Hollis Locksmiths Service Team
Local locksmith team
Apr 23, 2026 10 min read
Congratulations on your new Beverly Hills home — whether you've just closed on an estate off Sunset Boulevard, settled into a condo near Rodeo Drive, or moved into a classic Spanish Colonial on one of the flats. The champagne can wait just a little longer, because there's one move that matters more than hanging artwork or choosing paint colors: securing every door before you unpack a single box. The question most new homeowners ask right away is whether to rekey the locks they already have or do a full lock change — and the honest answer is that it depends on a handful of factors that we'll walk you through right here.
At Hollis Locksmiths, we work with Beverly Hills homeowners and estate managers every week, and this is genuinely one of the most practical conversations we have. This guide will help you understand the difference between rekeying and replacing, how to change your door lock when a full swap is the right call, when a mortise lock upgrade belongs on your priority list, and how to make the smartest decision for your specific property — all before a single unwanted key can be used against you.
## Rekeying vs. How to Change Your Lock: What's Actually Different?
Rekeying means a skilled locksmith changes the internal pin configuration of your existing lock cylinder so that your old keys no longer work — only the new ones do. No new hardware is installed. The lock body, the deadbolt, the strike plate all stay exactly where they are. The result is a fresh key set that no previous owner, contractor, real estate agent, or cleaning crew can use. For most Beverly Hills move-ins where the existing hardware is high quality and in solid mechanical condition, rekeying is the smarter, faster choice. A professional can typically rekey an entire home's worth of cylinders in a single visit, and you leave with one unified key that opens every door.
A full lock change — learning how to change your door lock properly and having it done right — means removing the existing hardware entirely and installing new locksets. This is the better path when the current locks are worn, outdated, damaged, or simply not up to the security standard your new property deserves. It's also the right call when you're upgrading from a basic door knob lock to a more robust system, when the door prep doesn't match modern hardware dimensions, or when you want to take the opportunity to standardize on a high-security line like Schlage or Kwikset across the whole estate. Either way, both services start with an honest assessment of what's already on your doors — not a sales pitch.
## Mortise Lock Upgrades: When Beverly Hills Properties Call for More
Many of the older estates and luxury properties throughout Beverly Hills — particularly along Loma Vista Drive, in the Trousdale Estates, and in the Benedict Canyon area — were built with mortise locks, and for good reason. A mortise lock is installed directly into a carved-out pocket inside the door itself, making it significantly more resistant to kick-in and forced entry than surface-mounted cylindrical locks. If your new home already has mortise lock hardware, rekeying those cylinders is usually straightforward. If it doesn't, and you're looking at solid wood or steel doors that can accept the modification, a mortise lock installation may be one of the best security investments you make in your first month of ownership.
Our experienced team handles mortise lock work on everything from single-family homes to multi-unit luxury buildings. The process involves precise door measurements, proper cylinder selection, and careful installation so the lock sits flush and operates smoothly for years. If you're unsure whether your doors are mortise-compatible, a quick on-site evaluation will tell you everything you need to know. We're happy to walk you through the options — and if you'd rather get that conversation started right now, call (424) 955-3098. We answer 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
## We Get It — Life Happens, and New Homes Come with Surprises
A few things we've learned from experience: sellers don't always remember every copy of a key that was made. Property managers hand out duplicates to vendors, and those copies rarely come back. Contractors keep keys longer than they should. Previous tenants share spares with friends. We're not saying anything alarming — we're saying that the key history of any home you didn't build yourself is genuinely unknown, and that's a completely normal situation. Fun fact: people lose their keys more than you think — the average person misplaces their keys multiple times per year, and in households with regular service staff or guests, the number of unaccounted-for copies can climb quickly.
This is exactly why rekeying or a full lock change isn't a paranoid step — it's just a routine part of responsible homeownership. Think of it the way you'd think about changing passwords on accounts that were shared during an office transition. You're not accusing anyone of anything. You're simply drawing a clean line between the property's past and your family's future. Real talk: keeping it local means we've seen this play out in Beverly Hills specifically, where high-profile properties attract more foot traffic during the sale process than a typical suburban home. More showings, more agents, more vendors — all of them with potential key access.
## It's Not Just About Locks — It's About Peace of Mind from Day One
Security hardware is ultimately about how you feel walking through your front door every evening. A door knob lock that wiggles, a deadbolt that sticks, or a lock cylinder that's been rekeyed so many times it's starting to wear — these things create low-level anxiety that you probably don't even notice until it's gone. Part of what we do as a 24/7 mobile locksmith Beverly Hills team is make sure that every lock on your property operates the way it's supposed to: smoothly, reliably, and with hardware that actually matches the security demands of the space.
