Just Bought an Older Home in St Paul? Why Rekeying Should Be Your First Call

St Paul has some of the oldest, most architecturally rich housing stock in Minnesota — the Victorians along Summit Avenue, the craftsman bungalows through Mac-Groveland and Highland Park, the duplexes in Como Park and the North End that have changed hands a dozen times since they were built. If you just closed on one of these homes, there’s a question almost nobody thinks to ask on moving day: who else still has a key to your front door?

The honest answer is usually: more people than you’d guess. And in a city with this much turnover in older homes, that’s exactly why rekeying is the first call we recommend before you even finish unpacking.

Who actually has a copy of your key right now

Think through everyone who’s had a reason to hold a key to a home over the years: the previous owner, their family members, a past tenant if it was ever rented, a dog walker or house sitter, a contractor who did work on the place, a real estate agent’s lockbox code, even a previous neighbor who watered plants during vacations. On an older St Paul property that’s changed hands multiple times since the 1920s–1960s when a lot of this housing was built, that list can get long fast — and none of those people stop having access just because the sale closed.

Rekey vs. replace: what’s actually different

People often assume they need brand new locks, but for most older St Paul homes, rekeying is the better first move:

• Rekeying keeps your existing hardware — including original mortise locks or vintage hardware that matches a historic home’s character — and simply changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work. It’s faster and less expensive.
• Replacing makes sense when the hardware itself is damaged, doesn’t match between doors, or you want to upgrade to a smart lock. It’s also the right call if a lock is a style that’s hard to source replacement parts for.

A lot of the craftsman-era homes around Mac-Groveland and Highland Park still have their original mortise locks, which are beautiful but need a locksmith who’s actually worked on them — not every big-box hardware store rekey kit is built for that hardware.

What this actually costs in St Paul

Rekeying a standard exterior lock typically runs in the same range outlined on our pricing page, and most single-family homes need 2–3 exterior locks rekeyed to match one new key. Older or specialty mortise hardware can run a bit more due to the extra time involved, but it’s still almost always cheaper than full replacement — especially if you want to keep original hardware intact for a historic home.

Don’t forget these other entry points

Front door isn’t the only thing to think about. On a lot of older St Paul lots we also check:

• Side and back entry doors (common on North End and Midway duplexes)
• Garage service doors and any exterior garage keypad codes
• Basement entrances, especially on homes with a separate lower-level entry
• Any shed or detached structure that came with a key on the original ring

Worth considering while we’re already there

Since a locksmith is already on-site rekeying, it’s a natural moment to also think about a smart lock upgrade on the front door, or simply confirm that every door in the home matches a single working key — a surprising number of older homes end up with two or three different key profiles over the decades as different locks got swapped in piecemeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon after closing should I rekey?

Ideally before you move your first box in, or at the absolute latest, within the first day or two. It’s the one home security step that’s genuinely time-sensitive — every day with the old keys still active is a day someone else could still walk in.

Can you rekey original mortise locks on an older St Paul home?

In most cases, yes. Mortise locks are more involved than a standard modern cylinder, but they can almost always be rekeyed rather than replaced, which preserves the original hardware and character of the home. This is one of the more common requests we get from Crocus Hill and Summit Hill addresses specifically.

Is rekeying covered by homeowners insurance or required by any lender?

Not typically required by a lender, but it’s worth checking your specific homeowners policy. Many St Paul agents recommend it as standard move-in practice regardless, the same way you’d change the garage code or update your address with the post office.

What if I’m renting instead of buying — should I still ask about this?

Yes, and it’s worth a direct conversation with your landlord before move-in. Minnesota law doesn’t automatically require rekeying between tenants, so it’s reasonable to ask whether it’s been done, especially in a building that’s turned over tenants multiple times.

Closing on a home or already moved in and want it handled today? Call (651) 259-1334 — we rekey older St Paul homes across Mac-Groveland, Highland Park, Crocus Hill, Summit Hill, and every neighborhood in between, usually same day.