What you actually receive at closing
At a typical closing, the seller or the seller's agent hands over the keys they have. That might be a front door key, a back door key, a garage entry key, a mailbox key and a remote for the garage door. In some transactions a lockbox that the listing agent used is removed and the keys inside are given to the buyer. In others, keys are mailed or left at an office.
What you receive is rarely everything that exists. Sellers who have lived in a house for years may have given keys to family, neighbors, cleaners, contractors and pet sitters. Agents may have made copies for showings or inspections. A builder of a newer home may have used construction keys that opened every door in the development, and some of those keys may never have been collected.
The reasonable assumption for a new owner is that you do not know how many copies exist. That is not an accusation against the seller. It is an acknowledgment that houses have histories. The right response is to reset access on your own terms as soon as possible, ideally in the first days after you take possession. The page on what rekeying is explains the simplest way to do that, and the move-in rekey guide covers the practical steps.
Closing documents and your keys
Look through your closing paperwork for anything related to access. The purchase contract may list items conveyed with the house, such as garage door openers, gate transmitters, community pool access cards, mailbox keys and alarm information. A home inspection report may mention locks, doors and frames that are worn. A seller's disclosure may note previous security incidents or lock changes.
For a condominium or an association community, the documents typically include rules about access devices and key policies. You may be required to register your unit with the association, provide an emergency access method or accept restrictions on lock changes. Read these before you schedule any work, because a change that violates the rules can cause trouble. The guide on authorization for condos and HOAs explains how locksmiths approach these situations.
Keep the documents together with your key list. If a question comes up later about what was conveyed or who held access, you will have the record. If you have a lender, remember that the property is your responsibility from the day you take title, and so are decisions about its security.
Questions to ask the seller or agent
Politely ask a few questions before or soon after closing. How many keys were there originally, and how many are you receiving? Were the locks ever rekeyed, and if so when? Who else has or had keys, such as relatives, neighbors, cleaners or contractors? Are there any lockboxes, smart locks or keypads, and if so, what is the access arrangement?
Ask about the garage. How many remotes exist, and are there any keypads outside? Has the opener been reprogrammed? Ask about gates, alarms and any security monitoring account. An alarm system tied to the previous owner's account may need to be transferred or cancelled, and a monitoring company needs to hear from you directly.
Ask about the pool, the storage areas, the sheds and any detached structures. These doors often have their own keys that sellers forget to mention. Ask about window locks and security bars, and whether any were removed or modified. The answers are useful whether they are reassuring or incomplete. Write down what you are told, and where the answer is a shrug, assume the worst case for planning. The guide on who has copies of your keys provides a worksheet you can start filling in on day one.
Builder keys in newer construction
If you bought a new home, the situation has an extra layer. During construction, doors are often keyed to a construction system so that crews can work without carrying individual keys. When a home is finished, the lock may be changed to the buyer's key, but practices vary. In some cases the construction key is replaced by a final key by the builder's team, and in others the final key is simply a different pattern in the same cylinder.
Ask the builder or the closing team how the home was keyed and whether any construction or contractor keys remain valid. Ask whether the locks were rekeyed after the last trade finished. Subcontractors such as painters, flooring crews and cleaners may have entered with keys that were never returned.
Even if the builder assures you that the locks are fresh, rekeying after closing is a sound step, because you cannot verify what happened after the last trade finished. New construction also means new door frames that may shift in the first year of settling and humidity changes, so a technician looking at the hardware at the same time can check that bolts align properly. A sticking deadbolt in a new home is a common call, and it is worth having examined early.
Openers, remotes and gates
Garage door remotes and gate transmitters are keys of a different kind. A remote that belonged to the previous owner can still open your garage if the opener has not been reset. Many modern openers allow you to erase all stored remotes and program only the ones you hold. The procedure is in the manufacturer's manual, and it is a normal owner task. Do not work on the spring or the counterbalance system of a garage door yourself; those parts are under high tension and should be left to a trained professional.
