Home security
Moving house? A practical locks and keys checklist
Safe Choice Locksmiths · Brisbane Northside
Make a list of every lock and access device, check how each door operates and consider rekeying when you cannot account for previous key copies. Arrange the work with the person authorised to approve it.
List more than just the front door
Include the back door, side entrance, security screens, garage access door and any keyed gates or sheds. Note which keys operate each lock and any missing keys. Keep garage remotes, access cards and smart-lock credentials on the list too; a mechanical rekey does not reset those devices.
Check condition while you can access both sides
Look for loose handles, stiff keys and latches that do not engage normally. Check doors while you have safe access and avoid locking yourself outside to test them. Tell the locksmith about alignment issues as well as the lock itself.
Photographs of the hardware and door edges can help prepare a planned job. Take them without dismantling locks or exposing private access codes.
Decide what needs a new key
Receiving a set of keys does not tell you how many copies have been made. If key control is uncertain, ask which locks can be rekeyed and which may need replacement. Discuss whether compatible doors can share a key.
For rented, jointly managed or shared-access premises, arrange approval with the relevant owner or manager before booking alterations. Tell the locksmith about common entrances or master-key arrangements so that compatibility can be checked.
Finish with a clear handover
- Test the agreed doors with the new keys before the visit ends.
- Confirm which existing keys still work elsewhere.
- Label spares discreetly without writing the full property address on them.
- Give spares only to people you intend to have access.
- Follow the manufacturer’s process to review users and credentials on electronic access devices.
This guide covers common situations. The right repair or entry method depends on the actual door and lock.