Give each key a job
Make a simple list of the private entrances and the keys supplied with the property. Include more than one keyed fitting on the same door and a separate pedestrian entrance to a garage. Record what you already know, without forcing an unfamiliar key into a lock to settle the question.
Ask the person handing over the home whether other authorized copies remain. You may not receive a complete history, but the answers help frame a rekeying discussion. Keep common building entrances separate from private doors because the permission to change one may not extend to the other shared hardware.
One key is a compatibility question
Using a single key for several doors can be convenient, but matching finishes do not establish compatible locks. Say which hardware you would like to retain and which entrances you want included. Ask whether the existing fittings support that arrangement before planning around a smaller household key ring afterward.
Rekeying may be suitable when hardware is working properly and the concern is who holds a valid copy. A sticking key or an unreliable latch deserves a separate description. Combining these facts in the call helps distinguish a change in access from a repair that the door itself may need.
Make the handover useful for everyone
Decide who needs a working key after any changes: household members, the owner or manager where appropriate, and an agreed spare-key holder. Confirm how many keys are included in the proposed work. Keep a private note of their purposes rather than attaching the full property address to a key ring.
Give the exact Dedham address and entrances when calling, with Dedham Square as an optional local reference. Ask whether the location can be accommodated, what approval is required and what the charges cover. At completion, review the agreed doors and keys so the next arrival home is straightforward for everyone.
BEFORE YOU ARRANGE WORK
A few useful answers.
Can all the doors in my home use one key?
It depends on the existing locks and the arrangement you want. List every keyed fitting, including separate locks on the same door. Ask about compatibility before agreeing to work, and explain which pieces of hardware you would prefer to keep.
What if the previous owner cannot account for every copy?
That uncertainty is a sensible reason to discuss changing which key works. It does not automatically mean replacing all visible hardware. Explain which private doors are involved and ask whether their condition and design make rekeying a suitable option.
Should the garage entry be included in my list?
Include any separate keyed pedestrian door that controls access to the home or garage. Identify it clearly so it is not confused with the large moving garage door. Its key arrangement and compatibility can then be considered with the other private entrances.