Rekey all exterior doors within 7 days of closing on a new home. Previous owners, contractors, cleaners, and agents all had key copies. A 3-door home rekey costs $195-$295 through Treasure Coast Locksmith. The ALOA recommends this as the first security step for every new homeowner.
Who Has Keys to Your New Home
When you receive keys at closing, those keys have been copied. The previous owners had copies. Their family members, neighbors, housekeepers, pet sitters, and handymen likely had copies. The real estate agents (both listing and buying side) had copies. Every contractor who worked on the property during staging or pre-sale repairs had copies.
The National Association of Realtors estimates 3-5 key copies exist beyond the set handed over at closing. In Port St. Lucie's active real estate market, homes may have had multiple showings with lockbox access, open houses, and pre-closing walk-throughs. Each event is another potential key exposure.
New construction is no different. Builder-grade locks use construction master key systems. Every subcontractor - plumber, electrician, painter, tile installer, HVAC technician, inspector - had access via the construction master. That master key may work on dozens of homes in the same development.
What Rekeying Does and How It Works
Rekeying changes the internal pin tumbler configuration inside the lock cylinder. After rekeying, the old keys no longer operate the lock. New keys are cut to match the new pin configuration.
The locksmith removes each lock cylinder, replaces the pins, reassembles the lock, and tests with the new key. The lock body, deadbolt mechanism, and hardware stay in place. Rekeying is faster and cheaper than full lock replacement.
Most homeowners have all doors rekeyed to work with a single key (keyed alike). No more carrying separate keys for the front door, back door, and garage side door.
Cost of Rekeying a New Home in Port St. Lucie
| Home Size | Doors | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Condo / Townhome | 2-3 | $150-$230 |
| Standard single-family | 3-4 | $195-$295 |
| Larger home (5-6 doors) | 5-6 | $260-$390 |
| Estate / multi-entry | 7+ | $325+ |
Includes service call, all pins, new keys, and testing. 2026 Treasure Coast rates.
When to Upgrade Instead of Rekey
Signs You Should Replace Rather Than Rekey
- Grade 3 builder locks. New construction homes in Tradition, St. Lucie West, and PGA Village use minimum-grade hardware. Upgrading the front door to Grade 1 or smart lock costs $150-$300 more than rekeying.
- Visible lock damage. If the key is hard to turn, the deadbolt sticks, or the lock body is loose, rekeying puts new pins in a failing mechanism. Replace instead.
- Locks over 15 years old. Internal springs and pin chambers wear over time. Older homes in downtown Stuart, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach often have original hardware that should be replaced.
- Coastal corrosion. Jensen Beach and Hutchinson Island properties exposed to salt air may have internal corrosion invisible from outside.
- No deadbolt on exterior doors. Some older homes have only doorknob locks on back doors or garage entries. Add a deadbolt during the rekey visit.
New Home Security Checklist
- Rekey all exterior doors within 7 days of closing. Schedule before moving furniture in.
- Evaluate lock grades. Ask the locksmith to identify the ANSI/BHMA grade of each lock during the rekey.
- Upgrade weak points. At minimum, upgrade the front door to Grade 1 or smart lock if currently Grade 3.
- Check the garage side door. Ensure it has a deadbolt, not just a doorknob lock.
- Inspect sliding door locks. Standard latch locks on sliders are easily bypassed. Add a security bar or auxiliary lock.
- Change garage door opener codes. Reset the code and reprogram your remotes. Delete all existing saved codes.
- Test all locks after rekey. Verify every new key works in every lock from both inside and outside.
Port St. Lucie Specific Advice
New construction (Tradition, Westlake, Tesoro). Builder-grade locks are universal across these developments. Rekey is mandatory to eliminate the construction master key. Consider upgrading front entry to smart lock for package delivery access and auto-lock convenience.
Resale homes (older PSL neighborhoods). Homes in the original Port St. Lucie sections often have 20-30 year old locks. The locksmith should evaluate internal condition during the rekey and recommend replacement where needed.
HOA communities. Some HOAs in Palm City, Hobe Sound, and Stuart specify approved lock finishes and brands. Verify HOA guidelines before upgrading hardware.