Moving Into a New NYC or Long Island Home? Your Day-One Lock Checklist

You don’t know how many copies of your new keys are floating around. Here’s the move-in security checklist every new homeowner and renter should run.

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Closing day is exciting — and a little nerve-wracking. Between movers, utilities, and unpacking, home security is easy to push to “next week.” But the single most important security step happens on day one, before you’ve even moved a box in: making sure only you can unlock your doors.

Whether you just signed a lease on a Manhattan walk-up or got the keys to a single-family home in Nassau County, the locks came with a history you can’t see. Here’s the checklist we walk every new client through.

1. Rekey or Replace Every Exterior Lock

This is non-negotiable. The previous owner or tenant handed you “all the keys” — but keys get copied freely over the years: for relatives, dog walkers, contractors, cleaners, and past tenants. You have no way to know how many are out there.

Rekeying changes the pins inside the existing lock so every old key stops working, while keeping your current hardware. It’s the fast, inexpensive option for locks that are already decent. Replacing makes sense when the lock is worn, low-grade, or you want to upgrade. A locksmith can usually do every door in one visit and key them alike so a single key opens the front, back, and side doors. Our residential locksmith service covers exactly this.

2. Check the Grade of Your Deadbolts

Not all deadbolts are equal. Look for an ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt on every exterior door — Grade 1 is the commercial-level standard that resists kick-ins and drilling far better than the builder-grade Grade 3 locks found on many homes and apartments. If your doors have thin, wobbly deadbolts, day one is the moment to upgrade. For ground-floor apartments and homes in higher-crime areas, ask about high-security cylinders like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock with keys that can’t be copied at a hardware store.

3. The Often-Forgotten Entry Points

Mailbox & package room

In apartment buildings, the mailbox lock is often original and easily picked. Ask management to rekey, or replace the cylinder.

Garage & side doors

On Long Island homes, the garage-to-house door is frequently left on a weak lock — burglars know this.

Window & gate locks

Check basement windows, fire-escape windows, and any yard gates. They’re the quiet way in.

4. Apartment vs. House: What’s Different

In a NYC apartment, your building super or management holds access, and there are legal rules about adding locks (you generally must give the landlord a key — see our co-op/rental guide). In a Long Island or outer-borough house, you own the whole envelope: front, back, garage, basement, shed, and gates. That’s more doors to secure, but full freedom to upgrade however you like.

New to a single-family home in Nassau County? See our local pages for Hempstead, Freeport, Great Neck, and Hicksville — we cover the whole South and North Shore.

5. Make a Smart Spare-Key Plan

Don’t hide a key under the mat — burglars check there first. Better options: leave a spare with a trusted neighbor, install a quality lockbox, or upgrade one door to a keypad or smart lock so you have a backup code if you’re ever locked out. We can install keyless entry the same day.

Bottom line: Rekey on day one, upgrade weak deadbolts, and don’t forget the side doors. It’s an hour of work that turns “the previous owner’s home” into yours.

Moving In This Week?

We rekey or replace locks the same day across NYC and Nassau County. Get a clear price before any work starts.

Call 347-797-1671

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I rekey or fully replace the locks when I move in?

If the existing locks are good quality and in working order, rekeying is faster and cheaper — it changes the internal pins so old keys stop working. Replace the lock only if it’s damaged, low-grade, or you want to upgrade to a high-security cylinder.

How much does it cost to rekey a home in NYC or Long Island?

A standard rekey typically runs about $50–$100 per lock plus a service call, depending on the lock type and how many you do at once. We give an upfront quote before starting — call 347-797-1671.

The previous owner gave me all the keys. Do I still need to rekey?

Yes. There’s no way to know how many copies were made over the years — for cleaners, dog walkers, contractors, relatives, or past tenants. Rekeying is the only way to guarantee only your keys work.

Can you rekey every lock in one visit?

Almost always. We carry the pins and tools to rekey front doors, back doors, and side entries in a single visit, and can key them all alike so one key opens everything.

Do I need my landlord’s permission to change a rental’s locks?

In NYC you generally can add or change a lock as a tenant, but you must give the landlord a copy of the key within 10 days under the Multiple Dwelling Law. See our guide on co-op and rental lock rules for details.