Express Lock Service opens locked doors, and rekeys the locks of homes and business. If you need fast service, then Express is the fastest locksmith in Leawood KS. Sometimes people need the locks rekeyed today and not scheduled next week. And when locked out, who wants to wait at all? I made fast service the intent from the start, to be there for people when other locksmiths are too busy or closed. Please note that Express stays "express" by limiting its services: we're a "specialty" locksmith, it is lockouts and rekeying only. I am an insured professional locksmith serving Leawood KS and all Johnson County.

Established in 2005.

• Car Lockouts
• Home Lockouts
• Rekey Residential Locks
• Rekey Commercial Locks

Please note that Express rekeys locks and does not install them, as we're not a reseller of locks. I'm contrasting "changing" with "rekeying" locks to help people decide whether they want our rekeying service.

Is It Better to Rekey or Change Locks?

Whether you just moved into a new home or have been in the same house for a while, it might be a good time for you to look into changing your locks (that is, replacing them with new ones).

But is rekeying a better option?

One of the first things you should do when you move into a new home is change the locks because you don't know who has a key to your new front door. Getting a new key for your home’s locks might be a good idea if you’ve lived in the same house for a while or if you’ve recently had a roommate move out, too.

When to Change Locks

When you change a lock, you or a locksmith removes the old locking door hardware and replaces it with new hardware. You’ll have all new locks and all new keys, but changing your locks probably isn't necessary.

It's expensive if you select decent quality locks (as you should) that'll last decades instead of years, like Kwikset or Schlage locks. These are about $35 per lock. So if you have 3 doors with both a locking doorknob and deadbolt in them, that's 6 locks and the total purchase cost would be $210. Then you still have the work to do which is usually more than "just using a screwdriver", it usually involves adjusting the strike plates and that's much easier said that done.

Choose this option if the locks are in disrepair. But, again, decent quality locks will last decades so there's no good reason to throw out all that metal.

When to Rekey Locks

When we rekey locks, the pins inside the lock are replaced so that the old key no longer works. You get a new key to replace the old one.

Rekeying your locks makes more sense if 1) the locks are in good shape and 2) you want to save money. The cost at Express is $50 service fee and $20 per lock.

Let's do some more math. Is it less expensive than just going to Home Depot and buying new locks? Not if you're only talking about a few locks. It's $70 to hire a locksmith, but $35 to buy one single lock and install it yourself.

However, if we're talking 6 locks again, then it's $210 to buy new ones and install them yourself, versus $170 total cost to hire the locksmith.

Many people say "Ok!" to hiring the locksmith service when they hear it's $110 to rekey their three doors. Then if they go re-count their locks (after I've explained why to NOT count the doors) and find they have 6 locks, they balk at the bigger price ($170). But the more locks there are, the more cost-effective it is hiring the locksmith. In a case like this, hiring the locksmith is cheaper (and easier and faster!) even if you have excellent handy-person skills.

If you’ve moved into a new home for the first time, rekeying your locks can be an affordable way to guarantee that no one but you and your family has keys to your new home. You never know who may have obtained keys to your home from the previous owner and how many copies of those keys have been made.

Call us if you're locked out or need your locks rekeyed. Express Locks is locally owned and operated fast locksmith in Leawood KS.

My locksmith services are in Leawood KS and all Johnson County.