The call we get most often during moving season goes something like this: someone closed escrow on a house off Woodman Avenue, the previous owner handed over one key, that key got tossed in a box somewhere between the old place and the new driveway, and now nobody can get inside. No spare. No locksmith on file. Sun going down. Movers charging by the hour.
If that’s you right now, here’s the straight pricing talk on — what you’ll actually pay, what makes that number move up or down, and what the visit looks like from start to finish.
The Honest Price Range for All Keys Lost in Arleta
For a standard residential job in Arleta — single-family home, common Kwikset or Schlage hardware, one or two exterior doors — most calls land between $165 and $295. That covers the trip, the lock work, and a fresh set of working keys.
If you’ve got a higher-security setup (think Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, or a smart deadbolt that needs reset), the range moves up to roughly $285–$450. For automotive all keys lost — which we handle separately and you can read about on the page — pricing depends heavily on the year, make, and chip type, and it’s quoted before any work starts.
What Actually Moves the Price
- Number of locks. Most Arleta homes between Osborne and Terra Bella have a front deadbolt and a knob lock, plus a back door. Each cylinder that needs rekeying or replacing adds to the ticket.
- Lock condition. Older locks on properties near the original 1950s tract homes around Beachy Avenue sometimes need replacement rather than rekey — the pins are worn past spec.
- Time of day. Calls after 9 PM or on Sundays carry a modest after-hours adjustment. We’ll tell you the number before we roll, not after.
- Key type. Plain brass keys are cheaper than transponder or laser-cut keys. Smart locks with lost master codes take longer to reset.
- Access situation. A door that’s been deadbolted from the inside (rare, but it happens during moves when someone shuts the back slider) changes the approach.
The Step-by-Step: What Happens From Your Call to Working Keys
1. The Phone Quote (5 minutes)
You call, tell us the address — say, somewhere off Canterbury Avenue near Pacoima Wash — and describe what’s on your doors. We give you a price range right there. No “we’ll figure it out when we arrive.”
2. Dispatch and Arrival (20–40 minutes typical for Arleta)
Our tech is usually rolling within a few minutes. From most points in the city, we’re at your door inside 30 minutes. If we’re handling a job over by Hansen Dam, it might run closer to 40.
3. Verification
This is the part people don’t expect. Before we touch a lock, we ask for proof you belong there — a driver’s license matching the address, a closing document, a signed lease, a utility bill. If you just moved in and your ID hasn’t been updated, the escrow paperwork or moving truck rental in your name works. This protects you as much as it protects us.
4. The Actual Work
For most homes, we pick the lock open (no damage), pull the cylinder, rekey it to a brand-new key pattern, and reinstall. If the lock is too worn or compromised, we’ll show you the part and explain why replacement makes more sense. Two or three exterior locks typically takes 30–60 minutes once we’re inside.
5. Keys in Hand and Walkthrough
You get a working set — usually two or three keys cut on the spot — and we test every lock with you watching. Payment happens after the work, not before.
Rekey vs. Replace vs. Full Lock Upgrade
When you’re an all keys lost Arleta customer who just moved in, you’ve got three real choices:
Rekey existing locks — cheapest path, works great if your hardware is decent. The old keys (wherever they are) stop working. Best for most moves.
Replace with new standard locks — middle option. Makes sense if your current locks are bargain-bin builder-grade or visibly worn.
Upgrade to smart or high-security — most expensive upfront, but you stop dealing with physical keys entirely. Popular with families who’ve been burned by lost keys before.
For a fresh move where you just need control of who can get in, rekey is almost always the right answer. We’ll tell you honestly if your locks aren’t worth keeping.
When to Call Us vs. Wait It Out
If you’re locked out right now and need in tonight, call. If you got in through a window and just want to handle it tomorrow morning, that’s fine too — and often a few dollars cheaper since it’s a scheduled daytime visit instead of emergency dispatch. We cover the full range of Arleta locksmith services either way.
If you want a quick quote for your specific address and lock setup, give us a ring at (818) 398-9391. We’ll talk through what you’ve got, give you a real number, and let you decide from there.
— Locksmith HQ Team
