Rekey or Replace? What to Do With Your Locks After Moving to Nashville

Before you decide between rekeying and replacing, do a full walk of your home and inventory every lock. Count every exterior door — front, back, side, garage entry — plus any gates, storage units, or basement access points. For each one, note the lock type (deadbolt, door knob lock, mortise lock, or smart lock), the brand if visible (Schlage and Kwikset are the most common in Nashville homes), and the condition. Loose cylinders, stiff turning, visible rust, or a keyway that looks worn down are all red flags. A lock that was fine for the previous owner may not be performing the way it should for you.

Next, account for every key you received at closing. Verify that number against the number of locks on the property — it's common for sellers to hand over only one or two keys even when several copies exist in the world. Note whether any doors use a keyed entry door knob lock in addition to a separate deadbolt, because both cylinders need to be addressed. Once your inventory is done, you're ready to make the rekey-versus-replace decision lock by lock, not as a blanket choice for the whole house.

Rekeying is the process of changing the internal pin configuration of an existing lock cylinder so that old keys no longer work — only the new key you're given will operate it. It's a smart choice when a lock is in solid mechanical condition, the brand is reputable, and you simply want to eliminate unknown keyholders. For most Nashville homeowners moving into a property that's less than 10–15 years old with quality hardware already in place, rekeying every exterior lock is the single most effective first step you can take. A skilled locksmith can rekey multiple locks to a single key in one visit, which also solves the common frustration of juggling different keys for the front and back door.

Replacing the lock outright makes more sense in several specific scenarios: the lock is visibly damaged, worn, or has a loose cylinder that rekeying won't fix; you're upgrading to a higher-security grade (for example, swapping a basic builder-grade door knob lock for a Grade 1 deadbolt); you want a mortise lock installed for superior strength and a cleaner aesthetic; or you're moving into an older Nashville home — say, a pre-1970s property in Germantown or Sylvan Park — where the original hardware may use a non-standard keyway or is simply at end of life. Replacing is also the right call if you want to move to a smart lock or keypad system. The bottom line: don't replace what doesn't need replacing, but don't rekey what's genuinely past its useful life.

If you're making lock decisions on a new home anyway, it's worth asking your locksmith about mortise lock installation — especially on your primary entry doors. Unlike a cylindrical deadbolt or door knob lock that sits mostly on the surface of the door, a mortise lock is set into a pocket (the mortise) cut into the door itself. This makes it significantly more resistant to kick-in and forced-entry attempts because the lock body and strike plate are structurally part of the door, not just bolted onto it. Mortise locks are common in commercial settings — you've likely seen them on businesses along Broadway or in Nashville's office corridors — but they're an excellent residential upgrade too, particularly on solid wood or steel exterior doors.

A professional mortise lock installation requires more door prep than a standard deadbolt swap, so this is absolutely a job for an experienced locksmith rather than a weekend DIY project. Mortise lock work is one of our core services at A1 Nashville Locksmiths, and we carry quality hardware suited to both historic Nashville homes where the door profile needs to be respected and modern construction where you want the cleanest possible security upgrade. If your front door is solid and in good shape but the hardware feels flimsy, a mortise lock retrofit is often the most meaningful single upgrade you can make. Call us at (704) 850-6756 and our team can assess your doors and walk you through the right fit before any work begins.

Moving days are chaotic, and lockouts happen more often than you'd think — a new key gets left on the counter, a door with an auto-locking knob swings shut while you're carrying boxes, or a lock that seemed fine during the walkthrough suddenly sticks with your key still inside. Knowing what to do if locked out of your house before it happens is far less stressful than figuring it out in the moment. Here's the legitimate, safe sequence to follow: first, check every other entry point — unlocked windows on the ground floor, a garage door that opens manually, or a back door you haven't yet tested with your new key. Second, call your real estate agent or the closing attorney's office, as they may still have a key from the transaction. Third, check whether any trusted neighbor or family member was given a spare.

If none of those options work, call an emergency locksmith — do not attempt to force or tamper with the lock yourself. Beyond the obvious risk of injury, forcing a lock can damage the door frame or the lock itself, turning a minor inconvenience into a costly repair. When you call A1 Nashville Locksmiths, we'll ask for proof of residency (a photo ID matching the property address, your closing documents, or utility enrollment in your name), which is standard practice for any reputable locksmith and protects you as the homeowner. We're a 24-hour residential locksmith service covering Nashville and the surrounding areas, so whether your lockout happens at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m., you can reach us at (704) 850-6756. What to do if you get locked out of your house ultimately comes down to one principle: stay calm, work through the safe options first, then call a professional.

Once your initial rekeying or replacement work is done, it's worth thinking one step further. Nashville's growth has brought new neighborhoods, new construction, and new neighbors — but it's also a city where home security habits matter. A few practical additions beyond the locks themselves: install a reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws on every deadbolt (a standard installation we include as part of our lock work); consider keying all exterior doors to a single key for convenience; and think about whether any secondary doors — the door from your attached garage into the house, for instance — have adequate deadbolt protection or just a door knob lock that can be shimmed open. Those interior-to-garage doors are one of the most commonly overlooked vulnerabilities in Nashville homes.

If you've purchased a property with commercial-use history, or if you're operating any kind of home-based business out of your new address, our commercial locksmith services extend to high-security deadbolts, access control considerations, and master key systems that give you layered control over who can access what. Nashville is home to a diverse range of businesses and industries — from healthcare to music to logistics — and we work with both residential and commercial clients across the metro. Whatever your situation, the goal is the same: you should be the only person who controls access to your property. Our team is insured, experienced, and available around the clock to help you get there. Call A1 Nashville Locksmiths any time at (704) 850-6756 — we answer 24/7.

Whether you need a single rekey on moving day or a full security overhaul, here is a detailed look at the specific services our mobile locksmith team provides across the Nashville area: residential lock rekeying (single lock or whole-home keyed alike), mortise lock installation and repair, deadbolt installation and upgrade, door knob lock replacement, smart lock and keypad installation, high-security lock cylinder upgrades, strike plate reinforcement and installation, master key system setup for multi-door properties, emergency lockout service for homes, emergency lockout service for vehicles, car key cutting and programming, transponder key replacement, key fob programming and replacement, ignition repair and replacement, broken key extraction from locks and ignitions, garage door lock and handle replacement, mailbox lock replacement, padlock installation and combination reset, sliding door and patio door lock installation, window lock installation, lock lubrication and preventive maintenance, commercial deadbolt and mortise lock installation, access control system installation for small businesses, safe opening and combination change, and on-site lock consultation and security assessment for new homeowners. All services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays.

One of the most common questions we hear from new Nashville residents is how our pricing works — especially for emergency calls in the middle of the night. We never quote from a script or give you a number that changes when we arrive. The factors that shape your final quote include the type of lock or vehicle involved (a basic door knob lock rekey is different from a mortise lock installation or a high-security deadbolt replacement), the time of day the service is requested, the travel distance to your location within the Nashville metro, and any parts or hardware needed to complete the job. We confirm an exact up-front price with you before any work begins, every time, with no surprises on the invoice. What did locksmiths usually do before mobile service existed? They required you to bring the lock or key to a shop. Today, our fully equipped mobile unit brings every tool and part to you — on your schedule, at your location, any hour of the day.