One less-fun aspect to owning a home is addressing security concerns. It’s still crucial, however, and while changing locks is common practice when moving into a pre-existing home, it’s not as common when moving into a new-construction home. But should you change your locks if moving into a new-construction home?

Let’s discuss how the construction process impacts this precaution, why there are risks associated with new-construction locks and the benefits of changing your locks.

Understanding the Construction Process

First, it’s important to understand how the typical construction process impacts a home’s security. Building a home involves numerous subcontractors and workers, from framers and electricians to plumbers, painters and more. That’s a lot of people you don’t know. Throughout the construction process, these workers need access to the home and they are usually provided with a master key or a construction key system to do so.

This means multiple contractors access the home. While the main key is secure for the future homeowner, the systems contractors use may pose a security risk if not properly handled. Ideally, once construction is complete, the homeowner’s key will permanently lock out the construction key(s), preventing further access. But the system isn’t foolproof.

It’s always possible that the construction keys might not be fully deactivated, or the locks themselves may not have been properly rekeyed or reset. Additionally, contractors could always make copies of the key that are not accounted for. Considering all of these factors, it’s easy to see why relying solely on original locks might not be the best strategy for securing your new home.

Risks of New-Construction Locks

There are other risks when it comes to new homes and locks beyond the unknown number of people who may have had access to your property. While builders generally have protocols in place to ensure access is limited, there’s no guarantee that every key was returned or every lock was properly managed.

Even with the best intentions, human error can occur. A key could be lost, duplicated or even accidentally left in the hands of someone who no longer needs access. If any of these scenarios play out, it can compromise your home’s security (and the safety of your family) from day one. 

Furthermore, some builders use low-quality locks as a cost-saving measure. These locks, while functional, may not be as durable or protective as you’d like. Upgrading to high-quality locks from the get-go can provide peace of mind that your home is as secure as possible. At the very least, consider consulting with a professional residential locksmith to get the opinion of a third party and whether you need to make any changes.

Benefits of Changing Your Locks

If you do decide to change the locks on your new-construction home, there are several advantages you’ll enjoy that enhance its security level, such as:

• Eliminated uncertainties: When you change your locks, you remove uncertainty about who might have access to your home. You gain confidence that you, and only you (and those you trust) have keys, reducing the risk of unauthorized entry.
• Upgraded security: Basic locks meet minimum standards, but don’t offer advanced security features. Choosing high-security locks with advanced features, however, provides additional protection and convenience.
• Improved access control: Changing locks lets you distribute keys as needed and have more control about who can access your home. This is especially important if you need to let family members, housekeepers or service providers regularly access your home.
• Better peace of mind: At the end of the day, moving into a new home is a significant life event and the last thing you want to worry about is security. By taking this fairly easy and proactive step, you can focus on settling into your new space without concerns about potential security vulnerabilities. 

When to Change Your Locks

The only question is, when do you change locks on a new-construction home? The best time is before you move in, or immediately afterward. This ensures your home is secure from the moment you take possession. If possible, coordinate with a locksmith to have the locks changed on the day you receive keys from the builder. This way, you can be certain no one else has access to your home from the outset. If you want to take it even further, have a locksmith evaluate your property to ensure the quality of other existing or potential security features, like entry doors, deadbolts, smart locks, windows and/or security cameras.

Moving into a new-construction home is an exciting experience. To ensure yours stays that way and you preserve the happy memories associated with it, don’t overlook the security of your new home. Builder locks may seem sufficient, but changing them is a top priority. To get recommendations or browse our lock options, stop by an A-1 Locksmith location today.

The same goes for home security. You might know when it’s time to rekey your house locks, but do you know how the process works? Let’s go over the steps involved in this service and why it’s often best to turn to a professional locksmith.

Step #1: Measure and Prepare

First, make sure you’ve measured the door and space you’ll be replacing, and that you have the proper tools and equipment (as well as the right lock mode). Some examples of items/tools you’ll need include:

• New lock
• Power drill with hole saws
• Standard screwdrivers
• Tape measure
• Custom plate or door reinforcer, if needed

If you choose a new lock that is similar to your old one, the process will usually be easier and you might not even have to replace certain components like the latch or setback. 

