Locksmith in Whittier 90603: Rekeying After a Move

East Whittier around Whittwood Town Center is a neighborhood of family homes, and houses here change hands steadily. That gives 90603 a particular rhythm of calls: somebody has just got the keys, and somebody else, somewhere, still has a copy.

Why new owners rekey first

A home sale hands over a ring of keys. It doesn't hand over the list of everyone who had one. Former owners, their family, a dog walker, the agent's lockbox, a contractor from a kitchen remodel years ago. Rekeying each exterior lock changes the pin pattern inside the cylinder, so all of those keys stop working at once and yours become the only ones.

It costs less than new locks. The hardware stays; only the inside changes.

Move-in requests from 90603

• Whole-house rekeys: front, back, garage entry and side gate.
• Keyed-alike sets, so one key fits every exterior door.
• Spare keys cut on site for each household member.
• Lock changes where old hardware is worn or mismatched.
• Garage door handle locks and pedestrian gate locks.

Renters, too

Renting in 90603? Check your lease before changing anything, and ask the landlord whether they rekeyed between tenants. Many do. Some don't. If they agree to a rekey, give them a copy of the new key.

The coupons page has a move-in offer and a free fifth rekey when you rekey four locks. Our article on rekeying when moving in goes into more detail, and the residential page lists everything else.

A simple move-in checklist

Before the boxes are unpacked: rekey every exterior lock, test that each deadbolt throws fully without pushing the door, and change the garage keypad code if there is one. Reset any smart lock to factory settings and set your own codes; previous owners sometimes still have access through an app. Count your keys, then hand one spare to someone you trust nearby. It sounds like a lot. In practice the locksmith part is usually one visit, and the rest takes an evening.