You've just closed on your dream home in Baldwin Park or Winter Park. The keys are in your hand, and you're ready to start this new chapter. But here's something most new homeowners don't think about: you have no idea how many copies of your keys are floating around Central Florida.
The previous owners, their relatives, contractors, real estate agents, and maybe even a neighbor or two might still have access to your new sanctuary. Before you move in your valuables or spend your first night there, call A Rudi Cuellar Lock Co. at (407) 423-2994 to secure your property properly.
Rekeying your locks means changing the internal pins so old keys no longer work. It costs $75-$150 per lock, takes about 15-30 minutes per door, and gives you complete control over who can enter your home. We rekey dozens of homes across Orlando every month, and the stories we hear from homeowners who waited too long are eye-opening.
A family in Lake Nona discovered someone had entered their home while they were at work, three weeks after moving in. Nothing was stolen, but drawers were opened and items moved around. Turns out the previous owner's adult son still had a key and was checking on "his childhood home." Another homeowner in Dr. Phillips had an unauthorized cleaning crew show up at 7 a.m. because the old homeowner forgot to cancel the service and return the keys.
These situations are avoidable. Rekeying eliminates any uncertainty about who has access to your home.
Florida law doesn't require sellers to disclose how many key copies exist. Real estate agents often use lockboxes during showings, and those access codes are shared with multiple agents across Central Florida. Contractors who worked on repairs before the sale might've kept keys "just in case."
Here's what you're risking by not rekeying immediately:
We've handled emergency safe opening calls where new homeowners discovered valuables missing because they didn't change the combination on an existing safe. The same principle applies to your door locks.
While you're having a locksmith Orlando Florida professional out to rekey your locks, consider upgrading to modern deadbolts or smart locks. Standard builder-grade locks on most Central Florida homes can be picked in under two minutes by someone with basic skills.
High-security deadbolts ($150-$300 per door installed) feature pick-resistant cylinders and reinforced strike plates. They're especially useful if you're in a neighborhood like College Park or Thornton Park where homes are closer together and foot traffic is higher.
Smart locks ($200-$400 installed) let you control access from your phone, create temporary codes for guests or service providers, and receive alerts when someone unlocks your door. They're popular with Orlando homeowners who travel frequently or rent out rooms on Airbnb.
Smart locks also work well with access control systems if you're planning to add security cameras or a full home automation setup down the road.
Orlando's climate and housing patterns create specific security concerns that a local locksmith Orlando Florida expert understands better than national chains.
Hurricane season (June through November) means you need locks that can withstand high winds and potential flying debris. We recommend upgrading to Grade 1 deadbolts on all exterior doors if you're in an older home built before 2002.
Vacation home burglaries spike during summer when families travel. Thieves know many Orlando residents leave for weeks at a time. Smart locks that show "last accessed" times help you monitor your property remotely.
HOA restrictions in planned communities like Celebration or Avalon Park often limit what you can change on your home's exterior. We'll help you find security upgrades that meet your association's architectural guidelines while keeping your family safe.
Not every locksmith in Orlando has the same level of expertise or reliability. When you're trusting someone with your home's security, you want a team that's been serving Central Florida families for decades.
A Rudi Cuellar Lock Co. has been Orlando's trusted locksmith since 1979. We're a second-generation, family-owned company that treats every home like it's our own. Our technicians are licensed, bonded, and background-checked.
Here's what sets us apart:
Don't trust your family's safety to the cheapest option you find online. Fly-by-night locksmiths who pop up after midnight emergencies often charge 3-4 times normal rates and may not be properly licensed.
Print this checklist and complete it within 48 hours of taking possession of your new Orlando home:
Immediate priorities (Day 1):
First week tasks:
First month upgrades:
Ongoing maintenance:
Your new Orlando home represents years of hard work and dreams coming true. Don't let a simple oversight like unchanged locks put everything at risk.
Contact A Rudi Cuellar Lock Co. at (407) 423-2994 today to schedule your lock rekeying service. We'll come to your home at a time that works for your moving schedule, rekey your locks in under an hour, and provide you with new keys that only you and your family possess.
We serve all of Central Florida, including Winter Park, Baldwin Park, Dr. Phillips, College Park, Lake Nona, Celebration, and surrounding areas. Our service vans are stocked with the tools and hardware needed to handle any lock situation on the spot.
Make your first call as a new homeowner, the one that keeps your family safe. Call us at (407) 423-2994 now.