Step #2: Make Sure the Key Matches

It’s important to ensure the new lock matches your other locks, if you’re not replacing them all. You can do this by selecting a lock that is compatible with your existing key, or order keys from the lock manufacturer that matches your existing keys. You can also have a professional locksmith take care of it, whether key duplication is needed or not.

Step #4: Remove Old Lock

Starting with the door knob and latch, replace the old hardware by removing the screws from the front, back and side of the door. There are usually two screws on the latch plate and two each on the front and back knobs. You may also have to cut or play around with hardware components to ensure they’re removed properly. The deadbolt should be one of the last pieces you remove. 

Step #4: Install New Lock

In the same order you removed your old lock, install your new one. You might be able to keep the existing latch if you have the same model; otherwise you’ll replace everything. The knob spindle should align with the bolt in the door for an easy install and you simply reinstall all of the screws you removed earlier. Open and close the door several times to ensure everything is placed properly and the door works normally. 

Whether you need your locks rekeyed or another residential locksmith service, A-1 Locksmith is here for you. Contact us or visit any of our DFW-area locations today!

If you’re a homeowner in Fort Worth—or any part of the DFW Metroplex—there are certain instances when it’s a wise idea to get your house rekeyed. Here are five of them.

1. Residential Moves

Whether you move into an old home or a new building, the recommendation for your Fort Worth home is the same: get it rekeyed! You don’t know who had access to the locks of your home, who may have made a copy of your keys and who knows the layout of your house. New homes are no exception!

2. Old or Damaged Locks

If your locks are sticking, broken, worn down or simply old, it might be time to replace them. While you’re at it, you might as well get new keys for these locks (and it may be necessary). The good news about old or damaged locks is that they’re an opportunity to upgrade. By installing a smart lock, for example, you increase both convenience and security. Many Fort Worth residents choose to combine services here to enjoy an upgrade during their replacement.

3. Compromised Keys

If you’ve lost a key, misplaced it for a time or had it stolen, this is another ideal time to get your Fort Worth home rekeyed. Keys that aren’t in your possession can be duplicated and that’s a security risk. Make sure you know where all copies of your house keys are at all times and set firm rules for any parties with responsibility for your home’s keys.

4. Upgraded Doors 

Similar to the lock scenario, your door is another home component that is prone to damage and decay. Or, you might have a builder’s grade or subpar door that isn’t giving you the security your Fort Worth home needs. As you determine which doors need to be upgraded, consider replacing the keys and locks on these doors as well.

5. Peace of Mind

Finally, rekeying on a regular basis (whether it’s every year or few years) can give you peace of mind when it comes to your Fort Worth home security. Just as you change your password regularly online, changing house keys often is a good practice to keep your home secure. You could argue that peace of mind is a benefit of all of these scenarios!  

If you’re interested in rekeying services in Fort Worth, TX, contact A-1 Locksmith today!

There are, however, a number of situations in which all business or homeowners should immediately call a locksmith to have their locks rekeyed or replaced. If you find yourself facing any of these issues, we invite you to contact the professionals at A-1 Locksmith today for immediate help.

1. Lost Keys

Perhaps the most obvious reason to replace or rekey locks is if you or another key-holder lost their set of keys. Losing a set of keys means that the finder could eventually have unfettered access to your home or business day or night; this is certainly a valid reason to change the locks.

2. Divorce

While rekeying or replacing locks may be far from your mind during or after a divorce, it should, in reality, be a top consideration. While you may trust and even occasionally rely on your ex-spouse in the aftermath, allowing him or her to continually have access to your home or business could be problematic if he or she chooses to enter.

3. Moving into a New Home or Business

After moving into a new home or business location, there are so many issues to keep track of. However, before letting too much time elapse, make sure to have the locks replaced or rekeyed. This will ensure that any former tenants or owners no longer are able to visit the house or commercial building without your permission.

4. After Roommates or Employees Leave

Many business owners will give a set of keys to their employees; and all landlords will give keys to their tenants. As such, it is always smart to rekey or replace the locks when either roommates/tenants or employees leave. While they may give back the set you provided them, it’s virtually impossible for you to know if they made copies at some point in time in the past.

