Contractor Lost a Key to the House: European Cylinder Rekey in Fort Lauderdale
A homeowner in Fort Lauderdale’s Rio Vista neighborhood called me because she wanted all of her locks changed. A contractor who had worked on her house had lost a key, and she didn’t feel comfortable. I rekeyed all six locks instead of replacing them, and the whole job took about an hour and a half.
What the call sounded like
She told me, “Hey, I wanted to schedule an appointment with you guys, I need all of my locks changed.” We set the appointment for 20 minutes later.
What I found when I got there
Once I arrived, she told me that one of the contractors who worked on her house had lost his key to it. She was uncomfortable that someone might have a key to her home.
Why I rekeyed instead of replacing
I told her we could rekey all of the locks instead of replacing them. That way she would save money and wouldn’t have to deal with finding hardware that fits European doors.
In my experience, this situation is common. I explain to the customer that we can rekey the lock to a different key by changing the pins in the cylinder. That gives them peace of mind that no one else has access to their house.
Checking the old key on every lock
There were six locks in total. After I rekeyed each cylinder, I made sure the key she had been using for all of her doors no longer worked in it.
What else I did on the visit
On any visit close to the beach area, I check for corrosion buildup and rust, grease the hinges and oil the lock mechanism, and I did that on this job. I also offer to copy keys on the spot with my service.
What was on the invoice
The invoice was for the rekey. I didn’t charge for the corrosion check, the hinge grease or the oil. That comes with my service when I’m called to change or rekey locks close to the beach. The lock bodies and mechanisms didn’t need to be replaced, and that is where the savings came from. Sometimes the right locks aren’t available from the distributors or suppliers in Fort Lauderdale, so rekeying the locks she already had avoided that problem. As long as the locks are in good shape, I recommend rekeying over full replacement. My pricing is upfront, and you approve it before we start.
Why I carry a European cylinder and keys in my van
I’ve done this kind of job many times, so I carry a European cylinder and keys in my van. I also know how stressful it can be to worry about who has a key to your house, so I want to get the job done as soon as I can and let the customer feel calmer.
How it ended
She was happy with the price and the service. The whole job took an hour and a half, and I left the property knowing the work was done right.
If a lost key has you uncomfortable in your own home, call (954) 371-5674.
