Congratulations on your new home in Long Beach! Whether you've bought a house in Belmont Shore, rented an apartment near the beach, or moved into a condo in Bixby Knolls or Naples Island, one of the very first things you should do is re-key your locks.
This is advice we give every single day at Belmont Locksmith — and it's the most consistently overlooked security step new homeowners and renters take. Here's exactly why it matters, and why it should happen before you finish unpacking.
What Does "Re-Keying" Actually Mean?
Re-keying is the process of changing the internal pin configuration inside your existing lock cylinder so that old keys no longer work. A locksmith removes the cylinder, replaces the spring-loaded pins with a new set of different sizes, and cuts you brand new keys to match.
The result: only the new keys work. Every previous key — no matter who has it — is now useless. The lock hardware itself stays exactly the same.
- Same lock hardware, new internal pins
- Typically $25–$50 per lock
- Takes 15–30 minutes per door
- Best if existing locks are in good shape
- All old keys instantly invalid
- Entirely new lock hardware
- Typically $80–$250+ per lock
- Takes 30–60 minutes per door
- Needed if current locks are worn or low-grade
- Opportunity to upgrade security level
Who Has a Key to Your New Home?
Think about the complete history of your new property. Before you moved in, keys to your home were potentially given to:
- The previous owners or tenants
- Their family members, house sitters, or housekeepers
- Real estate agents (multiple agents may have had lockbox access)
- Contractors, plumbers, electricians, or handymen
- Property managers or maintenance staff
- Neighbors who were given a spare "just in case"
Even if everyone involved is completely trustworthy, you simply have no way to know how many copies were made or where they are. The only way to guarantee your home is secure is to re-key the locks so none of those keys work anymore.
🔑 Long Beach Rental Fact: California law (Civil Code §1941.1) requires landlords to maintain secure locks — but it does not require them to re-key between tenants. That means when you rent a new place, the previous tenant's key may still work unless you specifically request re-keying or your landlord does it proactively.
How Much Does Re-Keying Cost in Long Beach?
At Belmont Locksmith, we offer competitive flat-rate re-keying services throughout Long Beach and Belmont Shore. A typical home with 2–4 exterior doors can be fully re-keyed in under an hour at very affordable rates. We can also:
- Key all your locks alike — one key opens every door
- Set up a master key system where one key opens everything but each unit has its own key (great for multi-unit properties)
- Re-key deadbolts AND door knob locks in the same visit
- Inspect all locks for wear and recommend replacements only where truly needed
When Should You Re-Key vs. Replace?
Re-keying is the right call when your existing locks are in good working condition and you just want to invalidate old keys. Consider replacing locks instead when:
- The existing locks are low-grade (builder-grade locks from a big-box store)
- Locks are worn, stiff, or difficult to turn
- You want to upgrade to a higher security grade (Grade 1 deadbolts)
- You want to switch to a smart lock or keypad entry
- Locks were damaged in a break-in attempt
Same-Day Re-Keying Throughout Long Beach
Belmont Locksmith is based right here in Long Beach, CA 90803, and we offer same-day re-keying throughout:
- Belmont Shore & Belmont Heights
- Naples Island
- Bixby Knolls & California Heights
- Signal Hill
- Downtown Long Beach
- Seal Beach & surrounding areas
Our licensed, bonded technicians carry re-keying kits for the most common lock brands — Schlage, Kwikset, Baldwin, Yale, and Medeco — so we can complete most jobs on the spot without ordering parts.
✅ Moving Tip: Schedule your re-keying on moving day or the day before. It takes under an hour and gives you complete peace of mind from day one. We work around your moving schedule — evenings and weekends included.
Conclusion
Re-keying your locks when you move into a new home is the single most effective and affordable security upgrade you can make. For the cost of a nice dinner, you can have complete control over who has access to your home — and eliminate any uncertainty about previous keyholders.
Belmont Locksmith makes it easy. Call us, and we'll be at your door same-day with everything needed to re-key all your locks, cut new keys, and make sure your new Long Beach home is secure from the very first night.