5. If You Don’t Get Them Back from Neighbors, Repairmen, or Others

In order to get access to our homes or buildings, many repair workers or other maintenance personnel may ask for keys to have access to the building whenever they need. And, often, as homeowners, we may give a set of keys to our neighbors to check on our plants when we leave.

In this situation, if you don’t receive all of these keys back, you should immediately rekey or replace the locks. While you may trust your neighbors and the visiting maintenance personnel, allowing extra keys to exist without your control only puts you at risk.

Contact Our Locksmiths for Assistance

If you need to replace or rekey your locks in DFW, don’t hesitate to reach out to our professionals for help. The locksmiths at A-1 Locksmith in the Metroplex are experienced and capable, and we will utilize our expertise to assist you today.

Of course, once the purchase is complete, the homeowner may still be left with one question regarding future safety: should I re-key my locks? In fact, a homeowner is never legally obligated to change the locks on his or her house once the home-buying process is finished. Doing so, however, may be one of the simplest actions you can take to protect yourself and your new home.

Why it is Necessary to Re-Key the Locks to Your New Home

Have you recently purchased a new home? If so, it is imperative that you re-key the locks as soon as possible.

Why is it so important that you re-key the locks on your home quickly? Consider, for a moment, who retained the keys to your current home before you took possession. The same structure could have passed through multiple hands over the past years, belonging at one point to individuals of all walks of life. As such, numerous individuals, as well as their trusted friends and family members, likely have had direct access to your new home through the possession of a key to the front door.

If you fail to re-key the locks on the doors, then, you are effectively allowing any number of people to retain access to the inside of your house. Access could be granted to only the last owner, or, in some cases, to a long line of owners beforehand. Either way, though, it puts your safety at risk, as well as the safety of your new home and everything within. It is impossible to know who possesses a key to your home, how many duplicates exist, and whether or not any of these unknown individuals can be trusted to stay away.

The Easiest Way to Protect Yourself

With this information in mind, consider re-keying the locks in your recently-purchased home. And you can do this in one of two ways.

The simplest way of changing the locks is through re-keying. The process of re-keying allows you to keep the same locks but change the pins within; upon completion, the lock will remain intact but will only provide access to those with the new key. This process, as you very well may know, is known as re-keying.

However, if the lock is too worn from years of use, you may need to replace it altogether. Doing so provides you with a new lock and a new set of keys entirely.

Are you unsure of which option is best for your situation? If you need to re-key the locks to your new house, contact the professionals at A-1 Locksmith today. We’ll help you decide on the best course of action and let you settle comfortably and safely into your new home.

Of course, in some cases, an individual may take the correct steps, and follow the DIY guidelines exactly, causing them to re-key the locks without flaw. Far too often, however, homeowners rely on DIY lock re-keying kits, only to discover a mistake later on.

Don’t attempt to re-key your locks at home without understanding the ramifications of your actions. Instead, consider the following perils you may encounter, which you can certainly avoid by reaching out to one of our skilled locksmith professionals at A-1 Locksmith.

Re-Keying When a Replacement is Necessary

What is one of the most common results that arises when individuals attempt to use DIY kits to re-key their own locks? After following all of the instructions included in a manual, and taking all necessary precautions, many homeowners find that they have only exacerbated the problem that already existed. And this doesn’t occur because the individual made a mistake during the process; instead, the problem remains because the locks should have been replaced, not re-keyed.

In many cases, homeowners won’t realize that a lock is far too worn to be eligible for re-keying, and will waste them time attempting anyway. With the help of a professional locksmith, you can avoid this wasted time; a locksmith can examine the lock, and help you understand whether re-keying or replacement is the right option for you.

Leaving the Locks Unusable

Of course, the ultimate goal of the re-keying process is to be left with a functioning lock that only opens using a new set of keys. Far too often, however, homeowners will make a mistake while attempting to re-key their locks, leaving it entirely unusable and requiring an entire replacement.

This situation can ultimately be remedied by contacting a professional locksmith beforehand. To be sure, while DIY re-keying kits may promise to provide you with all of the information necessary to re-key the locks in your home, it is still possible that you may a mistake, albeit a small one, during the procedure. Unfortunately, even a small mistake can leave the locks unusable.

Avoiding the Perils of DIY Re-Keying

What is the best way to avoid any of these pitfalls of re-keying your locks at home? The answer is simple: reach out to a professional locksmith at A-1 Locksmith. Our professionals have years of experience assisting clients and are prepared to help you immediately.