If your community uses a gate with individual transmitters, cards or phone-based access, contact the association or management office to deactivate credentials belonging to the seller and register yours. Do not assume this happens automatically at closing.
Do the same for any keypad. A keypad on a garage or a front door may still have the seller's personal sequence stored. Check the manual for the way to erase and reset it. If the unit is an older model and you are not sure how to clear it, a technician can help. The overview in the garage and entry door security page describes the main points.
Smart locks and apps inherited from the seller
Many homes now come with smart locks, video doorbells and connected cameras. These devices are tied to accounts. If the seller installed a smart lock and linked it to their phone, their account may still be able to unlock the door until it is removed. The same goes for cameras and doorbells that stream to the previous owner.
Before you rely on any connected device, ask the seller to remove it from their account, and perform a factory reset so you can register it to your own. Change any default settings and set your own credentials. If you cannot reset it, replace it. Do not assume that a lock is secure simply because it looks new.
Mechanical backup keys for smart locks matter, too. Many models have a hidden keyed cylinder as a fallback, and the seller may have copies. Treat that cylinder like any other lock: have it rekeyed or replaced. The page on smart locks explained describes how these systems work, and the guest access guide covers temporary credentials.
Your first-week plan
On the day of closing, if you can, lock up with the keys you received and do a walk-through of every exterior door and window to confirm they lock and latch properly. Take photos of the locks and any damage. Do not leave spare keys in obvious places.
In the first few days, schedule a rekey of all exterior locks, including the garage entry, any side doors, the pool door and any storage areas. Reset garage remotes and keypads. Remove the seller's access from any smart device and change alarm credentials. Update the mailbox lock if the mailbox is yours to control.
Within the first couple of weeks, make a key list: who gets copies, how many and what rules apply. Create a simple sheet and keep it in a safe place. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors while you are at it, and review your homeowner's insurance for any requirements about locks or deadbolts. If you plan to rent the property later, the pages on landlord key control and choosing a lock for rental properties will help.
Rekey or replace: choosing for a new home
A rekey changes the internal workings of the existing locks so that old keys stop working and new ones are issued. A replacement installs new hardware. For many new owners, a rekey is the efficient choice. It is quicker than replacing hardware, keeps the existing look and costs less than new locks. A technician will examine the locks, and if they are in good condition, rekeying is usually appropriate.
Replacement makes sense when locks are worn, damaged, corroded or of poor quality. In coastal South Florida, salt air and humidity can degrade exterior hardware, and an older home may have locks that were never designed for the conditions. If a deadbolt has a short bolt, loose mounting or a flimsy strike plate, upgrading may improve your security more than a rekey alone. The comparison is described in rekey versus replace.
Whichever you choose, the technician can often do it in a single visit. Ask the technician what the work includes. Quotes are given by phone only, and complicated jobs need an on-site visit first.
Insurance, neighbors and the first few weeks
Once the locks are under control, take a few related steps. Tell your homeowner's insurance company about any security upgrades if they affect your policy, and ask whether they have any requirements about deadbolts or door hardware. Do not assume; ask. Keep the receipt for any lock work with your home records.
Introduce yourself to the neighbors. A neighbor who knows you live there will notice if something looks wrong, and you will learn useful local facts, such as whether there has been recent trouble in the area, how the community handles packages and who maintains shared areas. Be cautious about giving a spare key to a neighbor you have only just met; wait until you know them better, and consider alternatives such as a trusted relative.
Plan for storms. If you are new to South Florida, learn what hurricane season means for doors and locks: wind-driven rain can push water past weak seals, frames swell in humidity and shutters or impact products may need operating. After a storm, check that every exterior door still locks and latches smoothly. The guide on hurricane season lock and door prep offers a practical list.
Finally, decide on a home for the spare key that is not a hiding place outside the home. A lockbox is not the answer for most owners. A trusted person, or a small safe inside, is. Tell family members what the plan is, so nobody is improvising when a key is lost.
