Bought a Home in Georgetown or Acton? A First-Week Lock Checklist

The days after closing are busy, and locks are easy to forget. A short checklist makes sure the home is secure from day one.

Assume other keys exist

Previous owners, tenants, agents and contractors may hold keys. You cannot know how many. Treat every key you didn’t cut yourself as unknown.

Rekey or replace

If the locks are in good condition, rekey them so only your keys work. If they are worn, cheap or damaged, a lock change may be the better value. An older home may have a mix of hardware. We’ll tell you which doors can be rekeyed.

Don’t forget the extras

Garage entry door, side and back doors, patio doors, sheds and mailboxes. Garage door openers should be reset with a new code. Ask the sellers if any alarm codes or lock codes need to be changed.

Check the doors

Look for doors that don’t latch, frames that are soft or damaged, and strike plates held with short screws. Fix them while you are changing locks. See door hinge repair.

Consider upgrades

Smart locks, better deadbolts and reinforced strikes can be done at the same visit. See smart lock installation and deadbolt installation.

Heritage or older homes

Older homes in Georgetown, Acton and Glen Williams may have vintage hardware. Ask about repair or rekeying before replacing. See heritage doors.

Book early

Schedule the visit before move-in. Tell us the number of doors and what you plan to change. See the Halton Hills page.

A checklist for the first week

Ask the sellers for all keys and remotes, then arrange a rekey of exterior doors, the garage door entry and any shed or gate locks. Reset garage opener codes and the alarm code. Note who receives new keys. Check the strike plates and the door alignment while the technician is there. If the house is older, ask about upgrading the deadbolt at the same visit to save on a second call-out.