When you move into a new home, rekey every exterior door immediately—before you spend the first night there—because you can’t know how many keys exist from prior owners, agents, builders, or contractors. Next, confirm every exterior door has a deadbolt, reinforce strike plates with 3-inch screws, and address sliding doors with secondary locks. If your locks are builder-grade (ANSI Grade 3), plan a near-term upgrade to Grade 1 hardware.
Moving into a new home in Sugar Land is exciting. Before the boxes are unpacked, there’s one category of task that shouldn’t wait: your lock security.
*Local note:* In Fort Bend County, it’s common for both resale transactions and new construction to involve multiple parties with temporary access—rekeying is how you reset that access cleanly.
This is the priority item.
Action: Schedule rekeying for moving day (or the day before).
Walk the exterior and list every outside-to-inside door:
Handle locks (knob/lever) alone are not enough. Every exterior entry should have a functioning deadbolt.
Many new homes ship with ANSI Grade 3 locks. They work—but they’re often the first security upgrade.
A Grade 1 deadbolt is a straightforward improvement that adds real resistance to forced entry.
Replace short screws with 3-inch screws that bite into the wall stud. Consider reinforced strike plates or frame kits on high-risk doors.
Factory slider latches keep the door closed—they don’t resist force. Add a secondary lock:
If any code may have been shared during showings or construction, reset it immediately.
| Item | Why it matters | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Rekey exterior doors | Invalidates all old keys | ☐ |
| Deadbolt on every exterior door | Basic forced-entry resistance | ☐ |
| 3-inch strike plate screws | Strengthens frame resistance | ☐ |
| Sliding door secondary lock | Prevents common slider bypass | ☐ |
| Assess lock grade (upgrade if Grade 3) | Improves overall security | ☐ |
| Reset keypads/smart lock codes | Removes shared access | ☐ |
Richard Sanchez (Texas License #B28596801, verifiable) has helped Sugar Land and Fort Bend County homeowners secure move-ins since 1987. This checklist reflects the most common (and most fixable) security gaps we see right after closing.
Want to knock this out in one visit? Call Lockbusters, Inc. at (281) 561-0060 during business hours (Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–6:00 PM) to schedule a rekey and door security check.
Call (281) 561-0060 — Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Lockbusters, Inc. | Sugar Land, TX | TX License #B28596801 | Licensed & Bonded Since 1987