Inspection report: lock does not work.
A deadbolt or door lock is stiff, will not turn, or will not throw all the way into the frame. Often the lock is fine and the door has moved, so the bolt hits the frame. Here is what the finding means, whether it is worth fixing for the sale, and what it costs. Send us the report and we price the whole list.
- Published range
- $75 to $200Per lock replaced. HomeGuide 2026, national.
- Tru Service
- From $135One price for the whole report, before any work starts.
Fix or leave: fix.
Exterior locks are security, and a buyer will ask for them to work. If the lock itself is fine, the fix is often an adjustment, not a new lock.
How reports word it
Lock does not work- “Deadbolt does not operate properly”
- “Lock is difficult to operate”
- “Keyed lock inoperable”
- “Deadbolt does not fully engage”
Inspectors phrase it differently. If the line on your report reads like one of these, this is the page.
What the fix usually is
- Check whether the bolt lines up with the hole in the frame
- Adjust the door or the strike plate so the bolt throws fully
- Replace the lock or deadbolt if it is worn out
- Match new locks across doors if the client wants one key
What it costs
HomeGuide’s 2026 national range is $75 to $200 per lock replaced. Bay Area labor runs above national numbers. Tru Service work for this starts from $135 (door locks and smart locks), and a report gets one price for the whole list, in writing, before any work starts.
- Adjustment or a new lock
- Who supplies the new lock
- How many doors
What to send
The summary pages of the report and the photo page for this item. A phone photo of the pages is enough to start. Add the property city and the date your repair window closes. We give a ballpark within 24 hours. See how to turn a report into a priced fix list.
Questions
How much does it cost to fix "lock does not work" on an inspection report?
HomeGuide's 2026 national range is $75 to $200 per lock replaced. Bay Area labor runs higher than national numbers. Tru Service work for this starts from $135, and a whole report gets one price, in writing, before any work starts.
Does it have to be fixed before closing?
That is between the buyer and seller in the repair request. Our read: fix. Exterior locks are security, and a buyer will ask for them to work. If the lock itself is fine, the fix is often an adjustment, not a new lock.
How fast can it be done?
Send the report or a photo of the summary pages. We give a ballpark within 24 hours, walk it, price the whole list on site and work to the date in your contract.
Other common findings
Most reports have several of these. Send the report, and we sort it into what to fix and what to leave, then price the fix pile as one list. Anything that belongs to another trade, we flag before you approve it.
Common report findings
One priceWhere we workServing the South Bay, including San Jose (including Willow Glen and Almaden), Santa Clara, Campbell, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos, Mountain View, Milpitas and Fremont.Service areas
We find it and we fix it.
On your date.
Tru Service works for homeowners, real estate agents, property managers, designers, architects and builders. We walk it within 24 hours. You get the price on site. We can start on the spot. The first walkthrough is free.