Bankstown Locksmith Service

Moving house is busy. Between boxes, utilities, school changes and a hundred small jobs, the locks are easy to forget. Yet the day you move in is the best time to sort them out. You have no idea how many keys to your new home exist, and you are about to fill it with everything you own.

This checklist walks through the lock and key jobs worth doing when you move into a home in Bankstown or anywhere in Sydney. It covers rekeying, checking every door and window, the parts people forget, and the rules if you are renting.

Why locks matter on moving day

Keys to a home pass through many hands over the years. Previous owners may have given copies to family, friends, cleaners, dog walkers and tradespeople. Real estate agents hold keys during sales and rentals. Builders and subcontractors hold keys to new homes during construction. Some of those keys will never be returned.

You cannot know who still has a key. The only way to be sure is to change what the key opens.

Step 1: Count the keys you were given

When you collect the keys, count them and note which lock each one opens. Ask the agent or previous owner:

how many keys exist for each lock;
whether any were lent out and not returned;
whether there are keys for screen doors, windows, garages and gates;
whether the home has any restricted keys or a master key system.

This gives you a starting point, even if the answers are uncertain.

Step 2: Decide whether to rekey or replace

For most homes, rekeying is the best first step. It changes the inside of each lock so old keys stop working, while keeping the existing hardware. It is usually cheaper than replacing locks. Our lock rekeying page explains how it works.

Replace a lock instead if it is broken, badly worn, low quality, or the wrong type for the door. Our article Rekey or Replace Locks? explains how to decide.

Many people use moving day to do both: rekey the locks that work well, replace any that are worn, and key everything alike.

Step 3: Ask for keying alike

If your new home has several locks, ask whether they can be keyed alike so one key opens the front door, back door and screen doors. It is usually possible when locks share a compatible keyway, and it makes daily life much easier.

Step 4: Check every external door

Walk around the house and test each external door:

Does it close easily without slamming?
Does the lock turn smoothly with the door closed?
Does the bolt throw fully into the frame?
Is the strike plate firmly fixed?
Is there a deadlock, or only a latch?

Back and side doors deserve as much attention as the front. They are often less visible from the street. Our article on deadlocks and deadlatches explains which lock suits each door.

Step 5: Do not forget screen doors

Security screen doors are common on Bankstown, Yagoona and Revesby homes. Their locks are often forgotten during rekeying, which leaves old keys working on the outer layer of your doors. Include screen doors in the rekey, or replace their locks if they are stiff or weathered.

Step 6: Check sliding doors

Sliding doors onto patios and balconies often have simple latches. Check that the latch engages fully, and consider a keyed lock that stops the door sliding or being lifted off its track. Clean the track so the door closes properly.

Step 7: Check windows

Test the windows, especially those on the ground floor or reachable from a roof, balcony or fence. Do they have locks? Do you have the keys? If not, consider window locks. Keyed window locks can also be keyed alike so one key opens them all.

On upper floors, check whether opening restrictors are fitted, particularly if you have young children.

Step 8: Garage, gates and sheds

Garages often have an internal door into the house. That door should have a deadlock, because the garage door itself may be easier to open. Also check:

side gates and their padlocks or locks;
garden sheds;
letterboxes;
garage remote controls.

For garage remotes, ask whether the remote codes can be changed. That is usually a job for a garage door technician rather than a locksmith.

Step 9: Alarm codes and smart locks

If the home has an alarm, change the codes. If it has a smart lock or keypad lock, reset the codes and remove any previous users. Check the manufacturer's instructions, and ask for help if needed.

Step 10: Sort out spare keys

Decide where your spare keys will live. Good options include:

with a trusted neighbour, family member or friend nearby;
in a secure place inside the home for household use.

Avoid hiding spares outside under mats, in pot plants or above door frames. These are the first places anyone looks.

Keep a simple record of how many keys you have and who holds them.

If you are renting

If you are moving into a rental, the rules are different. In NSW, tenants generally need the landlord's consent before changing or rekeying locks, with some exceptions. Ask your property manager whether the locks were rekeyed after the last tenant. If not, ask whether they will arrange it, or whether you can arrange it with their consent.

When you move in, test every lock and note any problems on the condition report. Our guide to landlord and tenant lock change rules in NSW explains the basics.

If you are moving into a unit

In a strata building, your unit entry lock may be part of a master key system, and the entry door may be fire-rated. Check with your strata manager before changing hardware. Common doors such as the building entry and garage are managed by the owners corporation. Our guides to apartment security and strata door rules cover this in detail.

If you are moving into a new build

New townhouses and homes, common in Condell Park and Revesby, often have good-quality hardware. But keys pass through builders, trades and sales agents before handover. Rekeying after settlement is a sensible first step.

New doors can also drop slightly as the building settles. If a lock that worked at handover becomes stiff within the first year or two, a strike adjustment usually fixes it.

If you are moving into an older home

Older homes may have mortice locks, rim locks and a mix of hardware from different decades. Some old locks cannot be rekeyed in the usual way. Ask a locksmith to check each lock and recommend whether to repair, rekey or replace. Our guide to older and heritage door locks explains more.

The moving-day checklist

Count all keys and note which lock each opens.
Ask about keys lent out and not returned.
Rekey all working locks.
Replace any broken or worn locks.
Key locks alike where possible.
Check every external door, including back and side doors.
Include screen doors.
Check sliding doors.
Check windows and window locks.
Check garage, gates, sheds and letterbox.
Change alarm and keypad codes.
Decide where spare keys will live.
If renting, check the rules and get consent.

Moving out: the other side of the checklist

If you are leaving a home as well as moving into one, a few lock jobs help the handover go smoothly.

Gather every key. Check drawers, cars, bags and with family members. Count them against the keys you were given when you moved in.
Return remotes and fobs. Garage remotes, gate remotes and building fobs belong with the property.
Leave a note. List which key opens which lock, and how many of each exist. The next occupant will thank you.
Remove your codes. Delete your fingerprints or user codes from smart locks and change alarm codes to something neutral, or give the new codes to the agent.
Report faults. If a lock is stiff or broken, tell the agent or buyer. In a rental, reporting it in writing protects your bond.
Get a receipt. When you hand keys to an agent, ask for written confirmation of what you returned.

Doing these jobs well is good for everyone. It is the same courtesy you would want from the people who lived in your new home before you.

Setting up good habits in a new home

The first weeks in a new home are the easiest time to set habits. Pick one spot inside the door for keys, agree who locks up at night, and decide where spare keys live. Small routines like these prevent most lockouts.

When to book the locksmith

The best time is on or just after the day you get the keys, before you move your belongings in. Book a planned appointment rather than waiting for a problem. It is usually more convenient and cheaper than an urgent callout.

Have a list of every lock you want included, and photos if possible. That way the locksmith can bring the right parts and finish in one visit.

The bottom line

Moving into a new home is the best time to take control of your locks. Rekey the locks that work, replace any that do not, key them alike, and check every door, window, screen door and gate. Decide where spare keys will live, and if you are renting or in strata, check the rules first.

If you are moving into a home in Bankstown or nearby suburbs, call us on 02 5657 6414, 7 days from 7:00am to midnight, or request a quote through our contact page. Tell us how many locks you have and we will give you a clear cost before any work starts. You can also read more about our residential locksmith service.