When a full lock change is the recommendation, we'll explain exactly why — showing you the wear pattern, explaining the mechanical limitation, or demonstrating why the existing hardware doesn't meet modern security standards. The factors that go into the final price of any job include the type and brand of lock you're choosing, the number of doors being serviced, any specialized hardware like mortise lock sets, the time of day the work is being done, and the travel distance to your property. We confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins, so there are no surprises at the end of a job. It's not just about locks — it's about a relationship with a local team you can call at 2 a.m. if something goes sideways.
## Our Full Services: Everything Hollis Locksmiths Handles for Beverly Hills Homeowners and Beyond
We offer a comprehensive range of residential, automotive, and commercial locksmith services across the Beverly Hills area and surrounding communities. Here is a specific look at what our qualified team provides: residential rekeying for all lock types; mortise lock installation and repair; deadbolt installation and upgrade; door knob lock replacement; high-security lock installation (Schlage, Kwikset, and comparable brands); master key system design and setup; smart lock and keypad installation; lock repair for stiff, sticking, or damaged cylinders; door frame and strike plate reinforcement; sliding door lock installation; window lock installation; garage door lock service; safe opening and combination changes; home lockout response; car lockout response; automotive key cutting and programming; transponder key and key fob replacement; ignition lock cylinder repair and replacement; emergency locksmith response for residential lockouts; emergency locksmith response for commercial lockouts; commercial locksmith door hardware installation; commercial mortise lock service for office and retail spaces; access control system consultation and installation; tenant re-key service for landlords and property managers; post-break-in lock assessment and replacement; and gate lock and intercom lock service for estates and gated properties.
Whether you're a new homeowner figuring out how to change your door lock setup for the first time, a property manager handling a tenant turnover, or a business owner needing commercial locksmith support on a storefront, our mobile team comes to you — fully equipped, no second trip needed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a local locksmith charge for rekeying or a lock change?+
There's no single fixed price because several factors shape the final quote: the type of lock involved (a standard deadbolt, a door knob lock, or a more complex mortise lock each require different labor and parts), how many doors or cylinders are being serviced, whether specialty hardware needs to be ordered or is available on the truck, the time of day (late-night and holiday calls are priced differently than standard business hours), and the travel distance to your Beverly Hills property. What we always do is confirm an exact up-front price before any work starts — no estimates that balloon mid-job, and no hidden fees at the end.
How much does an emergency locksmith cost near me, and will my insurance cover it?+
How much an emergency locksmith costs near you depends on the same factors as any locksmith job — lock type, scope of work, time of day, and location — with after-hours availability factored in. On the insurance question: some homeowner's insurance policies include coverage for lock changes following a break-in or a lost key event, and some premium policies cover lockouts. The best step is to call your insurance provider directly and ask whether your specific policy includes locksmith reimbursement and what documentation they require. We can provide a detailed receipt and job summary that most insurers accept for claims — just let us know when you call.
What should I ask a locksmith before hiring them, and how long does it usually take for a locksmith to come?+
Good questions to ask any locksmith before hiring include: Are you insured? Will you give me a firm price before you start? Do you carry the parts needed for my lock type on your vehicle? Can you show identification when you arrive? At Hollis Locksmiths, the answers are yes across the board — we are insured, we quote up front, our mobile units are stocked for a wide range of residential, commercial, and automotive jobs, and our technicians carry professional identification. As for arrival time, our Beverly Hills response times vary by current demand, time of day, and exact location, but as a 24/7 mobile service we prioritize getting to you as quickly as road and traffic conditions allow. Call (424) 955-3098 and we'll give you a realistic arrival window the moment you reach us.
Should I rekey or fully change my locks when I move into a new Beverly Hills home?+
Rekeying is usually the right first move if the existing locks are in good mechanical shape — it's faster, eliminates all previous key access, and covers most security concerns for a standard move-in. A full lock change makes more sense when the current hardware is worn or damaged, when you want to upgrade to a higher security standard (such as adding a mortise lock or a high-security deadbolt), when you're combining multiple properties onto one master key system, or when the style and finish of the existing locks simply don't match the property. The most practical step is a quick on-site evaluation — a trained locksmith can assess every door in the home and give you a clear recommendation in a single visit. Call us at (424) 955-3098 any time, day or night, and we'll get that scheduled.
