Keys left by builders and subcontractors

Who has had keys to a home under construction

A house does not appear overnight. Over the weeks and months of construction, many people need to get in: framers, electricians, plumbers, drywall crews, painters, flooring installers, cabinet makers, landscapers, inspectors, and cleaners. The builder needs a way to let each trade in and out, and often uses a construction lock, a temporary cylinder that works with a single key held by many people.

Later in the process, the permanent locks are installed and the builder or superintendent holds a set of keys for walkthroughs and punch list work. The sales team may hold keys for showings, and a real estate agent may have a lockbox. Each of these people had a legitimate reason, and each may have a copy that outlives the job.

The point is not that any of them is dishonest. It is that nobody can tell you how many keys exist or where they are. A new home looks clean, but its key history is unknown. For a place where you will sleep and keep your belongings, that is a gap worth closing.

Construction locks versus permanent locks

Some builders use a construction keying system. Temporary cylinders are installed during building, and a single construction key works on every door. Near the end, the permanent cylinders go in, and the construction key stops working. When done properly, this limits how many people have a working key to the finished home.

Other builders install the permanent locks early and rely on a small set of keys managed by the superintendent. Both approaches can work, but the first is cleaner. If you are not sure how your builder handled it, ask directly: were construction cylinders used, when were they replaced, and how many keys were cut for the permanent locks?

Even with good practice, a closing is a handover of a large number of keys and codes. The builder may give you keys, remotes, and garage codes, and may keep copies for follow-up visits. Ask what the builder retains and why. Our page on key control for property owners explains how to think about copies held by others.

Why rekeying at closing makes sense

Rekeying changes the internal parts of each lock so that a new key works and all earlier keys do not. In a new home, it solves the unknown key history in one visit. After the rekey, the only keys that work are the ones you receive. Anyone who held a key before, from the framing crew to the sales agent, no longer has access.

It is also a practical step. A technician can set all exterior doors to the same key, so you carry one key instead of several, and can set the garage entry door and any other locks to match. If the home has a mailbox or a gate lock, those can be included.

The best time is before you move in, or on the day you take possession. Once furniture and belongings arrive, the home is a more tempting target, and the previous key holders may know it. A rekey before move-in is quick and easy, and it gives you a clean start. Our page on rekeying after moving in describes the steps, which are the same for a new build.

What final keying involves

The technician begins by identifying each lock in the home: the front door, the back door, the patio doors, the garage entry door, any side doors, and secondary locks such as a gate or a storage closet. They check the brand and condition of each cylinder, and decide whether rekeying is practical or whether any lock needs replacement.

Each lock is then rekeyed. The technician removes the cylinder or accesses it in place, changes the internal pins to match a new key pattern, and tests it. They cut new keys and test each one in each lock. Several locks can be set to the same key, which is common for exterior doors. They label the keys and give you a count.

The technician also checks that each lock operates smoothly and that doors latch and lock properly. In a new home, doors can need adjustment as the building settles, and minor problems may show up. They will tell you what they find and what can be done. Quotes are given by phone, and complicated work, such as several doors with different brands, may need an on-site visit.

1. List every lock and entry point in the home.
2. Inspect each cylinder and note brand and condition.
3. Rekey each lock to the new key pattern.
4. Cut and test new keys on every lock.
5. Confirm doors latch and lock smoothly.
6. Record the number of keys issued.

Garage, gates, and remotes

Locks are only part of access. A new home often comes with garage door openers, remotes, keypads, and sometimes a gate or community access devices. Each has its own codes or programming that may be known to the builder or previous users. Ask the builder to reset or reprogram them, or arrange for it yourself.

Reset any keypad code that was set at the factory or by the builder. Change the code on the garage keypad, and clear any stored remotes before programming your own. Our page on garage entry door locks covers the lock between the garage and the house, which is often overlooked, and our guide on garage and side entry security offers more detail.

If the home is in a gated community, access is managed by the association and not by you. Ask what credentials you will receive, how guests and contractors are handled, and whether the system has records of who entered. Our page on gated community and guard gate locks explains how those systems fit with home locks.

Smart locks and builder-installed devices

Many new homes include smart locks or keypads installed by the builder. These often come with default codes, and may be linked to an account set up by the builder or the developer. Check this carefully. If the lock is connected to an account that you do not control, someone else may be able to unlock the door remotely or see activity.

Take ownership of the system. Create your own account, remove any previous users, and change every code. Ask the builder what accounts were used, and have them removed or transferred. If you cannot do this, replace the device or ask a technician about options. Our page on smart lock installation explains what to consider.

Also check the backup entry. Some builder-installed locks have a hidden key cylinder, and that cylinder may have been keyed to a construction key. Rekey it, just as you would a conventional lock, and keep the new key safe. Test the lock without power to confirm that the backup works.

