One of the questions that often comes up is about making a spare key for a vehicle that uses a transponder in order to hide it on your car when you lock yourself out. While nobody wants to lock themselves out of the vehicle, what you DO NOT want to do is make a duplicate transponder key to hide outside the vehicle. What you CAN do is have a mechanical key made to use as your hide-a-key.

The reason for this is simple: If you lock your keys in your car, you can use the ‘mechanical’ or ‘non-transponder’ key to open the door and retrieve them. If someone else finds that key, they can open the door, but they can’t drive away with the car. While this doesn’t prevent someone from getting into your car, it does stop them from taking it.

Where do you hide your key? Anywhere that you won’t forget where it is. Place it somewhere that you will remember and that you haven’t seen “on t.v.” – the places where most people will look for it first. If it takes a while for someone to try and find your key, they will move on. If they really want in, they won’t look for your key in the first place.

Recently, we received a request from an individual who lives in a state on the East coast asking for our help to resolve a matter.

The question;  Can I take this Brand-Y lock and have the same key work this Brand-X lock?

Of course, with this question there are no simply “yes or no” answers especially when we are not being provided the information necessary to answer the question. Without all the facts, the answer is a maybe. Maybe if the locks have cylinders that can be replaced with an after market product, it is possible.

However no locksmith can give a definitive answer to a generic questions when they don’t have all the facts; “this product is an old Brand-X lock and I bought new Brand-Y locks and I want them to fit the same key, can it be done?”

Well, since Brand-X is an old lock – then what type is it? What style is it? How old is it? Can you send photos or bring it in so we can identify it and let you know for sure? When we receive only half the information needed;  ‘well Brand-Y is a series 5000 that I bought directly from the factory.’

The only answer we can give is based on the limited information that we have been supplied. Without seeing a product and/or having it in our hands we can not determine if a solution is viable and can only go based on what we have been told.

In this case, that particular series was not created to accept an aftermarket cylinder and these two locks can not be keyed to work on one key. ‘Can it be done the other way?’ Again, we need more information on Brand-X lock.

Locksmiths are often asked to solve problems without knowing all the facts. We rely on the customer to not only tell us what they want, but to provide us with as much information as possible on what they have so we can give an informed response. This is decidedly harder when you add in distance along with lack of information. (In this case we directed the individual to a locksmith company who has a good reputation, specialized in both types of locks and who has been in business for years with a physical location. As well as the phone numbers to the company that made the locks.)

Knowledgeable locksmiths know what can and can’t be done. Sometimes it is based on the type of lock, knowing that this particular model was not made to interact with any other aftermarket product and/or is not modifiable to do what the customer wants done. The majority of locksmiths are in the security business and want to make sure that their customers are being taken care of. We do the best with the information we receive.

So what happens if you find a locksmith that can’t help you? You can always seek out the manufacturer of the lock (if they are still in business) or you can seek out another locksmith. See if you can find one who specializes in the type of locks that you have. Accept the fact that locksmiths are trained to do their job and just because you want something to work, doesn’t mean it will. Be prepared to provide as much information about the type of locks you have or to provide a photo of the locks (front and back) to show your locksmith. This will allow them to let you know what your options are.

If you still don’t like the answers you receive, then seek out a second opinion or as many as you need to make you feel certain; just remember if all the answers are the same, it just might not be possible to do what you want done and instead you may have to seek alternate options; such as changing out one of the brands of lock to be the same as the one you want to use; so they are all the same brand, using the same key way, so you can have one key fit everything.

A lot of people have ‘services’ come to help them out in their home; house cleaners, dog sitters, etc., and often times in the hope of being more convenient, they give out a key to these service people. So how do you keep your home secure when you are giving out keys to people who aren’t suppose to be there all the time?

Here are a couple of options:

1.) The most cost effective method is to have a keyed doorknob and a deadbolt. Key the doorknob to a separate key that you give out to service people. When they aren’t scheduled to be there you lock your deadbolt. In order to lock a deadbolt, you must have a key. This way, if your service is scheduled on a Tuesday, you leave the deadbolt undone on that day. Only have one doorknob keyed this way, that way if you ever change services it is less expensive to have that one door re-keyed than to have a multitude of locks changed.

2.) Another option is to have a combination/push button deadbolt or knobset. These allow you to set up multiple user codes; with a key over-ride. So you never have to give out a key and if you change services, you simple change the code. Of course, if you have a keyed knobset and/or deadbolt you can again lock it when no one is suppose to be in your home whom you don’t want there.

