Home locks
New-home lock checklist for Sacramento move-ins
After taking authorized possession of a home, make a list of every exterior lock and every way someone can enter. Changing mechanical key access is only one part of the handover: garage controls, gate access and smart-lock users may need separate attention.
Walk the whole property
Include the front door, back door, side entrance, garage-to-house door, gates and any detached storage. Record which keys work each lock and which pieces of hardware stick. Do not assume the front door is the only entrance with an unreturned key.
Separate mechanical and digital access
Rekeying a deadbolt does not automatically remove a smart-lock code, app invitation or garage remote. Record those access systems separately and use the correct product instructions for account and code changes. Ask the installer to explain what their quote actually covers.
Plan the handover test
After the work, check new keys at each intended lock and confirm that old keys no longer work where rekeying was agreed. Check latching and closing as well. Keep a simple list of the new key assignments so a future spare can be identified accurately.
Make an access inventory before the appointment
Include front, rear and side entrances, the house-to-garage door, gates, detached storage and any exterior keyed cylinders. Count the cylinders rather than assuming one lock per door. Separate physical keys from keypad codes, garage remotes and shared app accounts. Ask the seller or manager which devices transfer with the property and keep unresolved access questions on the handover list.
Finish the digital and physical handover together
Schedule any account transfer or code changes so someone retains working access during the changeover. Save the correct hardware manuals, identify backup entry and distribute new keys deliberately. If a previous owner remains listed in an app, a freshly cut house key does not solve that account issue. Test the final arrangements as the people who will use the home each day.
Before you call
- Inventory exterior and garage-to-house doors
- Record gate and digital access separately
- Arrange access after authorized possession
- Test each lock and label spare keys
Follow-up questions
Should I rekey an interior bedroom lock too?
Inventory it and explain your access goal. The answer depends on whether it is keyed hardware, who should use it and whether you are changing exterior security only.
Does a new smart-lock account replace a house rekey?
It addresses a different access route. A smart lock with a mechanical cylinder can still accept its existing physical keys unless that access is changed separately.
Official reference
Schlage: rekeying and key access ↗
Manufacturer information for its Advanced Rekey product family; product-specific instructions do not apply to every lock.
Published by AID Locksmith, owned by Allan, serving Greater Sacramento. General service checklists are editorial guidance; product instructions apply to the named model.