Checking door fit in a new home

New homes settle. Wood frames shift, concrete cures, and humidity changes. In the first year, doors may begin to rub, stick, or leave gaps. A lock that worked at closing may feel stiff a few months later, not because it is faulty but because the door has moved.

Watch for signs: a deadbolt that needs a push to turn, a door that rubs at the top, a gap that shows light, or a latch that no longer catches. A technician can adjust strike plates, hinges, and latches to restore fit. Our page on door frame repair and lock fit describes the common causes.

Report any issues to the builder as appropriate, and read your own closing documents for how they handle them. A locksmith can repair or adjust the lock and hardware, but the builder may be responsible for structural issues with the door or frame. If you are not sure, ask the builder first, and keep records of what you reported.

Hardware quality and what to upgrade

Builders choose hardware to meet a budget, and the locks and strike plates in a new home are often basic. A standard deadbolt with a short strike plate and short screws can be defeated more easily than a better one. This is common, not a sign of a bad builder. It does mean that a new home may benefit from upgrades.

The most useful changes are usually inexpensive in effort: longer strike plate screws that reach the wall stud, a reinforced strike plate, a higher grade deadbolt on the front door, and a secondary lock on sliding doors. Our pages on door reinforcement and strike plates and lock grades explained for homeowners help you decide.

Do not feel pressured to change everything at once. Rekey first, since that fixes the key history. Then consider which doors matter most, using our guide on doors that matter most in a home, and plan upgrades in order of importance. A technician can review the whole home and suggest priorities on a single visit.

Hurricane-rated doors and hardware

Many new Miami homes include impact-rated doors and windows designed to resist wind and debris. These doors often have specific hardware that is part of the tested assembly, and swapping parts can affect the rating. Do not replace locks, hinges, or strike plates on a rated door without checking what is permitted.

A technician familiar with impact doors can rekey or service the existing lock without altering the assembly. If a replacement is needed, the technician will want to match the hardware to what is approved for your door. Our page on impact door lock hardware explains the issues.

Ask the builder for documentation on your doors and hardware, and keep it with your records. If you are not sure whether a change is allowed, ask before doing the work. A quick question is far cheaper than discovering later that a change affected the performance of a door you rely on in a storm.

The closing walkthrough: a lock and door checklist

The final walkthrough is your chance to notice problems while the builder is still engaged. Bring a checklist for doors and locks. Open and close each exterior door several times and note whether it sticks, rubs, or leaves a gap. Turn each key and thumb turn. Confirm that every door you were promised has a lock, and that each lock matches the one in the plans or contract.

Count the keys you are given, and ask which locks each key operates. Ask for any extra keys, remotes, and fobs that belong to the home, and ask what the builder keeps. Test garage openers and the entry door from the garage. Check that sliding doors latch fully and that any secondary lock engages.

Look closely at strike plates and screws. Short screws and a loose plate are common in new construction, and they are quick to fix. Look at the door edge and frame for scratches or damage from construction, because new homes sometimes have minor damage from moving materials. Note anything on the walkthrough list so that it is documented.

Take photographs of each door and lock. They create a record of the condition at handover. If a problem appears later, the images show whether it existed at closing.

• Operate every door several times and note any rubbing
• Test every key and thumb turn
• Count keys, remotes, and fobs and ask what the builder retains
• Check strike plates and screws for looseness
• Look for door or frame damage from construction
• Photograph each door and lock

Condominiums and townhomes that are new

A new condo or townhome has a different key picture. The association or developer may keep a master key or an entry system for the units, and the front door lock may be part of a building-wide plan. Before you rekey, ask the association whether they must be told and whether their master key must still work. Some buildings require this for emergency access, and changing the lock without permission can cause problems.

Ask what the developer retains. In some new buildings, the developer or management company holds keys during the period after sale for repairs. Ask how access is controlled, and whether you may rekey the unit door and, if so, how. Our page on condo door hardware rules explains why associations care about the hardware on unit doors.

If rekeying is allowed, tell the technician about the building rules at the start of the call. Some buildings need the lock to stay compatible with a master system, and a technician can plan for that. Others require a record of any change. The aim is the same as for a house: a clean key list, and a lock that works every day.

Planning the call and what to have ready

Before you call, list the doors and locks in the home, and note any brand names you can see on the hardware. Gather your closing documents or other proof that you own or occupy the home, and a photo ID. If the home is in a managed community, find out whether the association must be told of the visit.

When you call, say that the home is new construction and that you want it rekeyed, and mention any smart locks, keypads, or remotes. The dispatcher will explain the service call charge, and how quotes work. Quotes are given only by phone, and for a home with many doors or unusual hardware, a technician may want to see it first.

Plan the visit before you move in if possible. It makes the process simple, and it means that your first night in the home begins with a clean key list. When you are ready, call and describe the home, and a dispatcher can explain what a technician would check and what happens next.

Questions people ask

Related pages

Written by Claude (AI) (AI) for 24 Hour Locksmith Miami.