As always, make sure you research your choices. Understand the quality of the product you are getting. There are companies out there, who have been around for years, who live on their ‘name brand’ but have unfortunately let the quality of their products drop. The best, well known brand name might not have the quality you are looking for.

When it comes to quality door hardware, your locksmith is usually the best place to go for advice. We deal with all different types of door hardware and can give you both the pros and the cons to a product, so you can make an informed decision. Remember, a good locksmith is one who is concerned with your home/office security.

As discussed in my previous article, there have been numerous lists over the years of how to go about making your home less ‘attractive’ to criminals. Often times you can contact your local law enforcement agency and/or locksmith and they will do a free walk through to help you figure out how to make your home more secure.

Here are some ways you can do it yourself;

View your home through the eye of someone looking to break in. What would YOU look for? These are the same things that others look for.

1.) Is your home lite up at night? Are all the light bulbs outside working? If not replace them as soon as you notice they aren’t. Consider adding motion detector lights; just remember these will also pick up small animal movements as well.

2.) Is the area beneath your windows clear? Are there places that someone can hide and/or be hidden from view? Clear these out so that these areas are visible.

3.) Do you have locks on your windows and do you use them? When you open your windows, do you remember to close them and secure them? If you want to leave your windows slightly open, then consider getting a lock to put on the window to only allow it to be opened  a certain amount. Remember if you aren’t there, you don’t want anyone reaching their arms through the window to grab anything.

4.) Do you have sliding glass doors? Do they have locks on them? Unless this is a daily entrance, then have a charlie bar or some other type of locking mechanism that will not allow entrance when you are not there or have locked up for the night beyond your keyed lock (if you have one at all).

5.) There is a statistic out there that states that 80% of the time when someone breaks into your home and robs you, it is someone you know. So you aren’t just protecting yourself from some unknown person. Don’t show your friends where you keep the spare key; unless you trust them with your things and your life.

6.) Don’t keep a spare key in an easy to spot location; we all know them as we see them in the movies! (a) above the door (b) under the mat (c) in the planter next to the door. Just think about where you have seen them put in the movies and don’t put them there. The less obvious, the better to find.

7.) Keep the spare where you will remember it. This is one of the biggest problems we come across. “I’ve hidden my key and don’t remember where I put it.”

8.) Don’t give your key out to ALL your neighbors. You don’t know where they will keep it for “safe” keeping and who will have access to it. If you do give it to your neighbor, make sure that they don’t put YOUR address on the key. If you have a key tag mark it with something you know that identifies what it goes to without advertising it to everyone else.

9.) The more urban the area, the more likely you are to need a home security system. If you live in the city, and can afford it, you should invest in a security system. The bigger the city, the more its worth investing. Even in more rural locations, more people are adding these in.

10.) Deadbolts. Make sure you have deadbolts on all your doors where possible. If you have glass on the door, make sure you use double cylinder deadbolts. Never leave the key in the lock when you are leaving on vacation.

There are two lines of thought on double cylinder deadbolts (these are locks that require a key on both sides.) The first is that they are a safety hazard. If there is a fire or emergency and you don’t have the key you will be locked in your home. The second is that insurance agents want you to have them as they protect your home. If your house gets broken into, and they can reach in and turn the lock it makes it quicker and less noisy for the person breaking in.

Weigh both these things when making a decision regarding your home and your safety. You have to know where the key is as you don’t want to leave it in the door while you are sleeping unless you are a light sleeper and will hear the glass break. You don’t want to leave it within arms reach of someone who may break the glass. You do want it where you can get to it if you need to leave your house quickly for any reason. Consider your ‘escape’ options. Are there other doors that you can go out, etc.

As always research other articles regarding home safety so you can make an educated decision about your home and your security.

There has been a lot of concern lately, with another mass circulation of emails,  regarding “bumping locks”. Everyone has a right to be concerned about this. However, here are a few things you should also know;

1.) The videos, articles and other internet “informational” media that is out there is not helping anyone to feel secure; bumping has been around in the locksmith industry for years. It is only recently, with the help of the internet highway and some mainstream media articles, that it has made its way into our homes making it a concern on many individuals minds.

This has caused three things to happen:

a.) People have become more worried about their security

b.) A lot of unsavory individuals are taking this ‘knowledge’ and attempting to use it for their benefit. It doesn’t help that people who “claim” to be locksmith’s are out there making videos and showing ‘anyone’ how it can be done. On a personal note: that is not a locksmith I would want working on my home, what other ‘secrets’ are they sharing and with whom?

c.) The process of bumping  is not as simple and clean cut as it appears to be, even with the ‘special’ keys they are selling on the internet.