What to have ready when you call
Have your closing documents handy, or at least a copy of the settlement statement or deed showing you as owner. A technician will ask for identification and proof that you control the property, and a fresh closing is usually straightforward to document. If you are in a condominium or association, have the association's contact information in case the building requires notification.
List the doors: front, back, garage entry, side, pool, sheds and any gates. Note the type of locks if you can see a brand name, and whether any are electronic. Tell the technician whether the home is vacant or occupied, and who will meet them. If the house is new construction, mention it.
Quotes are given by phone only. A service call charge applies and is explained before dispatch. Many new-owner rekeys can be explained on the call, and more complicated hardware or door issues may need an on-site visit. When you are ready to take control of your keys, call and describe the house.
Questions people ask
Should I rekey even if the seller says the locks are new?
It is still worth considering. Even recently replaced locks may have been used by contractors, agents or the seller's family, and keys may have been copied. You cannot verify who holds copies. A rekey gives you certainty that only the keys you hold work, and it is usually a modest job compared with the value of knowing.
How soon after closing should I change the locks?
As soon as practical, ideally in the first few days. Until you do, unknown keys may still work. Lock the doors, avoid hiding spare keys outside and schedule the work. If you are moving in later, consider doing it before you move belongings in, so your first night in the home starts with a clean set of keys.
What about the garage door remote from the seller?
Treat it as a key. Reset the opener so that stored remotes are erased, then program only the ones you hold. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for this. Do not work on garage door springs or counterbalance parts yourself, because they are under high tension and are best left to trained professionals.
Can I change locks in a condo or HOA community right away?
Check your association documents first. Some communities restrict lock changes or require that certain keys be provided to the association. A locksmith will ask who has authority over the unit and may ask for documents. Contact the management office, confirm the rules and then schedule the work.
Do I need to show proof of ownership to the technician?
Yes, a reputable locksmith will ask for identification and something that ties you to the property, such as a closing statement, deed or tax record. This protects owners from having locks changed by someone with no right. A recent closing makes this simple, so keep the paperwork where you can reach it.
How is a new-home rekey quoted?
Quotes are given by phone only. Tell the technician how many doors you have, what type of locks and whether the home is new construction. Simple jobs can be explained on the call, and complicated ones need an on-site visit. A service call charge applies and is explained before dispatch. Call to plan the work.
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
First week in a purchased home: a practical plan for the locks you inherited
Closing day usually brings a small handful of keys from the seller, and almost nobody knows who else holds one. Previous owners, their agents, family members, repair crews, and neighbors who watered plants may all have copies. Treat the first week in a new home as the window to reset that unknown access. Walk the whole property with a notepad and list every exterior door, garage entry, side gate, storage room, and mailbox that has a lock, then note which of them share a single key and which ones use different keys. Note which doors stick or feel loose, since that helps decide what needs attention.
When the technician arrives, we confirm that you are the new owner or that you have the owner's authority, and a closing document or similar proof of occupancy is often enough to settle that. We then examine each lock for wear, loose mounting, and damaged cylinders. Older homes can have worn hardware that rekeys fine, while some locks are better replaced outright. Rekeying keeps the existing hardware and changes how it responds to keys, so all of your doors can often be set to work with one key for convenience. Do not forget the small spots people skip, such as a basement door, a crawl space hatch, or a detached garage, where a forgotten lock can quietly remain keyed to the previous owner for years.
Gather any smart lock codes, garage remotes, and alarm codes too, since those are easy to overlook and can also be shared with strangers. Ask the seller whether keys went to anyone else. Plan where the spare keys will live, and avoid hiding them near the door. The scope of the work and any quote are explained before anything starts, so you know exactly what is being done. Call us to confirm availability for your property. Mailbox keys and shared entry keys for a building or community are usually handled separately, so ask the association or manager about those as well.