For new homeowners
Just got the keys? Make sure the house is really yours to lock.
Plain-English lock and security checklists for your first day, first week and first year in a new home. Written by a working locksmith.
Do I Really Need a Locksmith? · Bill’s DIY series
“I can do this myself.” Do I really need a locksmith?
Verdict: MaybeWhy new homeowners should rekey
Get the New Homeowner Packet →$7.99 · instant PDF downloadNew home with no deadbolt on a door? · 10 min
Every step, start to finish: 10 minutes. Stay for the no-tape-measure trick at 2:03 and the chisel order at 6:33 that keeps the door from splitting.
Want more full-length jobs? Open Bill’s Video Library · Watch on YouTube
Your first 24 hours: the short version
When you buy a home, you don’t know who else has a key. Past owners, their family, a contractor, a dog walker, a neighbor who watered the plants… Keys get copied and codes get shared. Here’s where to start:
- Rekey or replace your exterior locks. Rekeying keeps your locks and changes the key, and it’s usually the simpler choice when the hardware is in good shape.
- Reset the garage door opener. Clear old remotes and change the keypad code.
- Change every code. Smart locks, keypads and alarm codes the last owner or builder set up.
- Check the door between the garage and the house. It’s often the weakest door in the home.
- Check sliding doors and windows. Make sure each one actually locks, and that patio doors can’t be lifted off the track.
- Count your keys. Write down who has one. Keep it that way.
Want this as a printable page? Grab the free checklist below.
Free
The Lock-Check Checklist
Not ready to buy anything? Start with our free printable Lock-Check Checklist. Enter your email on that page and it’s yours. You can unsubscribe any time.
Best value
The Complete Home Security Bundle
Every Door, Window & Key — Complete Home Security Bundle (9 Guides)
One download covers every way into your house: doors, windows, codes and keys.
$12.99
It costs less than buying the guides one at a time. Printable PDFs, instant download.
- Home Security Checklist (Room-by-Room): the whole-house walk-through
- Moving Day Lock Checklist
- After-Rekey Care Card
- Garage-to-House Door Checklist
- Sliding Door & Patio Checklist
- Window & Secondary Entry Checklist
- Smart Lock & Keypad Codes Care Card
- Lost Key & Lockout Care Card
- Vacation & Travel Lock Checklist
- Plus a 1-page Start Here guide that tells you what to open first
Just moving in?
The smaller starter set
Don’t Be an Easy Target After Move-In — New Homeowner Safety Packet
Four print-ready guides for your first weeks in the house. Big type and clear steps. Print it or keep it on your phone.
$7.99
- After-Rekey Care Card: what to do after the locks are changed
- Lost Key & Lockout Care Card: what to do if keys go missing
- Moving Day Lock Checklist: day-of and first-week lock checks
- Smart Lock & Keypad Codes Care Card: codes, batteries, and who has access
Tip: all four of these guides are also included in the $12.99 Complete Bundle. If you’re getting the bundle, you don’t need this packet too.
Need just one? Individual checklists
Renting out your place?
What Hosts Forget Between Every Guest — Airbnb Checklist: $5.99
A lock and access checklist for short-term rental hosts to run between guests.
Free how-to guides and videos
Watch Bill walk through real lock problems step by step: keys that won’t turn, hard-to-turn deadbolts, doors that won’t latch, rekeying, and more.
Free lock guides & videos at locksmithblueprint.comLocksmith Blueprint on YouTube
Who’s behind this?
Hi, I’m Bill. I’ve worked as a locksmith for more than 10 years and completed over 10,000 jobs at Kwikpick Lock and Safe. I wrote these checklists because I kept seeing the same things on service calls: old keys nobody tracked down, garage codes that were never changed, and patio doors that lifted right off. Most of it is easy to fix once you know where to look.
Frequently asked questions
Are these physical booklets?
No. They’re printable PDFs. You download them right after checkout, then print them or keep them on your phone.
Do I need tools or locksmith skills?
No. The checklists are about what to check, what to write down, and when to call a pro. They’re safety habits, not “how to break in” tricks.
Will these replace a locksmith?
No. They help you spot problems and ask better questions. For rekeying, damaged locks or anything you’re unsure about, call a licensed locksmith in your area.
Rekey or replace: which do I need?
If your locks work well and you like them, rekeying usually does the job: same locks, new keys. If a lock is worn out, damaged or you want an upgrade, replacing makes more sense. The bundle walks through both.
Does this work where I live?
Yes. The checklists cover common residential doors, locks and windows, and they aren’t tied to one city or state.
Bundle or packet?
The $12.99 bundle covers the whole house: 9 guides, including all 4 from the packet. The $7.99 packet is a smaller move-in starter set. If you want everything in one place, the bundle covers it.
I’m a real estate agent. Can I give these to clients?
Yes. Our personalized closing packets put your name and your buyer’s name on the cover: a ready-to-give closing gift, delivered within 1 business day.
Questions?
Locksmith BlueprintLocks Made Simple
Real locksmith know-how from Bill, a working locksmith in Arizona: short videos, plain-English guides and printable checklists.