If you find yourself facing this question, then, how can you decide whether to re-key or replace your locks? To understand the benefits and drawbacks of both options, read through the following guide, and consider speaking to a professional for help.

Cost Considerations

When facing the choice of either re-keying or replacing the locks in your home or business, one of the most important factors to consider is the cost of the project. And here, in nearly every situation, you will find that it is less expensive, perhaps significant, to choose to re-key. By choosing to re-key, you will only need to make slight modifications to the existing locks on your structure; choosing to replace the locks entirely, however, requires the purchase of new equipment, which can be costly.

Simplicity of Re-Keying

In addition to allowing you to save money, re-keying also happens to be a much simpler process, as well, potentially one that you can facilitate at home with the help of professional instructions. To be sure, an individual in need of re-keying a lock may be able to do this at home; however, when in doubt, it is always a smart choice to contact a professional locksmith in the area who can provide assistance.

Of course, you may also be able to replace your locks yourself, yet doing so requires a significant larger investment of time, and is, again, best left to a professional who can ensure the locks are installed properly.

When is it Necessary to Replace the Locks?

There are, undoubtedly, very clear benefits to re-keying a set of locks over replacing them, including the cost and simplicity of the process. When, then, should an individual consider replacing the locks altogether?

Ultimately, you should opt to replace a set of locks entirely if the lock has sustained damage, has become worn over time, or is not working properly for some other reason. In this case, re-keying the lock may not provide a solution to the problem, and you may instead be required to replace the set.

In turn, this begs an additional question: how can you tell if a faulty lock can be re-keyed, or if it needs to be replaced? To find the answer to this question, you should consult a locksmith at A-1 Locksmith in Dallas. By speaking with a professional locksmith you can find answers to this and any other questions you may have, and pursue the best option for your specific circumstances.

When you’ve lost your keys, making a replacement set is possible, but is not always the best option. An auto locksmith can easily use an impression key to make a new set that fits your old lock, but those keys you lost are still out there somewhere. Do you want to take the risk of having your vehicle stolen?

Motorcycle enthusiasts invest a lot in their bikes, and want to do everything they can to prevent theft. If an auto locksmith rekey your motorcycle ignition, the old keys will no longer be able to start the engine. You won’t have to worry about your pride and joy going missing.

Regardless of why you need your motorcycle rekey, the process is simple for an experienced auto locksmith like the ones we employ. We simply adjust the inside of the lock so that it no longer opens to the pattern of the old key. We make a key for you that matches the new pattern, and you’re ready to go.

We pride ourselves on our customer service. We’ve been the auto locksmith for the Dallas/Fort Worth area for more than 60 years. We like to think we’ve learned a thing or two along the way about how to treat a customer properly. So if you want professional, high quality work you can trust, and fast, friendly customer service, look no further.

There’s nothing worse than worrying about the security of your bike—have it rekey with us. Call A-1 Locksmith DFW today for all your lock and key, safes, and security needs.

Locksmithing seems to be a simple enough industry to understand. It is all about security, simple and straight-forward. You have something in a container of some sort, a deposit box or a house or what have you. You wish to keep it safe and secure so that only you or those you trust will have access to it. However, with such a simple goal there must be a means to achieve it. It is not the goal that is affected by time, but the means of achieving it. Goals stay the same, but the technology changes how we reach these goals. Simple locks are comprised of, usually, of a pin-tumbler system. A series of small cylinders prevent the lock itself from spinning. Insert the right key and the pins are arranged in such a way as to allow the lock to spin and allow access.

With the advent of mass production, and thus identical parts production, the process of re-keying emerged. Basically, if the user of the lock suspects that their security may be at risk, a locksmith would come in and rearrange or slightly alter the lock’s pin configuration, so that it could only be accessed by a newly-cut key. It was invented in 1863 by a New Jersey locksmith, and with the advent of computers and the Internet rekeying has taken on a new meaning. In that sense, it refers to the changing of the encryption key of an ongoing communication stream. The professionals at A-1 Locksmiths know all about rekeying, along with any and all locksmithing issues. If you require assistance in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, give them a call 24 hours a day at (972)-284-7500.