Commercial & property management
A locksmith’s unit turnover checklist for property managers
A unit turnover has a lot of moving parts. The locks are the part a new tenant never thinks about until something goes wrong, and the part that comes back to the owner when it does.
By Timmy Creighton, founder and licensed locksmith · Major Key Locksmith · October 2026
Every turnover
- Rekey every lock on the unit. Entry deadbolt, knob or lever, and any secondary door. The departing tenant’s copies, and everyone they lent a key to, should be dead before the new tenant moves in.
- The mailbox lock. Easy to forget and the one tenants notice first. A mailbox lock opened, replaced and keyed is $325 all-in.
- Keypad codes and smart lock users. Delete the old tenant’s access.
- Building fobs and common-door keys collected or deactivated.
- Test every lock. Does the deadbolt throw fully? Does the door latch on its own? Is anything sticking? Fix it now, while the unit is empty.
Set it up once
- A master key system so management and maintenance carry one key, and each unit key runs only its own unit. See how master keying works.
- A key register. Which keys exist for each unit, who holds them, and when they were issued.
- Restricted keys for common doors, so tenants cannot copy the front door key at a hardware store.
- Pre-authorization. Tell your locksmith what they can approve without calling you, up to an agreed amount, so a turnover is not held up waiting for a reply.
Keys cut on site
For buildings that need a lot of copies, we cut keys at the property, so no key has to leave the building. It is $5 per standard key with a minimum order of 50 keys, plus the mobile service charge once for the visit. Details on our key duplication page.
Questions people ask
Should I rekey or replace the locks between tenants?
Rekey, unless a lock is worn or damaged. Rekeying makes every old key useless and keeps the hardware, which is what a turnover needs.
Can I authorize work in advance so you do not have to call me?
Yes. Property managers can set a limit we can approve on the spot, so routine turnover work does not wait on a phone call.
Can you do several units in one visit?
Yes, and it is the efficient way to do it. The visit is charged once and each lock is priced on top.
Want a straight answer about your building?
Tell us what you are dealing with. We will say what it needs, what it costs, and whether it is a job for us at all.
Keep reading
Any price mentioned here is the one published on our pricing page as of October 2026. The final price is always confirmed with you before any work begins. More answers from the blog →