2.) Any honest locksmith is NOT going to go out and show people how to ‘break into’ someone’s home. That is NOT what our industry is about. Many of us work with law enforcement on a regular basis. Our industry is about helping individuals and companies to secure their property and person’s to the best of our abilities. We do not go out and do anything that is going to promote criminal activities. Any person who claims they are a locksmith and giving out “locksmith secrets” are not what they claim. Why would we want to be counterproductive?

3.) If you are worried about your home and want it to be ‘bump proof’; then first you need to prepare yourself  that there will be a financial investment required. Sometimes this requires replacing your locks. Remember, not all door hardware is the same; just because something says it is ‘bump proof’ doesn’t mean that is necessarily true.

4.) Do your research into what is available. As always, we suggest going to a reputable locksmith in your area and finding out what your options are and if it is even a viable need in your community. Some communities really don’t need to go that ‘extra mile’. However, if YOU feel for your own peace of mind you do, then by all means do it.

5.) Bumping requires a specific type of key. Your first step could be to simply replace the cylinder with a key way that is not readily available to the public and is a signature system. Most locksmith companies, if not all, have these systems. A couple of the best known and  highest security options are MEDECO & Bi-lock. These systems require signatures and keys are cut and mailed from the factories. There are other systems that are also signature systems, but the locksmith can cut them in their shop, making them more readily available to the customer. Again, speak to your local locksmith to find out what your options are.

6.) Remember that criminals look for “easy access” as to go un-noticed. So by making your home less ‘burglar’ friendly, you may already have replaced the concern for someone ‘bumping’ your lock to get in. For example: bumping a lock is a noisy process and likely to draw attention.  Note: There have been many articles out over the years regarding this, however, I will post a helpful list in my next article.

We all want and need to feel safe in our homes, so we do the best we can. While, in reality, there is no 100% way of doing this; as we have learned from the media, when there is someone who wants to do it they will. What we CAN do is everything in our power to assure that we feel safe. That we know how to make our home less appealing to the common criminal.

If you have questions regarding this article, please email us and we will do our best to answer your question or point you in the right direction.

We live and work in a small community, and one of the things we have done a lot of this past year are bank repossessions on homes. Here is what you need to know if you are thinking about purchasing a bank repo:

1. Some companies only have one lock on the house re-keyed when they take possession of the house. (Interestingly enough this is not the case with commercial repo’s.) What this means is that a lot of times the previous owners can go back into the house (and often do). Worst case scenarios: one angry owner went back into “their” house and took all the fixtures out.

2.) Some companies will pay to have all the locks re-keyed and the damaged doors fixed. Unfortunately finding out which companies do this, can take a bit of hunting. Either way, it is always wise to rekey the home after you purchase it.

3.) This is the worst of the lot – and has become a more recent occurrence: One lock is replaced with a digital lock and the rest of the locks are glued shut. Who ever came up with this BRILLIANT idea should be … well, I will let you come to your own conclusion. Not only does this mean that the realtor and/or buyer have one entrance into the home. If you don’t get the code or the instructions to change the code, then anyone who has the code can get into the house. Second, ALL of the other locks HAVE to be replaced. They cannot be rekeyed. This can become very costly to the new owner to have to do.

So, before you purchase that exceptional repo, find out how they have handled the locks. Take the time to take the key and put it into each lock, if it doesn’t slide in then there is a problem with the lock. They key might not work the lock, if the house has multiple keys to the locks, but it should slide in all the way. (Make sure it is the right type of key, some keys have different brand locks on the doors as the owner and/or someone else may have replaced them at different times and didn’t want to invest to keep the same type of key way.)

Every once in a while we will have someone walk in and want to “borrow” our slim jim or a coat-hangar (which oddly enough, we just don’t seem to have any of those coat hangers  lying around.)

Now, I am not going to go into the fact that in Washington State it is illegal to own locksmith tools unless you are a locksmith. If you aren’t a locksmith and own these tools, then they are considered burglary tools. I know in some other states there are similar laws.  Oddly enough, it is not illegal to sell these tools in auto parts stores, just for a consumer to purchase them.

Much like the “don’t you have a [magic] master key that fits every lock in the world” belief; is the ‘slim jim will open any vehicle’ belief. Back in the good ole days, when a car was a car; (Those same cars are now either junk or vintage; depending on how you look at it.) pretty much ‘one size fit all’. In other words, slim jims worked on pretty much everything.

