Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Fast, Reliable Rekey Locks Across Stanford
Rekeying a lock in Stanford means swapping the internal pins and springs so the old keys stop working, and a single new key operates the lock instead. We arrive with brand-specific pin kits already loaded in the truck, because Stanford homes rarely have one lock brand across every door. Call (409) 405-4485 and you’ll get a written price before we dispatch anyone, plus a live arrival time you can track. Our technicians know the difference between a 1960s faculty rancher, a College Terrace condo, and a graduate housing unit near Escondido Road, and we stock parts accordingly.
Why Preston Locksmith & Security Is Stanford’s Preferred Rekey Locks Company
Rekey jobs in Stanford go sideways in predictable ways. A homeowner calls a locksmith, gets a low quote over the phone, then sees the bill swell once the tech realizes the front door is Schlage and the back door is Kwikset. We put the full price in writing before a tool leaves the bag, so there’s no surprise line item for a brand-specific pin kit. That is the Preston Locksmith & Security difference, and it matters more in Stanford than nearly anywhere else we work.
Founded in 2008, we’re part of the Relay Home Co. family, and this location is independently owned and operated. Every job is covered by The Relay Visibility Guarantee: a written price before work begins, a live trackable arrival time, before-and-after photos, and a written guarantee on every repair. If a rekey isn’t done right, our 365-Day Done Right Promise means we come back and make it right, free. Dispatched from the San Francisco Bay Area office, our Stanford crews arrive in uniform, background-checked, and ready to show ID before they step inside. Kevin Yoon, who leads our team, insists on that. It is not a nice-to-have. It is the standard.
Keyed Alike in Stanford
Keyed alike is a rekey job where multiple locks, often different brands, are set to operate from one single key. In Stanford, we see this constantly: a home near Palm Drive with a Schlage deadbolt on the front door, a Kwikset knob on the back, and a Baldwin on the garage side door, all with three different keys on the ring. We re-pin each cylinder to match one new key. No new hardware. No drilling. Just one key for every exterior door.
When Stanford Homes Need It
A tenant moves out of a rental off Campus Drive and the landlord wants a fresh key without replacing three different lock sets. A new homeowner in Professorville just closed and does not know who still has copies of the old keys. Or a homeowner lost a key and does not want to gamble on who might find it. Keyed alike solves all of that in a single visit. The typical Stanford job runs $95 to $160 for the service call and standard rekey labor, plus $15 to $25 per cylinder.
What We Check Before Quoting
Before we touch a single pin, we check cylinder condition, keyway type, and whether the existing hardware takes standard pins or high-security ones. That is why our quoted price is the invoice price. A lock with heavy wear may need a new cylinder, and we will show you photos before recommending it, along with the exact dollar difference.
Rekey Deadbolt in Stanford
Rekey deadbolt work in Stanford means re-pinning the bolt cylinder so the old key no longer turns it, while the deadbolt hardware itself stays in the door. It is the fastest way to secure a home after a roommate leaves, a cleaner is let go, or a set of house keys disappears somewhere between the Dish and downtown Palo Alto. The hinge side, strike plate, and bolt remain untouched. Only the cylinder internals change.
Single-Cylinder vs. Double-Cylinder Deadbolts
Most Stanford homes use single-cylinder deadbolts: key on the outside, thumb turn on the inside. Some older homes, particularly around Frenchman’s Road, still have double-cylinder deadbolts that need a key on both sides. Rekeying either type is straightforward, though double-cylinder models add roughly $10 to $15 per cylinder because the tailpiece and internal cam alignment take extra care.
High-Security Deadbolt Rekeying
If your deadbolt is a Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, or Abloy, we can rekey it provided you have the original security card or key code. Without that card, no locksmith can legally or physically cut new keys for those systems. In Stanford, we see a fair number of these high-security cylinders on faculty homes and campus-adjacent properties. Expect $25 to $40 per cylinder for high-security rekey work, depending on the system.
Trusted Brands We Service in Stanford
Our techs are trained on Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, and the higher-end stuff too: Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Baldwin, Sargent, and Abloy. That matters in Stanford because one house might have a Kwikset knob on the garage, a Schlage deadbolt on the front, and a Medeco on the side gate. We carry standard pin kits for everyday hardware and key-cutting capability for restricted keyways where authorized. Local parts mean no waiting on a distributor in San Jose. Most Stanford rekey jobs finish in one visit, with the new keys cut, tested, and in your hand before we leave.
