Residential Locksmith service: overview
This page is the overview of our residential locksmith work: what it covers, how a call runs, the hardware involved and what sets the price.
Residential Locksmith work covers lockouts, rekeying, new or repaired locks, smart locks, gates and mailboxes for houses, condos, townhomes and accessory units.
We dispatch across greater Los Angeles, Ventura County, Silicon Valley and the Bay Area; see the city pages for local detail. The dispatch line at (888) 492-0666 is answered around the clock.
What residential locksmith work covers
- Lockouts and entry: Home Lockout and Apartment Lockout Service. Non-destructive entry first, after the technician confirms you live there.
- Rekeying and key control: Lock Rekeying and Tenant Move-Out Rekey. Existing locks kept, old keys stop working, doors keyed alike or arranged under a master key.
- New locks and upgrades: Lock Installation, High-Security Locks, Smart Lock Installation, Keyless Entry / Electronic Locks and Door Reinforcement & Strike Plate Upgrade. Deadbolts, keypad and connected locks, restricted keyways, and the strike and frame work that makes a lock worth having.
- Repairs: Lock Repair, Door Knob & Handle Repair, Patio & Sliding Door Lock Repair, Garage Door Lock Repair and Gate Lock Installation & Repair. Sticking cylinders, loose handles, misaligned strikes, sliding-door hooks and gate latches.
- Mailboxes, cabinets and safes: Mailbox Lock Replacement, Cabinet & Drawer Lock Installation and Home Safe Service. Small locks that still need the right cam, key and fit.
Each of these has its own page with what is included, what to have ready and the questions people ask about that job.
How a residential locksmith call runs
- Call (888) 492-0666 and describe the door. Front door deadbolt, side gate, sliding patio door: the brand stamped on the lock face helps the technician bring matching parts.
- The dispatcher confirms the address and gives you an ETA. You hear now if an after-hours charge applies to your address.
- The technician verifies that you are authorized. Photo ID with the address, a lease or closing documents, or confirmation from the owner or property manager for a rental.
- You get a written quote before any work starts. Lockouts are opened non-destructively first; drilling is a last resort and only with your approval.
- The work is done and every key is tested in every door. Rekeyed doors are checked with the new keys and the old ones, so you know the old keys no longer work.
- You receive a receipt listing what was changed. Useful for landlords, HOA records and insurance.
Residential lock types
Most houses and condos use a short list of lock types. Knowing which one is on your door helps the dispatcher send the right parts.
- Deadbolts: the primary lock on an exterior door. ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 is the strongest residential grade; Grade 3 is builder grade.
- Knob and lever sets: the latch you turn; on their own they are not a security lock.
- Mortise locks: common in older houses and some condo buildings. The lock body sits in a pocket in the door, and parts are not interchangeable with cylindrical locks.
- Keypad and smart deadbolts: battery powered, usually with a mechanical key override. Connected models add remote locking, temporary codes and logs.
- High-security cylinders: restricted keyways that cannot be copied at a kiosk, with drill and pick resistance.
- Strike plates and reinforcement: the part most break-ins defeat. Long screws into the framing and a reinforced strike matter as much as the lock.
- Brands commonly found on homes in this area include Schlage, Kwikset, Baldwin, Yale, Emtek, Medeco and Mul-T-Lock.
What drives the price of residential locksmith work
The price follows from a few things you can tell the dispatcher on the phone.
- Lock type and grade: a standard deadbolt versus a mortise lock, a high-security cylinder or a connected smart lock.
- Number of doors and keys: rekeying is quoted per cylinder, with extra keys cut at the same visit.
- Door preparation: a door that needs a new bore, a reinforced strike or a frame repair takes longer than a straight swap.
- Parts supplied: rekeying reuses your hardware; new locks add the cost of the hardware you choose.
- Time of day and distance: ask the dispatcher whether an after-hours charge applies to your address.
Once the dispatcher knows the lock, door or vehicle, they can give you a range on the phone. The technician confirms a written quote before any work starts, and if you decide not to proceed at that point, you say so then.
Payment is by Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and you receive an itemized receipt listing what was done.
Where we work
We dispatch across greater Los Angeles, Ventura County, Silicon Valley and the Bay Area; see the city pages for local detail. For residential locksmith work, the city pages list ZIP codes, nearby communities and any local access notes.
Greater Los Angeles includes the San Fernando Valley, the Westside, the South Bay, the San Gabriel Valley, the Gateway Cities, the Santa Clarita Valley and the Antelope Valley. Ventura County includes the Conejo Valley and the coastal cities. In the Bay Area we cover Silicon Valley, the Peninsula and the southern East Bay.
Reach the dispatcher at (888) 492-0666
For residential locksmith work, tell the dispatcher your address and what is wrong. You get an ETA before anyone is sent, a written quote before any work starts and a receipt when it is done. The line is answered around the clock.
One & Only Locksmith is bonded and insured; a certificate of insurance is available on request.

