How Much It Cost To Change Locks In Apartment?

If you think your apartment has old locks or broken keyholes then it is necessary to replace it. There are many automated locks available in the market. Now, the question is how much it cost to change locks in the apartment and how to find an efficient product. Here we have answered all the questions.

Why Change The Lock?

There are two main methods of changing locks. Rekeying and Replacing. Rekeying is changing the keys to a lock. Replacing involves the entire replacement of the lock and the use of a new lock in its place.

Both rekeying and replacing should be considered under different circumstances. As both take different amounts of time and resources.

If you are moving to a new house you should consider rekeying the house. Because the previous owner might have access to the old locks. It can become a security issue and cause future problems.

If your locks are broken and not working properly simply rekeying them might not help. So in this situation, you should consider replacing them. And installing new locks. Replacing generally requires more money.

How Much Does It Cost To Change?

The cost of changing the locks depends on the method that you are using.

Replacing usually costs more money because of the cost of both, buying a new lock. And the cost of installation is included.

A new lock usually costs around 80$ to 300$ per piece depending upon the quality. If you hire a professional for the installation of the locks they will charge you around 200$.

You can also install the locks yourself. But that requires more skills and time.

Rekeying usually costs less as there is no need to pay for a new lock. But it is usually difficult to get the job done yourself.

If you hire a professional for the process they usually charge anywhere from 80$ to 160$. If you do it yourself you can get the kit that allows you to rekey the lock for 15$ to 25$.

If you have decided to change the locks do prefer the best Z wave network supported dual door lock for the double doors at your apartment.

How To Get The Locks Changed?

1. Do It Yourself

If you are considering changing the locks on your own. There are various installation guides and tutorials you can get that will help you.

The toolkit, screwdriver, and door lock are some of the tools that you can use for changing the lock of your door. If you are considering rekeying the door you will need a toolkit used for the same purpose.

If you have good DIY skills and are motivated enough to do the job you should do it yourself. This will save the extra money that you will have to pay a professional to get the job done.

But be careful to do it properly as the lock plays a major role in the security of your home.

2. Get Professional Help

If you don’t have the skills or the time to change the door locks yourself. It is best if you hire a professional to do it.

This costs extra money but is usually more convenient and saves your time. If the lock of your house is old, or you want a master key for all the doors. It is more convenient to get professional help for these purposes.

Things To Know Before Changing Locks In An Apartment

A. Know the difference between replacing and rekeying

Rekeying and replacing are the two methods used when changing the locks of your house. In both cases, you will no longer be able to use the old keys. Replacing involves changing the entire lock.

It refers to removing the old lock and using a newer one in its place. It is the safest method. Replacing costs more than rekeying.

Rekeying is changing the configuration of the lock-in in such a way that the door doesn’t open from the old keys. You will need new keys to open the lock.

It costs less money and is the most common method when it comes to changing the locks of a door.

B. Rekey when you move

When you move to a new place make sure you rekey all the doors. When the house is under-construction or someone else is living in it. When you buy or rent that house.

There’s always a chance that they have the keys to the doors of the house. So make sure you rekey all the doors when moving to a new place.

C. Replace damaged locks

If the lock of your door is broken you will have to replace it. Rekeying doesn’t help if the lock is no longer usable. You will have to buy and install a new lock.

Locks last for a long time but they too wear out and become unusable after a certain period of time. So it’s best to replace the old locks if it’s broken. This will ensure better safety for your house.

D. Change the locks when your keys are lost or stolen

If the keys of your house are stolen the first and foremost thing you need to do is to change the keys to your door.

If you don’t change the keys it leaves your house in a vulnerable position and anyone can access it. Rekeying is the method used in this case.

Make sure no one can access the keys to your house. It is important for the security of your home that no one can open your doors without your permission.

E. Consider the convenience of a single key

If you lose the keys too often or get confused among the various keys you have. You can make a master key that can open every door in your house.

Rekeying is the method used in such cases. As long as you have locks of the same brand in every door you can rekey them in such a way that they all open from the same key.

Locks of different brands don’t rekey in a way that allows them to open from the same key. If you have locks of a different brand you will have to buy new ones.

If you want all of your locks to open from a single key. This is the most convenient method but it sacrifices security as all the doors can open from a single key.

F. Better locks equal more security

Locks are now fitted with modern technology. They are more secure than the regular ones. There are various new locks like the ones that open with a code rather than a key.

You can easily reset the code if you want. Upgrading your lock to a more advanced and better version will help in protecting your house.

What Is The Cheapest Way To Change Locks?

Rekeying is usually cheaper than replacing the lock because there is no extra cost of a new lock. And if you do the work yourself without any professional help you can save more money.

Replacing costs more money because of the cost of the lock. Whereas if you are rekeying a lock you will only have to pay the one doing the job.

And if you rekey the locks yourself you will only have to pay for the tools required. But the cost of buying a new lock while replacing it, is inevitable. The cheapest way to change locks in your apartment is to replace them with all the pocket locks coming in your budget.

Should I Tip A Locksmith?

You can tip a locksmith if you want to. You are not obliged to tip a locksmith. But if they provide a good service you can tip them only if you want to.

People usually tip about 15 to 20 per cent of the total amount charged. But if you don’t want to tip them there’s nothing concerning about it.

Most locksmiths don’t expect a tip but if they did a good job there’s no problem in giving them some extra bucks.

What Is The Difference Between Rekeying And Changing Locks?

Rekeying is changing the configuration of lock-in in such a way that it no longer opens from the old key. You will get a new key that will open the lock. Rekeying works on the pre-existing lock.

So you don’t have to buy a new one.

Replacing is removing the old lock and using a new one in its place. This method is used in the previous lock is broken or can no longer be used. Rekeying is cheaper than replacing the lock.

Final Talk

Changing the lock is one of the most important things you should do when moving to a new place. As locks are the most important part of your security system. You can follow various methods and steps to minimize the cost of changing the locks. All the necessary information for the same is mentioned above.