Fast forward to the new breed of vehicle! If you use the wrong tool, you will do damage to it. For example, use a slim jim on certain models and you will break the foot off the rod. Sure, you may be able to get into it that one time; but you will no longer be able to lock your door without taking it in to get it repaired. How much will that cost?

So before you try to borrow a tool; think about how much you want to spend to fix your vehicle. Call a locksmith, get the job done right. Remember that most insurance companies will reimburse the cost to have a locksmith come out if you have full coverage.

One of the things I have found in this industry is that our customers don’t consider locksmithing as a professional industry; they undervalue the services we provide. As I have written in previous posts, this comes from the idea that being a locksmith is just a hobby and therefore not worth paying for.  Which leads a lot of consumers to have the attitude of : “Why don’t you just come out and adjust my lock  for free?”

Well, I can never stress this enough. Any locksmith worth his salt has had training. Whether they were apprenticed as they were coming up through the years or they have just had good, old fashioned accredited schooling so that they can learn how to be a locksmith. Even with mail in courses available (which I almost believe have help to under-rate a locksmiths actual value) after someone has learned the “basics” putting that knowledge into actual every day application is not as easy as people seem to believe it is.

Locksmiths are not handymen. They don’t come to your door to “fix” your locks and then tighten up the leaky faucet and pound in the nail that is slightly sticking out. We don’t hang doors.  While in smaller towns you may have this type handyman who does it “all” – as someone who is not a trained individual things can sometimes go very wrong.  (We have a list of professional individuals who can meet the needs of our customers when we can’t; handymen, contractors, etc. Which we give out to our customers when they need someone to do something we don’t.)

While the majority of our customers who come in to our shop already know the value of coming to a locksmith in the first place, we find that quite a few come in to “purchase” replacement parts of screws that they dropped while installing a lock. [We don't sell screws, that is the hardware store.] We use the screws that come with the locks and don’t generally have spares.

The other thing we find is that people who come to purchase a key from a locksmith often balk at the price, since our keys cost more than the 99¢ hardware store keys. What one has to realize is that even though our keys may seem to cost more, our customers don’t have to spend extra time or gas coming back and forth three or four times to get a key made right. Why? We invest in our equipment and in doing so we pay more for it than a hardware store. We calibrate our machines every other week, where hardware stores may have to wait 6-9 months for someone to come in and calibrate their machines. We pay for every key that we mis-cut, where a lot of hardware stores have what are known as ‘throw away keys’; they invest in a system that allows them to mis-cut keys and then every key that they cut incorrectly is replaced for little to no cost.

The biggest ‘obstacle’ I think we face in our industry is that as a locksmith is a professional, we charge professional labor rates. No matter how much a locksmith charges for labor, in the eyes of the consumer it is often “too much”.  We charge a service call and labor when we are installing hardware, working on a vehicle locks (where we have to pull the lock and put it back in), etc. We charge actual time; unlike a lot of companies do, not only in our industry but also in other industries as well. However, due to the way that customers ‘idea’ of what a locksmith ‘is’ in their minds, our charges are often met as being outrageous or something to be bartered about. However, if these same people called a plumber (who charges $150/hr. [a lot more than we do]) they wouldn’t bat an eyelash at the cost. Or if they took it to the dealer, who would do the same thing as we do – as an example; programming a key – they would readily hand over the $200 for which the same service if they had come to us may have only cost $85.

In an effort to help save our customers money, we  always try to give them options. We let them know that they can save money by bringing in their locks to us to be re-keyed. Or having their vehicles towed in so we can work on their locks. This simply saves the service call. It also allows the customer to bring in items that they can either drop off and we will call them as soon as they are ready; or we can take care of more quickly since we don’t have to work around other service calls.

It is due to the customers perception of what a locksmith is that we have become under-valued. I believe that the only way to change the perception is through educating the customer so that they can understand the value of a locksmith’s work. Where we may have a labor rate of $90/hr to come out and remove and replace locks, since we charge actual time; it may only be $15 to do a particular job. Often times we are called to repair what a handyman has done. Or instead of going to a dealer where they charged based on what the book says how long the labor should take (whether it actually takes that long or not) we do a professional job at an honest price.

Most professional locksmiths, who are in this industry for long time or plan to be in their industry for any length of time will be honest, show integrity and charge accordingly. Remember; we don’t want you to get a bad taste in your mouth by going to a fly-by-night locksmith. So check out your local locksmith(s) and plan ahead on who to use in the future when possible.

