closing look organized, and the buyer remembers it. Our new home rekey page covers the service from the buyer's side; the rekey after buying a home guide is a good link to forward to a client.
How to book a rekey for a client
Three pieces of information get the job scheduled:
- The property address, so we know the drive and can check the neighborhood on our list.
- The close or possession date, plus a rough time your client expects to have keys.
- A door count: exterior doors, the door from the garage into the house, side gates with keyed locks, and whether the home has a casita or ADU.
Add the buyer's name and phone number so we can confirm directly with them. We reply with a confirmed window and a price, and we show up when your client has keys in hand. If the recording slips a day, tell us and we move with it. Send it through the quote form or by text, whichever you already have open.
Keys go to the named buyer
As a licensed California locksmith we confirm that the person we rekey for has authority over the property. For a purchase, that means the buyer on the closing paperwork is present with photo ID, or has told us in advance who will meet us. New keys are handed to that person and nobody else. We do not leave keys under a mat, in a lockbox or with a neighbor.
Who gets the invoice
Either party. Most rekeys are invoiced to the buyer. If you are covering it as a closing gift, we invoice you or your brokerage and the buyer still receives the keys. Say which when you book.
Need a closing-day rekey today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
Timing around escrow and possession
In California, escrow closes when the deed records with the county, and keys are usually released once recording is confirmed. Possession is whatever the purchase contract says: often a set time on recording day, sometimes days later when the seller has a rent-back.
We rekey when the buyer has legal possession and the keys, not before. Booking for the afternoon of recording day works well: the house is empty, the buyer has keys, and every door is easy to reach before furniture arrives. For a rent-back, book for the day the seller hands over the property, since the seller's keys stay valid until then.
If the buyer would rather rekey the weekend after, that is fine too. What matters is that it happens before the buyer starts handing out their own copies.
The lockbox stays where it is
Your lockbox is your business. We do not remove it, open it or ask for the code. If it is hung on the front door handle, we rekey around it. If it is on a railing or a gas meter, it is not in the way at all.
Two things worth knowing. First, once the rekey is done, the key inside that box no longer opens anything, so pull it before a cooperating agent finds a dead key on a final visit. Second, if the listing agent's box is still on the door at possession, the buyer often asks us to take it off. We will not; that is a call for the agent who placed it.
Seller side: listings, vacancies and inspection items
Agents call us for sellers as often as for buyers.
- A tenant just left a listing. Rekey before the first showing so the former tenant and their copies are out of the picture. Our turnover rekey page covers this in detail.
- The home will sit vacant. An empty house in Poway or La Mesa with unknown keys in circulation is a worry for everyone. Rekey it, then issue one key to the lockbox.
- The inspection flagged a door. A deadbolt that does not throw, a latch that does not catch, a missing deadbolt on a back door. We fix strike alignment, replace worn hardware and add deadbolts; see lock replacement.
- The seller moved out and cannot find the spare. A rekey ends that conversation.
Closing-day upgrades: one key, a smart lock, or both
Because we are already at every door, closing day is the cheapest moment to improve how the house is keyed.
One key for everything. Most homes have collected a mix of Kwikset and Schlage over the years. We pin the whole house to a single key where the keyways match and swap the odd cylinder where they do not. Buyers love leaving with one key instead of a ring; see keyed alike.
A smart lock as the closing gift. A keypad or Wi-Fi deadbolt on the front door is a gift the client uses every day, and it photographs well for the handoff. We install it, set the first codes and rekey the rest of the doors on the same visit. Ask us about invoicing it to you; details on smart lock installation.
When a lock is worth replacing instead of rekeying, rekey vs. change locks explains how we decide.
Which service fits the situation
| Situation | What we do |
|---|---|
| Buyer closes on a resale home | Rekey every exterior door, keyed alike where possible |
| Buyer closes on new construction | Rekey or reset builder cylinders; see new construction rekey |
| Seller rent-back | Rekey on the day the seller hands over |
| Listing goes vacant | Rekey, one key to the lockbox |
| Inspection flags a door | Strike, latch and deadbolt fixes |
| Closing gift | Keypad or Wi-Fi smart lock on the front door |
We work closings across the county: newer tract homes in Carmel Valley and Chula Vista with builder-grade Kwikset hardware, often SmartKey, older Schlage and Baldwin locks on Craftsman doors in North Park, and coastal homes in Encinitas where salt air has been at the cylinders. Send the address and we will tell you what to expect.
For Real Estate Agents: common questions
Can a real estate agent book a rekey on behalf of a buyer?
Yes. Send the address, the close or possession date, a door count and the buyer's name and phone number. We confirm the time with you and with the buyer, then rekey once the buyer has keys and legal possession. The buyer or someone they name must be present, and the new keys go only to them.
When should a buyer rekey after closing?
As soon as they have keys, ideally the same day or before the moving truck. Escrow closes when the deed records, keys are released after that, and the house is empty. If the buyer wants to wait until the weekend, that works too; the important part is rekeying before their own copies start going out.
Does the seller have to rekey before closing?
No. Rekeying is normally done by and for the buyer after closing, because the seller has no way to prove which keys exist. Sellers rekey a listing when a tenant leaves or the home sits vacant during the sale. Whether a rekey is negotiated as a credit is between the parties; it is a small line item either way.
Will you remove the lockbox from the door?
No. The lockbox belongs to the listing agent or brokerage, and only they should remove it. We rekey around it on the handle or leave it alone on a railing. Remember that after the rekey, the key inside the box will no longer work, so retrieve it before the next agent visit.
Can the rekey or a smart lock be billed to me as a closing gift?
Yes. Tell us when you book and we invoice you or your brokerage instead of the buyer. The keys and the lock still go to the buyer, and we hand over programming instructions for any smart lock. Ask us about how to set this up for clients you close regularly.
Does a brand-new construction home need to be rekeyed?
Yes. Framers, trades, inspectors and the builder's superintendent all used keys during construction, and builder hardware is often set up so crews can get in. A rekey or a Kwikset SmartKey reset on handover day removes every construction-phase key. Our new construction rekey guide walks through what the builder hands over and what to check.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We do this everywhere in San Diego County, same day in most cases. Some of the places we cover:
Related guides
- Should You Rekey After Buying a Home in San Diego? – Yes, rekey on move-in day. Which doors to rekey, what to do about the garage, gates and mailbox, HOA and ADU quirks, and a San Diego move-in checklist.
- Do You Need to Rekey a New Construction Home? – Yes, in most cases. Who held keys during the build, why construction keying is not a rekey, and what to check at the closing walkthrough in San Diego.
- Rekey vs. Change Locks: Which Do You Actually Need? – Rekeying keeps your locks and kills old keys. Replacing swaps the hardware. Decide in two minutes with costs, timing and San Diego examples.
Ready to get it done today?
Call or text for a straight answer and an upfront price. Mon–Fri 7am–8pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm.