Why a quick lock check belongs on your packing list
Most people prepare for a trip by packing, arranging transport and pausing deliveries. The house itself gets a glance and a turn of the key. That works until the day the deadbolt was not fully thrown, the sliding door was left unlatched or the garage keypad still has the entry number the previous owner knew. A thoughtful check beforehand reduces the odds of coming home to a problem.
In Broward and Palm Beach counties, holiday travel is common: families head north or abroad, visitors arrive, and the school calendar sets a rhythm that many neighbors share. When several homes on a street stand empty at once, the whole block loses some of its natural watchfulness. A little extra attention at your own door helps.
This guide is written for homeowners and renters who are leaving for days or a few weeks. For months-long absences, see our page on snowbird home lock preparation. Nothing here describes how to get past a lock, and nothing suggests steps that expose you to live electricity or gas. The aim is plain: know your doors, know your keys, know who may enter, and keep a record.
The five-minute walk: every door, slider and window
Start at the front door and work your way around. For each exterior door, lock it and then try the handle from the outside, the way a visitor would. Does the deadbolt throw all the way? Does the door sit snugly in the frame? Is there any play or rattle? A door that rattles may not be seated properly, and a deadbolt that does not extend fully gives less protection than it should.
Move to the sliding doors and patio doors, which are common in this region. Close each one fully, engage the latch and check that the track is clear. If you use a security bar or a pin in the track, put it in place. Test the pool door and any screen enclosure door, and make sure they latch and that any key or tool for them is stored out of sight and out of children's reach.
Finally, walk through the windows. Close them, latch them and check the ones in rooms you rarely visit, including bathrooms and laundry rooms. Remember that a window that is open a crack for ventilation is also a way in. If you rely on shutters, confirm that they close and lock and that the key or handle is where you can find it when you are back.
- Lock each exterior door and tug the handle from outside.
- Check that deadbolts extend fully and the door sits firmly.
- Close and latch sliders, and set bars or pins in the track.
- Latch every window, including small ones in rarely used rooms.
Garage, gates and remotes
The garage is often the largest opening in a house, and the door between the garage and the living space is often the weakest. Before you go, check that the garage door is fully closed and that the opener is working. If you have a keypad on the outside, make sure the entry number is not one that many people know. If a remote is in a car parked outside, remember that it can open the garage as well.
If you plan to leave a vehicle in the driveway or on the street, take the remote with you or store it safely. Do not leave a garage door opener visible inside a car, since a smash-and-grab can give someone access to the whole house. The door from the garage into the home should be locked, with a good deadbolt where possible, and checked for fit and strike plate screws. Our page on garage door and entry door security covers the parts.
For a fence gate or a community gate, check the latch and the lock. A padlock should be closed and the chain or hasp in good condition. Our page on padlocks, chains and gate lock choices has more. If your community has a gate system, ask whether you can add a note for guests or deliveries while you are away.
Spare keys: where they are and who has them
Before a trip, take stock of your spare keys. Where is each one? Who has it? A hidden key outside is a risk, because people who watch a neighborhood know the usual hiding places. If you have one, bring it inside. A trusted neighbor or friend is a better place for a spare than a flowerpot.
If you have given a key to someone, such as a house sitter, a dog walker or a cleaner, ask whether they still have it and whether they have made copies. If you do not know, or if you suspect that a key is in the wrong hands, consider rekeying when you return. Our page on duplicate keys and who has copies explains how to take stock.
Do not leave the key in an obvious place inside the home either, such as a hook by the door, if a visitor, a contractor or a guest could take it. A small lockable box for spare keys is a reasonable investment. Decide in advance what you will do if you lose a key on the trip, and how a trusted person could reach you.
- List every spare key and where it is today.
- Bring any outdoor hidden key inside.
- Ask each key holder whether copies exist.
- Plan a rekey if you cannot account for a key.
- Tell one trusted person how to reach you while you are away.
Who may enter while you are gone
Write down who has permission to enter the home while you are away, and why. A house sitter, a neighbor checking the mail, a pool service, a lawn crew, a relative and a property manager might all be on the list. For each, note what they may do and for how long. If someone needs only to water plants or feed a pet, they do not need to roam the whole house.
Give people the minimum access. With a keypad or smart lock, create a number for each person and delete it when they are done. With a physical key, give one key to one person. Tell them not to copy it or pass it on. If a house sitter will stay, give them clear instructions about locking up and about what to do if something goes wrong.
Tell your neighbors who will be in and out, so that they do not worry or call the police unnecessarily. Share a contact number. If your community has a guard or a front desk, tell them too. A short written note to a condo office, listing the people allowed in, is common, and the office may require it. See our guide to HOA and condo common door locks for how shared doors usually work.
Smart locks, keypads and batteries
If you have an electronic lock, check the batteries before you leave. A lock that is low on power may give a warning, but you may not see it if you are away. Replace the batteries and note the date. Check that the app is working and that notifications are on, so that you are told if the lock reports a problem. Confirm that your guests and helpers have the numbers they need.
Think about what happens if the power goes out. A short outage in South Florida is not unusual, and a longer one can follow a storm. Know how your lock behaves without power, and know where the backup key is. If the lock is connected to your network, consider who has the account and how they could use it. Our overview of smart locks and the page on lock batteries and power failures go through this.
Be careful about social media. Posting your travel plans in public can tell people that the house is empty. Wait until you are back, or limit who can see your posts. A smart doorbell or a camera is helpful, but it should not be your only protection, and its recordings are only useful if someone looks at them.
Condo and apartment travelers
If you live in a condo or an apartment, your door is one part of the picture. Common doors, lobbies, garages and elevators are controlled by the building. Before you travel, tell the front desk or the manager that you will be away, and who may enter. If there is a fob, ask whether you can suspend it or leave it with someone you trust. Do not lend a fob to a friend without telling the building.
Check your balcony door and its latch, since it is another way in on lower floors. If you have a mailbox, ask a neighbor to collect your mail, or have it held. A full mailbox suggests that no one is home. A package left at the door for days is the same.
If something goes wrong while you are away, such as a leak that requires entry, the building may need to enter. Ask what the policy is, who has the keys and how you will be informed. In many buildings, management holds a key or can authorize a locksmith. Our page on locked out of a condo explains how building rules and locksmith authorization fit together.
Things not to do before a trip
Do not hide a key outside, even in a spot you think is clever. Do not leave a note on the door saying you are away. Do not leave the garage door opener in a visible car. Do not post your itinerary publicly. Do not leave a window open for the cat. Do not leave expensive items in view from a window or glass door.
Do not try a quick fix on a lock at the last minute. Taking a lock apart the evening before you leave, and discovering that you cannot put it back together, is a scenario to avoid. If a lock needs service, arrange it a week or more ahead. If something is wrong the night before you travel, a locksmith can help, and the technician will ask for proof that you may authorize the work.
Do not forget your own keys. A surprising number of lockouts happen on the way out, when someone steps outside with luggage and the door locks behind them. Give yourself a ritual: keys in pocket before the door closes. If you do lock yourself out, our page on locked out of house explains the steps.
When you return, and when to call a locksmith
On return, look at the outside before you go in. Check that the doors and windows look as you left them. If something seems off, such as a door ajar, a broken window or fresh marks near the lock, do not go in. Call 911 if you think someone may be inside. Once police have done their work, a locksmith can secure the door and rekey the locks.
Inside, look for signs of entry, water or other trouble. Test your locks and keys. Collect any spare keys from those who held them. Review your list of who has access, and decide whether anyone should keep it. If you gave out numbers on a smart lock, delete them. If you are unsure who has copies of your keys, consider a rekey.
If you want to talk through a lock, a key plan or a problem you found, call, explain what you have and have your documents ready. A technician will ask for photo ID and proof that you live at or own the home. Quotes are by phone, complicated jobs need an on-site visit, and the service call charge is explained before anyone is dispatched. Call whenever you are ready.
Questions people ask
How long before a trip should I check my locks?
Give yourself at least a few days, so that any repair can be arranged without rushing. A short walk-through of doors, sliders, windows, the garage and your spare keys is enough for most trips. If a lock needs work, call ahead rather than on the evening before you leave.
Is it safe to leave a spare key with a neighbor?
It can be, if the neighbor is someone you trust and you tell them what the key opens and not to copy it. A person is a better hiding place than a flowerpot. Write down who has the key and the date, and ask for it back when you return.
Should I rekey the locks after a house sitter stays?
Not necessarily. If you gave one key to a trusted sitter and got it back, there may be no need. If you are unsure whether copies were made, or if a key was not returned, a rekey resets access. A locksmith can explain the options and quote by phone.
What should I do about my garage door opener?
Take the remote with you or store it safely, and do not leave it in a visible car. Reset the keypad entry number if others know it. Check that the garage door closes fully, and that the door into the home is locked. Consider who else has a remote.
Can a house sitter call a locksmith if something happens?
A locksmith will ask who is authorizing the work. A sitter is not the owner, so the technician may need written authorization from you. Leave a signed note with your contact details, and give the sitter a way to show the connection to the address.
What if I come home and the door looks tampered with?
Do not go in. Step away, and call 911 if you think someone may be inside or if there is damage. Do not touch evidence. When police have finished, a locksmith can repair or replace the lock and rekey it. Tell your insurer and take photographs first.
Describe the situation by phone and we will tell you what the job involves. Quotes are given by phone. Jobs that cannot be quoted without seeing them need a technician on site, and the service call charge is explained on the phone before anyone is dispatched.
Related pages
Planning for a spare key problem while you are away
A trip is the worst time to discover that your only reliable key is in your pocket thousands of miles away. Before you leave, think about what happens if a pipe leaks, an alarm sounds, or a family member needs to enter your home. Decide who is trusted to do that, and make sure they have a working key and know how to operate every lock, including any keypad or sticky deadbolt. A quick walk-through with them on the day before you go reveals problems you would otherwise learn about from a worried phone call.
Test every copy of the key before handing it over. Copies are often slightly off, and a key that works in the lock when you are standing there with patience may fail for someone in a hurry. Try each one on every door it is meant for, in both directions. If a copy turns roughly, replace it before the trip, not afterward. Keep a record of who holds keys, and tell them the dates you are away so no one assumes the home is empty longer than it is.
Avoid advertising your absence. Skip the hidden key, and think twice about leaving a spare with a neighbor you barely know. If a lock is already acting up, repair it before you leave rather than hoping it behaves for a week. The scope and any quote for work are explained before it begins, and ownership or authority is checked before locks are changed. A little time spent on this before packing makes the trip calmer and the return home much less likely to begin with a locked door.