Why You Should Rekey Your Home and When to Do It

By the LockGenie Team — Updated October 19, 2026

You just got new keys to a home in the Ocala area — congratulations. But here's the question most new homeowners never ask: how many other people still have a copy? Rekeying is the simple, affordable answer, and it's one of the most common jobs LockGenie does. Call or text 352-631-8398 and we'll rekey your home in a single visit.

What "rekeying" actually means

Rekeying doesn't replace your locks. We take each lock apart and change the internal pins so the old key no longer works — then we give you a fresh set of keys. Your doors keep the same hardware, and every lock can be keyed to work with one key. It takes less time and costs less than swapping out all your locks.

When it's time to rekey

You just bought or moved into a home. This is the big one. The previous owners may have handed out copies to family, friends, a dog walker, a house cleaner, or a contractor — and there's no way to know how many exist. Rekeying is the one clean reset.

You lost a key and can't find it. If a key disappeared somewhere you can't account for, anyone who finds it has your address if your keyring carried any ID, or could figure it out. Rekeying removes the risk entirely.

A tenant or roommate moved out. Anyone who has lived in your home should not keep working keys after they leave. This applies to rentals, house shares, and guest rooms alike.

After a breakup or a falling-out. Uncomfortable to think about, but important: if someone who no longer belongs in your home has a key, rekeying settles it.

Employee or service turnover. If you've given a key to a cleaning service, a contractor, or an employee who is no longer with you, rekey.

Rekey vs replace: which do you need?

Rekey when your locks work fine — they turn smoothly, latch properly, and you're happy with how they look. The hardware stays; only the key changes.

Replace when the hardware itself is the problem: locks that stick or jam, rusted or corroded deadbolts, outdated knobs with no deadbolt, or locks you want to upgrade for a different look or a higher security grade. If we see a lock that's worn out during a rekey visit, we'll tell you straight — we'd rather point it out than pretend it's fine.

What it costs and how long it takes

Rekeying is done in one visit, with every lock keyed alike to a single key. Your exact price depends on how many locks your home has, and we quote the full total up front before we start. You get a fresh set of keys before we leave, and every key we provide carries a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects. No appointment at a shop, no taking your locks off the doors yourself — we're a mobile locksmith and we come to you, dispatched from Ocala and Hernando across Marion and Citrus County. We accept cash, card, and Zelle.

See all of   our residential locksmith services — rekeying, lock changes, and smart lock setup — all done at your home.

Don't wait on this one

Every day between moving in and rekeying is a day someone else's old key still works in your front door. It's a quick job and a small price for knowing exactly who can get into your home. New in Belleview or anywhere nearby? We cover it.

Call or text 352-631-8398 for your exact price. We'll tell you what it costs for your home and get you scheduled — usually the same day.