Why the keys at closing are not the whole set
When a Las Vegas home changes owners, the buyer usually receives the keys available at closing. Those keys tell you what opens the doors, but not how many copies were made before you took ownership.
Former owners may have given keys to family members or other people who needed access. Agents, cleaners and contractors may also have received copies during a sale or earlier work. Nobody can reconstruct that complete history from the keys handed over.
Rekeying changes the pins inside each compatible cylinder, so the keys from before the change no longer operate it. The existing lock stays on the door if it is in suitable condition. You receive new keys for the rekeyed cylinders.
Plan this work for the beginning of ownership, before you distribute copies to members of your household.
New construction needs the same attention
A house that has never had a resident can still have keys used during construction. Builders often use construction keying to allow access while a property is being completed.
This matters in growing Las Vegas communities such as Enterprise, Mountain’s Edge and Centennial Hills, where much of the housing is relatively new. A new front door and a clean-looking deadbolt do not tell you whether construction keying remains in place.
The builder’s handover process does not replace checking the actual cylinders. Ask the locksmith to inspect the exterior locks and determine how they are keyed. Rekeying is appropriate when the existing cylinders support it and the hardware works properly.
Some locks cannot be rekeyed, and any lock with damaged or unsuitable hardware may need replacement instead. That decision should follow inspection rather than an assumption based on the age of the house.
Make a list of every exterior cylinder
Start with the front door, then walk the perimeter of the home. A house may have a keyed handle and a separate deadbolt on the same entrance. Each cylinder needs to be accounted for, even when two locks are mounted on one door.
Include the following in your review:
- Front and secondary entrance deadbolts.
- Keyed knobs and levers on exterior doors.
- Doors connecting the garage and living space.
- Exterior gates fitted with keyed locks.
- Other keyed exterior entrances you use.
The locksmith can identify cylinders suitable for rekeying and check the associated door hardware. A door that drags or needs lifting to lock may need adjustment. Changing its pins will not correct a misaligned strike.
Inspecting everything during the same visit also helps establish which entrances need hardware repair or replacement.
Choose a key arrangement that works at home
Many homeowners prefer one key that operates multiple exterior doors. That is possible when the locks use compatible keyways. Different brands or cylinder designs may not share a compatible key, so the technician checks before proposing a common key arrangement.
You can also keep separate keys for particular entrances. The important part is having the technician identify the finished arrangement and test every new key in its intended lock.
Cairn charges $22 per cylinder for rekeying, plus the $39 service call fee. The technician inspects the locks and provides a written total before beginning.
For qualifying new homeowners, Cairn offers $20 off when four or more locks are rekeyed within 60 days of closing or move-in. The offer expires December 31, 2026. Mention it when arranging service. It cannot be combined with another offer on the same job.
Once the work is complete, test the keys at each entrance while the technician checks that the doors latch and lock correctly. You can then distribute copies from a known starting point.