How Much Does Changing the Locks in an Apartment Cost?
Since few individuals could manage to lock doors, possessing a set of home keys was considered a sign of wealth in ancient Egypt. Keys have become a normal thing everyone may own now, and they serve a key part in maintaining a place’s safety.
What if there is a problem but you don’t know how much it would cost to replace the locks on a residence? Before hiring a locksmith melbourne to change or repair the door locks in your home, there are a few things you should be aware of.
The price of door lock replacement is determined by the condition of your locks, if you need to replace the lock, just rekey it, or other factors.
What Should You Know Prior to Changing the Locks in an Apartment?
1. Be Aware of the Distinction Between Replacing and Rekeying
A door lock can be changed by either replacing or rekeying it, making it impossible for previous keys to open it. Here is a cost comparison between having these activities are done by you versus hiring a locksmith for an apartment.
2. Switching Out Door Locks
Remove the present lock from the door since this is the most secure approach to guarantee the degree of security in your unit. If it is a handle-lock combination, the handle is also included. After that, you may replace it with a new lock by buying and installing a new one.
Expect to pay between $40 and $300 for a replacement lock due to the huge variety of door locks’ varying quality. A professional installation may cost an additional $80 to $200*
3. Changing Door Lock Keys
Replacing door keys is a more common and affordable alternative to switching to a completely new door lock in the majority of apartment buildings. In order for a lock to operate with a new key, this process entails realigning the lock’s main working pins and springs.
You can often buy a DIY kit that includes the necessary equipment and instructions to rekey the lock for $15 to $25. Be prepared to spend at least $80 to $160 if you require a locksmith to complete the task properly.
4. Rekey When You Move
Many individuals, including real estate agents, inspectors, and subcontractors, have access to your home while it is being built. You won’t want them to have this access as a homebuyer, therefore rekeying the lock is the best option.
Every time you move to a new home, rekeying is advised since you never know how many sets of keys that are similar to yours are in the possession of others. Rekeying the front door lock is the first thing to do if you purchase an existing flat.
5. Changing Broken Locks
A lock is no different from other devices with moving components in that it ultimately becomes worn out. Its interior mechanism might be harmed and become challenging to use if you frequently lock and unlock a door or block a lock with the incorrect key.
Rekeying is not the best option in this situation since you cannot restore a worn-out lock with a defective locking mechanism to its original state. For improved longevity, it is suggested that you replace the completely damaged lock.
6. When Your Keys are Stolen or Misplaced, Replace the Locks
Fixing the locks on your primary doors must be one of your first priorities if your home keys are ever missing or stolen. Because it could simply be a family member losing sight of their own keys, you might think about rekeying the lock.
When you lose the lone key to a door, you may need to replace the lock entirely since rekeying the lock will necessitate utilising the original key.
7. Think About How Convenient a Single Key Is
Since your key does not suit all doors, you could find it unpleasant to search through a collection of keys to get inside your property. This is the time to think about the practicality of a single key that opens all the doors, including the garage.
If all of your doors have locks from the same manufacturer, you may rekey them all to suit one key and improve ease. If the locks on your home are made by several companies, you may simply replace a few and then have the others rekeyed.
8. More Security Equates to Better Locks
It is best for you to frequently change the locks on your apartment’s doors, especially after a neighbourhood break-in. New locks are the best option if you want cutting-edge technology that makes home security easier while also enhancing it.
Many modern locks have a keypad and a code that may be used to unlock the door rather than a key. To protect the safety of your home, you may configure this keypad to receive a numeric digit code and feel free to update this code whenever required.
Conclusion
We really hope that this article has cleared up your worries about the expense of a locksmith changing locks in the event that your apartment door lock fails. Remember that you can quickly change the lock or rekey it by yourself in case of an emergency. Or, if you failed to do so, you can hire a local locksmith in Point cook from Citywest Locksmiths.
Additionally, remember when it’s time to change the locks on your apartment, such as when the lock is broken, the keys are lost, or you are thinking about upgrading to a more secure door lock. For more information on changing locks of your home, contact us now!