Common Rekey Locks Problems We See in Stanford Homes
- Mixed lock brands on one property. A front door Schlage and a back door Kwikset require separate pin kits. Technicians without both onboard will either drill the lock or invent a fee. We carry both, always.
- Teaser pricing followed by surprise fees. A lowball quote over the phone that balloons once the tech sees the lock brand. Our price is written before dispatch, and it is the price on the invoice.
- Older mortise locks on faculty homes. Some Pre-World War II houses still have original mortise locks that require rekeying, not replacement. A tech who defaults to drilling destroys a cylinder that costs hundreds to replace. We rekey mortise cylinders non-destructively whenever the lock is serviceable.
- Unverified technicians at the door. Homeowners in Stanford’s graduate housing and rental areas often do not check ID. Our techs arrive in uniform, with a background check on file, and will show identification before entering. Ask anyone else to do the same.
Pricing for Rekey Locks in Stanford, CA
A standard rekey in Stanford runs $95 to $160 for the service call and first cylinder, with each additional cylinder at $15 to $25. Deadbolt rekeying falls in the same per-cylinder range, with high-security systems like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock at $25 to $40 per cylinder. Keyed alike jobs, where multiple cylinders are matched to one key, add the same per-cylinder rate on top of the standard call fee. What affects the total: the number of locks, the keyway type, and whether any cylinder is too worn to rekey safely. We quote the full price on the phone before anyone is dispatched, and it is the exact price on your invoice. Call (409) 405-4485 for a free, no-obligation estimate.
We Also Serve Cities Near Stanford
Beyond Stanford, our technicians work regularly in Stanford and the towns around it. You’ll find us in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, and Los Altos, handling the same written-price, photo-verified rekey work. If you’re on the border of any of those cities, call and we’ll tell you straight whether we’re the right crew for the address.
Serving Stanford, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Stanford area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Rekey Locks in Stanford
Yes. Most standard Schlage, Kwikset, and Yale cylinders can be rekeyed in place. We remove only the cylinder plug after taking the lock apart briefly, swap the pins, and reassemble. The lock stays in the door. If the cylinder is seized or corroded, removal may be necessary, and we will show you exactly why before proceeding.
Our technician arrives in a marked vehicle and uniform, with a photo ID and background-check documentation on file. We show identification before entering your home. You will also already have a written price from the phone call, a live arrival time from our dispatch system, and a text with your tech’s name and photo before arrival. If someone shows up without any of that, tell them to wait while you call us.
No markups for keying multiple locks alike. You pay the service call plus the per-cylinder rate for each lock, whether it is two locks or five. The per-cylinder price is the same for the first and the fifth cylinder. Call (409) 405-4485 and we’ll give you the exact total before dispatch.
Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, Baldwin, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Sargent, and Abloy. Everyday residential hardware is no problem. For high-security restricted keyways, we need the original security card or key code. Without it, no legitimate locksmith can help you, and we’ll tell you that on the phone rather than waste a trip.
Forty-five minutes to an hour for two or three standard locks. Adding deadbolts or high-security cylinders may push it to 90 minutes. The written price you get on the phone is the price you pay, no matter how long the job takes. For an exact time and quote, call (409) 405-4485.
Call Preston Locksmith & Security for Rekey Locks in Stanford
We were called to a home on Mayfield Avenue where a new tenant wanted all exterior locks rekeyed after move-in. Our tech found a Schlage deadbolt on the front door and a Kwikset keypad entry on the back, both with different keys. Using pin and tumbler kits for each brand, we rekeyed both cylinders to a single new key and verified smooth operation without drilling or replacing any hardware.
That’s the kind of job we do every week in Stanford. The price is in writing before we dispatch, the tech is background-checked and uniformed, and every repair carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If it isn’t done right, we return and fix it, free. Call (409) 405-4485 for a free estimate on your rekey today.
Written by Kevin Yoon, Owner at Preston Locksmith & Security, serving Stanford since 2008.