When you are looking to purchase a safe, there are several things to consider:

1. How big of a safe do you need? One of the best ways to determine this is by figuring out what you want to put in the safe. Then taking a regular sized shoe box and putting those items into it; figuring out how many shoe boxes you will need to put in all the items. The inside of a safe is measured in cubic inches. This is a quick way to figure out how many cubic inches you are going to need.

2. What type of items are you going to be putting in the safe? Paper documents? Money? Jewelry? Coin collections? Guns? Are these items you need to get to daily? Or are you looking to put them some place where you can get to them when/if you need to?

3. Where are you going to put the safe? Are you looking to have a safe that no one can see? In the wall or in the ground? In a closet? Or is it something you don’t care if others know about?

Once you determine these factors you will have narrowed down the type of safe you are looking for.

Floor Safes: Using the term floor safe is a very generic way of asking for a safe. The reason for this is that most us (myself included) think of a floor safe in one of two ways. Either a safe that you put into the ground and surround with concrete or a safe that sits on the floor. In the industry, a floor safe is thought of as the first type. While the second type is just considered to be a “safe”.

Floor safes generally have lift off doors or use spring hinges to help raise the door for easy opening. These can be placed in various parts of the home. When using this type of safe, it is best to put your items into a zip-lock bag before placing them in the safe. If your home ever goes through a fire, when it is being hosed to put out the fire, the water will often seep into the safe. While your documents and items will be safe from the fire, they will not be safe from the water without taking the proper precautions.

The other [floor] safe often comes with bolt down hole so they can be bolted to the floor. This is to prevent someone from walking away with a safe that, if not bolted down, weighs less than 100 lbs.  You can  also add various option such as the safe being  fire-proof, burglar proof or both fire and burglar proof. Note: Whenever a safe can have these options, it will always add to the price no matter the type of safe.

Wall Safes: I would think that every one would know what a wall safe is but just in case; a wall safe is a safe that is mounted into the wall. The depths of these safes range between 4″-15″ deep.  As of this writing, I only know of one, made by AMSEC, that is fire-proof.

Gun Safes: These safes generally stand about 5′ tall and come in various width and depth dimensions. They come standard, fire-proof and burglary proof. They also come with various interior configurations; All shelves, half shelf/half gun/rifle and all gun/rifle. These different interiors allow you to make the most of your gun safe. They are also, generally, the most decorative of the bunch; so having a gun safe in your living room as part of the decor is not unheard of.

In some states (As an example in Washington state: RCW 82.08.832) you can purchase a gun safe tax-free. Washington State pass this as a way to encourage people to lock up their hand guns and rifles to prevent unauthorized use.

Safes also come with various ‘dial’ configurations. Most safes come with a dial or key combination lock; however you can get them with an electronic combination lock or  fingerprint lock. As technology advances, so do state of the art dials. Any safe that offers the “choice” of the type of dial you have, also can have an addition to the purchase price of the safe.

There are several small safes out there as well. These can be referred to as microwave safes since they are about the size of a microwave. There is also a campus vault available for college students. These often come  with electronic dials, bolt down holes and sometimes fire-proof that are available for minimal cost. (Ranging from $100 – $300).

So the big question is:

How much do you want to pay for a safe? Most people want a lot for nothing. In our current economy this is even more prevalent. Just remember you get what you pay for.

What you need to know about a ‘fire-proof’ or ‘fire-resistant’ safe:

1. ) What makes safe manufacturers different in there products are the type of materials they use for making the safe fire-proof and how much of it they use. [Gypsum or Sheetrock; Gypsum is the better choice.] How many ‘layers’ are used because when a fire burns each ‘layer’ releases water vapor to keep the interior cool.

2.) What is the U.L. fire rating? This rating states how long a safe must be able to stand a fire. A normal house fire burns at around 1200° We wouldn’t recommend a  safe that can’t withstand a fire for at least an hour (AMSEC tests their safes at 1800°) should be the minimum that you purchase.

3.) What are burglary ratings?These are ratings based on the use of “regular” methods of someone working with a torch, drill, saws, pry bars, etc. in order to gain entry into the safe.

As you figure out the type of safe you need, based on the above information and narrow it down to what is best for you. There is one last thing to consider; whether to buy a safe or use a bank safe deposit box.

This is a lot like sorting out the benefits of rent or own. When you use a safe deposit box, you are renting it. You pay a monthly charge for the length of time that you have it. You also only have access to the box during regular bank hours. Whereas when you purchase a safe, you are paying out one (often times large) payment; but you have access to your valuables whenever you want.

