Lost Keys — Same-Visit Rekey: preparing for the visit

The spare under the planter by the side door is gone. Everyone in the family swears they did not take it, the planter has clearly been shifted, and you have no idea how long ago that happened.

Worth answering before the call

Is any lock a keypad, smart lock or homeowner-rekeyable type? Was anything with your address, such as a licence or a mail tag, lost with the keys? Would you like every exterior door to work on one key?

Should I rekey after a renovation or when a cleaner stops coming?

It is good practice whenever a key has been out of your hands for a while and you are not certain it came back. Contractors, cleaners, sitters and short-term guests all have honest reasons to hold a key, and most return it, but a rekey at the end of the arrangement is what turns 'probably' into certainty. Some households make it a habit at the close of every project.

Should I rekey when I move into a new home?

Lock manufacturers list moving as one of the main reasons to rekey, and it is easy to see why: previous owners, their relatives, a cleaner, a dog walker and a contractor may all hold copies you know nothing about. Rekeying every exterior cylinder in one visit resets the count to the keys in your hand, and it is a convenient moment to put every door on a single key as well.