Are you Getting All the Keys to the House?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 DRE# ER40011786

When a Buyer closes on a home, in Colorado, you receive keys to your new home at the closing table, even if there is a post-closing occupancy agreement in place.  You own the home.

If you get possession at closing, it is best to get the locks changed, or change out the exterior door locks for your protection.   You don't know if the previous owner ever changed locks when they bought, if the neighbors have keys, or relatives still retain keys.    IT IS FOR YOUR SAFETY to change out these locks.

 

Sometimes each door has a different key, so when you change out these locks, you can have all the locks having one key to make it easier!    

 

Keep you and your family safe, and rekey the property before someone finds a leftover key!    It will give you peace of mind!

Posted by

Joan Cox
Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
House to Home, Inc.

Serving the Denver Metro area including all suburbs


Helping Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate dreams, one house at a time!

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Comments (24)

Eric Bouler
Gardner Realtors, Licensed in La. - New Orleans, LA
Listening to your Needs

Good Morning. Keys are great. Hope you are doing very well this week.

Aug 10, 2022 06:13 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Nina, good point, and would have to check with our warranty companies, have not heard this was part of the plan.

Aug 10, 2022 06:18 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Leanne Smith I was just having this conversation with my buyers last night that wrote on a property and are from CA.  Same thing, they have to wait until recorded also.

Aug 10, 2022 06:19 AM
Leanne Smith

Maybe it is an old west thing from years gone by when the "mine had to be recorded" before it was owned by the individual.

Aug 10, 2022 06:21 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Michael Jacobs that is true, pool keys, clubhouse keys -- all of the keys! 

Aug 10, 2022 06:20 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Dorie, if you only have two doors (or maybe one more leading to the garage) it wouldn't be too bad to change out the locks, but rekeying is less expensive.

Aug 10, 2022 06:21 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

So far this week is GREAT Eric, thank you.

Aug 10, 2022 06:21 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Joan - that is a must to get a locksmith right away.  It is also good to have one key for the different locks.

Aug 10, 2022 06:34 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

Hey Joan, I always tell my clients you never know what contractor, relative, friend, neighbor has been given a key. Got new locks!!!!!!

Aug 10, 2022 06:44 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Grant, it definitely makes it easier with one key for all the doors.

Aug 10, 2022 07:00 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jeff, you are so right!

Aug 10, 2022 07:01 AM
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

You just never know who has a set of those old keys.  It is a great idea to re-key all of the locks.  Very useful information to pass along to your clients.  Well done!

Aug 10, 2022 07:01 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Ray, definitely could be more keys out there!  

Aug 10, 2022 07:01 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is good advice to share. The locks should always be changed.

Aug 10, 2022 08:11 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

So true, with the exception of a brand new home Roy! 

Aug 10, 2022 08:14 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Joan- always a good idea. You have no idea who the former owner gave keys to...and they probably don't remember, so better to be safe. 

Aug 10, 2022 05:11 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I always recommend getting the home re-keyed after purchase, even the seller might not remember who has keys, haha.

Aug 11, 2022 04:51 AM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Joan,

Good advice. As nice as the previous owners may be, I agree with Dorie. We never know, who else still has a key. The wayward cousin, who stayed at the house three years ago, the contractor, who said he misplaced the key, but suddenly found it, the relative of a cleaning person, who thinks that people who own houses are rich and should have something to abscond with. 

Aug 11, 2022 06:48 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kathy, that is SO true.

Aug 12, 2022 09:08 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Brian, Especially if they have lived in the property a long time!  

Aug 12, 2022 09:09 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Dorte, it is the contractor or the cleaning people I would worry about, along with all the extended family.

Aug 12, 2022 09:10 AM