List the entrances before choosing work
Identify the front door, other external entrances and any additional lock that matters to the access plan. Note which keys operate each one and whether a door has a separate access arrangement. The purpose is to define the job, not to assume every fitting must be replaced. If several people will use the property, explain who needs access to which doors and identify entrances that should remain separate.
Consider keys that are no longer accounted for
Receiving a set of keys does not necessarily tell you how many copies have existed. If control of previous keys is the concern, explain that directly. Rekeying may address the key arrangement of suitable existing hardware, while replacement changes the hardware itself. Locks that are not included in the work remain unaffected, so it is useful to identify the relevant entrances before asking for a quote or agreeing a scope.
Separate operating faults from access changes
Try to describe the condition of each affected entrance as well as the key concern. A lock may be suitable to retain, or it may already be sticking, unreliable or damaged. Rekeying and repair solve different problems, and a new key arrangement does not automatically fix the door hardware. Raise both requirements so the proposed work can be considered together rather than discovering an unresolved fault after a key change.
Discuss a practical key arrangement
If you want fewer keys or a common key for several compatible locks, say so before the visit. For other situations, separate keys may be important. Compatibility depends on the actual hardware, so describe the intended result and let the relevant fittings be checked. A clear key plan should identify both the doors being changed and those that remain outside the job, especially where there is a shared building entrance.
Check and record what changed
Before considering the job complete, check the new keys and the operation of the included locks. Confirm which entrances were rekeyed, repaired or replaced and keep the new keys organised for the people who need them. If a lock was left unchanged, record that too. An accurate account of the completed scope is more useful than assuming that work at one entrance changed access throughout the whole property.