How do you identify your keys?

We have a property which will be handed over to a property manager soon, previously occupied by my mother.
The issue is that there are a bunch of mixed keys for windows, sliding glass doors, front door handle & deadlock, garage door, letter box, cabin in back yards, etc....

Does anybody have an easy way to label the keys to identify them when passing over to the real estate agent?

All I can think of is initialing the keys with black texta, but are there any other ways that are effective?

 

Get yourself a cheapie engraver like this - Linky or a heavier duty types like these - Kinky or Blinky

If you don't fancy yourself as an engraver, try metal stamping: Plinky

 

Number the keys, then have a master sheet which has all the numbers corresponding to a description of what the key opens.

 

Thanks.
I'd probably do this with my own keys if required, but a bit time consuming.
Once I've given them (identified) to the agent then it's up to them to deal with it.

 

I like to play guess the key and get them to insert in every lock

But seriously I know what my PM does with them after I hand over a random bunch. They line them all up neatly take a photo or scan them then annotate the sheet with what they are so you can check that they were given keys, which goes where and that they are returned.

 

Thanks
That could work, as long as nobody loses the master sheet.
Would prefer a single stage process.

edit - I think this is what Westminister was saying too, so it'sounds like the best way to go.

 

I think I've seen this done with one of my agents in the past now that you mention it.
It's probably the best method.
So nothing to worry about then and let the agent deal with it I suppose.

 

Its no fun when your pm loses all your windows keys and then denys even having them in the first place.....

 

That's why you put all the keys on a page with identification details and get them to sign for the things (company stamp or business card + person receiving).

No denying it then.

 

Near impossible to that when you're interstate

Or when they keys are going from handyman/window company/previous agent to current agent

 

I used black permanent marker and it rubbed off.

 

Are you sure that the key didn't come away from the ink?

 

We done away with that madness years ago, six pack of locks from bunnings, all keyed alike, and got a locksmith to key alike house keys, half the keys then dissappeared and just engraved the remaing 4.

 

I have a little engraving tool (240v)

I also keep a complete set of keys locked in a safe (for when the tenant/agent loses some) and I never ever hand them over !

I also had all door locks changed to the same years ago.

Now I have just ONE key, my car key......
Garage remote is in my car, and if I need to use a door I had them all changed to coded locks (no key) so If the kids sneak out the code gets changed

 

In the most basic form, a simple key register works fine:

 

Get it re keyed down to a single key. Give PM 3 of them. Done.

Alternatively, label them like this:

 

I love it when properties have all the locks keyed alike. I'm about to install a new deadlock into one of the properties I manage, its about $25 to get a locksmith to key it to the other locks.

Unfortunately it doesn't work for windows and mailboxes etc keys, but generally its easy enough to tell.

 

We key all locks alike wherever possible.

Then I like to stamp them with identifying marks - eg B1W (Bedroom 1 window), FD (front door), FS (front screen) etc etc.

 

99% of Landlords will hand over the pile of keys with a smile and it's our job to figure it all out. Every now and then someone will hand me a huge pile of keys with big clunky tags attached to each one describing where they go... I actually find this less helpful, but I do appreciate being able to repurpose the tags once I get rid of them all.

You definitely want to keep a copy of what you gave the agent, so they don't lose keys and claim they didn't have them (as per @TMNT , very common).

If you want to do a labelled printout to assist us as well, that's greatly appreciated!