Home Rekeying Service
Moving into a new home in Chesapeake — whether it's a craftsman bungalow off Cedar Road in the Great Bridge area, a waterfront property near the Northwest River, or a newer build in Hickory — is one of the most exciting milestones a homeowner can experience. But excitement can quickly give way to unease when you realize you have no idea how many copies of your keys exist from the previous occupant, their family, contractors, or property managers. That uncertainty is exactly why a professional home rekeying service is one of the smartest, most cost-effective security decisions you can make in the days right after you take possession of a new home.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
Chesapeake Locksmiths is a fully mobile, 24/7 locksmith operation serving homeowners, renters, and property managers throughout Chesapeake, VA. Our trained and insured technicians come directly to your door — no shop visit, no towing your lock somewhere, no waiting around. Whether you've just signed a lease in Greenbrier, lost a key set, or need a full lock overhaul after a security concern, we'll assess every entry point, walk you through your options, and confirm an exact up-front price before a single tool comes out of the bag.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Chesapeake, we reach the Chesapeake area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
Why Home Rekeying Service After a Move Is a Security Non-Negotiable
When you receive keys at closing or at lease signing, those keys represent the final set you know about — not the only set that exists. The previous owner may have handed spare keys to a neighbor, a house cleaner, a dog walker, or an adult child who moved out years ago. Contractors who worked on the property during the listing period may still have copies. A property management company may retain a master. None of these people are necessarily malicious, but an unsecured entry point is still an unsecured entry point. Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration of your existing lock cylinder so that all previously cut keys are rendered useless — new keys are cut to a new, unique code and only those keys will operate the lock going forward.
The same logic applies when keys go missing. Losing a key in a busy area like Chesapeake Square Mall or a public park along the Elizabeth River Trail is not a trivial inconvenience — it's a potential security event, because you cannot know where that key ended up or who found it. Rather than replacing an entire lockset (which costs more and disrupts the door hardware you already have), rekeying gives you a fresh security baseline at a fraction of the disruption. Our technicians handle both Schlage and Kwikset pin-tumbler systems, as well as more complex mortise lock configurations, ensuring every entry point on your home is addressed under one visit.
Mortise Lock Rekeying and Door Knob Lock Service: What We Actually Do on the Job
Not all residential locks are created equal, and a skilled technician treats them accordingly. A standard door knob lock on an interior bedroom or bathroom is mechanically simple — the cylinder can be removed, re-pinned, and reinstalled in minutes. A mortise lock, by contrast, is a more substantial piece of hardware recessed into the door body itself, common in older Chesapeake homes, historic properties, and premium new construction. The mortise lock cylinder must be carefully extracted from the mortise pocket, re-pinned to the new key code, tested for smooth operation, and reseated without damaging the surrounding door material or the decorative trim plate. Our technicians are experienced with both antique mortise lock formats and modern high-security mortise cylinders, and we carry re-pinning kits for a wide range of keyways so we can complete most jobs on the spot without ordering parts.
During a full home rekeying visit, we audit every lockable entry point: front door, back door, side door, garage entry door, sliding door auxiliary locks, and any outbuilding or detached garage that uses a keyed lock. We note the brand, keyway, and condition of each cylinder, then re-pin them all to a single matching key code where the hardware allows — so you carry one key for the whole property instead of a jangling ring of mismatched keys. If any lock is too worn, damaged, or incompatible for rekeying, we'll tell you directly and explain your replacement options before we proceed. Need to call us right now? Reach our team any time at 757-796-8327 — we answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Emergency Locksmith Response and How to Verify You're Hiring a Legitimate Professional
Chesapeake is a large, spread-out city — the second-largest by land area in Virginia — which means response times from a non-local or non-mobile locksmith can stretch considerably. Our technicians are dispatched from within the Chesapeake area, which means whether you're in South Norfolk, Deep Creek, or Western Branch, you're not waiting on someone driving in from a distant city. When a security situation is urgent — a break-in attempt, a discovered unlocked entry point, or a tenant who walked off with keys — our emergency locksmith response is designed to get a qualified technician to your door as quickly as road conditions allow, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A question we hear often is: how do I know if a locksmith is legit? It's a fair and important question, especially because the locksmith industry has seen a rise in misleading listings and bait-and-switch pricing. Here's what to look for with any locksmith you call: they should be able to confirm a specific, itemized price before beginning work; they should arrive in a marked vehicle or with clear company identification; they should ask for proof of residency or ownership before working on a home lock; and they should never pressure you into unnecessary hardware replacements. At Chesapeake Locksmiths, we verify ownership as standard practice on every residential call — it protects you as much as it protects us — and we provide a firm, up-front quote that doesn't change once work begins. Our technicians are trained and insured, and we operate exclusively in the Chesapeake and surrounding Hampton Roads market.
