Residential Locksmith in Savannah

The three things most Savannah homes actually need

Walk through the average house in Midtown or on the Southside and the residential locksmith problem is almost always one of three things: locks that have been keyed by previous owners and are no longer trustworthy, deadbolts that wiggle or barely catch the strike plate, or no real exterior door standard at all. We solve all three with rekeys, hardware swaps, and a written plan when you have multiple doors.

Rekeying is almost always the right starting point after a move. The pins inside your existing cylinders get changed, you get a new set of keys, and the old keys — including any forgotten copies the previous owners handed out — no longer work. As long as the existing hardware is in good condition, this is faster and cheaper than replacing every lock.

When to upgrade hardware instead of rekey

If your deadbolts are loose, sloppy, made of soft brass, or have visibly worn cylinders, replacement makes more sense than rekey. Grade 1 and Grade 2 deadbolts are graded by ANSI for cycle life, strength, and security. Most homeowner-grade hardware from a big-box store is Grade 3 — fine for an interior door, marginal for an exterior door. We can install Grade 1 and Grade 2 hardware without changing the look of your doors.

Smart locks for short-term rentals and busy households

Short-term rental owners across Wilmington Island, downtown carriage houses, and Tybee-adjacent properties have moved to smart locks for one reason: physical key exchange does not scale. Codes can be rotated per guest, removed when a stay ends, and audited if there is a dispute. We install code-based and Bluetooth deadbolts with a real backup keyway so a dead battery never traps anyone outside.

Smart locks are also the right call for families with kids who lose keys or for households where someone needs to be let in occasionally without a spare floating around.

What we do not push

We do not upsell every customer to high-end smart hardware. If a basic Grade 2 Schlage or Kwikset deadbolt is the right answer for your door, that is what we recommend. The most common honest answer to "what should I install on my front door" is something more pedestrian than what most online articles suggest.

Common situations we see in Savannah

• Just bought a house in MidtownStandard rekey of all exterior doors. Often paired with a new front-door deadbolt if the existing one is loose.
• Roommate moved outQuick rekey on the unit door so the old key no longer works.
• Short-term rental on the islandsSmart deadbolt with rotating codes, plus a backup keyway for emergencies.
• Front door deadbolt won't latch fullyOften a strike plate adjustment, sometimes a frame issue, occasionally a worn deadbolt that needs replacement.
• Lost only set of house keysRekey the existing locks so the lost set is no longer a risk, then cut new keys for everyone in the household.
• Want one key for front, back, and garage entry doorWe rekey all three to match a single key. Common request for new homeowners.

What affects the price

Locksmith pricing is rarely a flat fee because no two jobs are the same. A house lockout on Tybee Road at noon is a different job than a high-security rekey for a downtown short-term rental. We'll always quote a price range over the phone before we drive out, and confirm the final price before any work starts.

• Number of doors and locksPer-cylinder rekey pricing scales down per door when several are done in the same visit.
• Hardware gradeStandard Grade 3, mid-range Grade 2, and high-security Grade 1 hardware are all different price points.
• Lock conditionSome old locks are not worth rekeying. We will tell you when replacement makes more sense.
• Smart lock featuresBasic keypad deadbolts vs. networked smart locks vs. fully integrated systems are very different.

What to have ready before you call

A short call goes faster when you have a few details handy. None of this is required — we'll work with whatever you have — but it helps us send the right tools and the right tech.

• Number of doors and lock brandsFront, back, side, garage entry, and any interior doors with locks.
• Whether you want all keys to matchCommon preference. Tell us at the start so we plan the rekey accordingly.
• Any existing keysBring whatever you have. We will leave you with a clean, labeled set.
• A rough idea of the door typeSolid wood, steel, fiberglass, French doors, glass storefront — affects what hardware fits.

Local service area

We service homes throughout Savannah — Downtown, Midtown, Southside, Georgetown, Wilmington Island, Pooler, and the surrounding Chatham County area.

Frequently asked questions