If you are going to purchase a safe, we highly recommend AMSEC. They have a great product and are a leader in their industry. Unlike a lot of safe companies, they have always been  a safe company. Many other companies started out making other things. They have a great product warranty and their staff is friendly and helpful. (more…)

What?!? If you haven’t already read our FAQ or aren’t familiar with this term, as a lot of people aren’t, let me introduce you to a little thing called a re-key. Re-keying a lock is pretty much what it sounds like; but let me break it down into even simpler terms. It means to take an existing lock and make the key that works, no longer work by reconfiguration the pins so a new key will work. (Ripping  out the insides and replacing them with newer, faster, stronger, better than before… okay maybe not quite… but you get the idea now.)

Why, oh why, would anyone want to do this? I mean, why not just go out and buy new locks? Replacement hardware is the solution? There are a couple of reasons why you don’t need to go out and buy new hardware. First, its a more expensive choice. Second, if you buy a lock that costs less than it does to re-key your locks, then you are probably buying cheap locks that will fail relatively quickly. Also most locksmith can’t and/or won’t re-key a cheap lock. They aren’t made to spec; because they aren’t meant to be re-keyed.

Most locksmiths charge between $10-$20 to re-key a lock (depending on where you are located) if you bring the lock into them. If a locksmith comes out to you, then you will be charged a service call as well as a re-key charge which may be a little higher than if you brought the locks in. (Some locksmith also charge a labor rate on top of that as well. We don’t.) Note: When calling any locksmith, ask if they charge a flat rate or if there is going to be a labor rate as well. Find out what the service call is and the re-key charge per cylinder. Some locks have two cylinders [such as double sided deadbolts] and you will be charged accordingly.)

The decision to re-key or replace is really a matter of how the lock is holding up. Some locks can last a lifetime, only needing a squirt of WD-40 from time to time. Others, especially cheaper  locks will fail faster. Some locksmiths will come out and do free estimates and can help you to know the difference.

You never know when you might need to re-key your home. So here are a few good practices to keep in mind:

1. When you purchase a new home. Why? Whether your home is a manufactured home or it has been built to your specifications, you don’t know who may have a key to your home. Even if the contractor gave you all the keys; Did the sub-contractors turn them all in? Did they make extra copies to make it easier so they could paint the walls? put in the flooring? Just because your home is new, doesn’t mean that for peace of mind you shouldn’t have your locks re-keyed. Note: This is not saying contractors are bad and they didn’t indeed give you all the keys. Locks keep honest people honest. Its just a good practice.
2. When you move into a rental; have the landlord re-key the locks prior to your moving in or ask permission to have the locks re-keyed as soon as you move in. You don’t know how many people the previous tenants may have given keys to.
3. When you purchase  a preowned home. How many keys did the realtor’s have out there? How many friends, neighbors and/or family members did the previous owners give keys to? Peace of mind and personal safety is worth the cost of re-keying your locks. I have had customers tell me that they knew the previous owner and they were sure that they had all the keys. They are probably correct in their assumption, but did they ask  the previous owners how many keys they had lost over the years?
4. If you purchase ‘keyed alike’ locks from a big box store: You go to a box store and buy “keyed alike” locks; the packaging will often say’match this number’ to another box to purchase another keyed alike lock. The problem? Well, everyone else doing the same thing. If you go and find twenty-two (22) locks keyed alike and need only two (2) who is buying the other twenty (20)? Box stores have keyed alike numbers in bulk, so you aren’t the only one getting them. Now who else has a key to your house? Most locksmith do not charge a re-key fee if you purchase the locks from them. So the benefit of buying locks from a locksmith is that the chances of them re-keying your locks to the same as someone else is reduced by literally tens of thousands.
5. Your keys were lost or stolen. Yes, this is an easy one. If you don’t know who has your keys, then you definitely should re-key your locks.

Another really good practice;  if you use key tags to separate your keys never and I mean never, put your full name, physically address or phone number on your keys. Mark the tags with something you will remember such as  ”summer house”. Use one of those services “if lost drop in the mail”.  Or return to a Post office box. (In this case the address without your name.)

In Conclusion: There are two ways to get your locks re-keyed; have a locksmith come out or take your locks off the door (while someone waits in the house or bring in one lock [assuming you have two locks a knob and a deadbolt] in at a time.) and bring them in. Note: Some locksmith charge the same re-key rate whether you bring them in or not. Others charge slightly less if you bring them in yourself.

The benefit of bringing them in: You save the service call, so it cost less.