What Determines the Price of a Home Rekeying Service Visit
We are frequently asked about cost, and we believe in full transparency — which is why we never quote a price until we've assessed the actual job. Several factors shape the final figure: the number and type of locks on the property (a home with four standard door knob locks is a different scope than one with two mortise lock cylinders and a deadbolt array); the time of day, since evening, overnight, and holiday calls involve different logistics than a standard daytime appointment; travel distance within the Chesapeake service area; and whether any parts — replacement cylinders, new pins, or compatible keyway inserts — are needed that weren't anticipated in the initial call. We confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins, and that price is the price you pay. No surprises on the invoice, no add-ons after the job is done.
The same pricing transparency applies to our commercial locksmith work. Property managers overseeing multi-unit rentals in Chesapeake frequently call us between tenants for rekeying services, and the per-unit scope, master key requirements, and lock type all factor into an accurate quote. Whether it's a single-family residence or a small apartment block, the consultation is the same: we look at what's there, tell you what it will cost, and only proceed when you've agreed to move forward.
Frequently asked questions
What is a locksmith call out fee and will I be charged one by Chesapeake Locksmiths?
A call out fee — sometimes called a service call fee or dispatch fee — is a charge some locksmiths apply simply for traveling to your location, separate from the cost of the work itself. Whether or not it applies, and how it's calculated, varies by company. At Chesapeake Locksmiths, we factor travel logistics into a single, transparent up-front quote rather than surprising you with itemized trip fees after the fact. When you call 757-796-8327, our team will gather the details of your job and location, then confirm the total price before we dispatch. You know what you're agreeing to before anyone is sent to your door.
How do I get into my house if I'm locked out?
The safest first steps are always the simplest ones: check every door and window to see if another entry point is accessible, contact a trusted neighbor who may hold a spare key, or reach out to your landlord or property manager if you rent. If none of those options resolve the situation, call a professional locksmith rather than attempting to force a lock or window yourself — improvised forced entry almost always causes damage that costs more to repair than a professional lockout service would have. Our trained technicians use non-destructive techniques wherever possible, meaning we work to open the lock without damaging the hardware or the door frame. We're available 24/7 at 757-796-8327, so you're never left waiting until morning.
How much does it cost if you get locked out of your house?
The cost of a residential lockout service depends on several factors: the type of lock on the door (a standard door knob lock is different from a high-security mortise lock), the time of day (overnight and weekend calls involve different logistics), your location within the Chesapeake service area, and whether any parts or special tools are required. What we can promise is that you'll receive a clear, firm price before we begin — no estimates that balloon after the job. Call us at 757-796-8327 and describe your situation; we'll give you an accurate quote on the call.
How do I know if a locksmith is legit before letting them work on my home?
Several signals point to a trustworthy locksmith operation. They should confirm a firm price before starting — not a vague range that changes once they're on-site. They should arrive in identifiable company attire or a marked vehicle and be willing to show documentation. They should ask for proof that you own or rent the property before working on any lock, which is a sign of professional ethics, not bureaucracy. They should never pressure you into replacing hardware that can be rekeyed or repaired. And they should be reachable at a consistent, verifiable local number — ours is 757-796-8327, and a real person answers it around the clock, every day of the year.
What are some reputable locksmiths in Chesapeake, Virginia that handle residential rekeying?
Chesapeake Locksmiths is a fully mobile, trained and insured locksmith team operating throughout Chesapeake, VA, including neighborhoods like Great Bridge, Greenbrier, Deep Creek, Hickory, and Western Branch. We specialize in residential rekeying after moves, lost keys, and security upgrades — including mortise lock systems, Schlage and Kwikset pin-tumbler locks, and multi-point entry door hardware. Our technicians come to you, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can reach us directly at 757-796-8327 to discuss your situation and receive an up-front quote.
Can you recommend a locksmith in Portsmouth, VA for a rekeying job?
Chesapeake Locksmiths is headquartered in and primarily serves the Chesapeake, VA area, and our mobile technicians regularly work in communities throughout the broader Hampton Roads region. If you're located in Portsmouth or nearby and need a rekeying service — whether for a standard door knob lock, a deadbolt, or a mortise lock system — give us a call at 757-796-8327 and we'll let you know whether your location falls within our current service radius. We'll give you an honest answer and an up-front price if we can help, rather than sending you somewhere that might not serve you well.