Rekeying Stafford County homes after a move

Why keys go missing in Stafford

Few places in Virginia see keys change hands as often as Stafford County, VA. Military reassignments, a steady stream of new residents drawn by the I-95 commute, and whole subdivisions going from model home to sold-out in a few years all mean doors whose keys have passed through many hands. Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing locks so they need a new key, and every old copy stops working.

Moving in on orders

Families arriving at Quantico often find a house on a tight timeline, sometimes sight unseen. Rekeying on moving day costs far less than replacing hardware and means the previous occupants, their pet sitter and the last cleaning crew can't let themselves in. If you're renting, get the landlord's OK first.

Landlords renting to military tenants

Owners who rent homes near the base see tenants come and go with each set of orders. Rekeying between every lease is quick, and it lets you tell the next family, truthfully, that no one else has a key. If you own several Stafford rentals, ask about a setup where each property has its own key and you carry one that opens them all. Don't forget the less obvious locks — a shed, a gate to the backyard, a mailbox — which departing tenants had keys to as well.

Keeping the house when you PCS out

Many Stafford homeowners keep their house as a rental when they leave the area. Before the first tenant moves in, rekey so your own spare keys — and the ones you gave friends — no longer work. Leave one key with the property manager and keep one yourself.

One key for front, back and garage

Newer Stafford houses often end up with a different key for the front door, the door from the garage and the back slider lock. If the locks share a keyway, the locksmith can usually rekey them to a single key. Where one lock is a different brand, it can often be swapped for a matching one so the whole house finally runs on one key — handy when you're handing a single copy to a neighbor before a trip.

Need something else in Stafford County?

See everything on the Stafford County locksmith page, or browse Virginia locksmiths.

Want the background first? Read our guide: Lock Rekeying.