Real Estate Investor · Redlands, CA · Member since 2010 · 14 posts · 4 votes
I'm so frustrated right now! Between all of my properties, gates, garages, etc. I have a lot of keys to keep track of. I have them on a board and had them separated on hooks with the hooks labeled for each key. The board was knocked down and the keys scattered so I have to figure out which key goes to which property. I had a couple of them stamped with the house number when I had the locksmith make them for me. I would like to stamp them all so I don't have this problem again but I'm not sure what tools I would need to do it. I am hoping someone can share their methods of tracking all of their keys so I can come up a better way of tracking mine :). Any suggestions?
Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
14y
I have each house's set on a ring with a tag.
You can stamp numbers in your keys with letter and number stamps. You would need something sturdy to put them on while stamping and a hammer to whack them.
Rental Property Investor · Charlotte NC Fort Mill SC Lake Wylie SC, SC · Member since 2009 · 174 posts · 103 votes
14y
PS: I also have one of those old-fashioned business card folios--where you have individual plastic holders for business cards. I stick a key in each pocket, label it with an abbreviated address, and keep it in my truck. I think I'm covered.
I do keep lock boxes inside the crawlspace or some other not-so-obvious spot at some of my properties. Especially the ones farthest from my office. That way, repairmen can get in there easily. Tenants like it too because they can just let themselves in if they're locked out somehow. I don't need to hear about it.