thanks for all the help - I think we have a solution!
I talked to Dh, and we both think that our front hall closet is going to be turned into the locked location. We can get a cheap doorknob locking set, and install it onto that door, which has the added advantage of swinging outwards. We will hang a skeleton in there from the closet rod, and run some lights inside of it. In the skeletons hands we will attach a gift bag of some sort.
The story line is going to be something along the lines of the original owner disappeared and we have this mysterious locked closet that no one has been able to open, and strange sounds and lights have been seen...
This has the added advantage of us being able to get regular key blanks as the non-working keys to send out.
I'm really leaning towards being a zombie "surreal estate" agent showing the house... I can really have fun with this! (and I got the real estate idea from the brilliant Fright Gallery - may it rest in peace!).
thanks so much for all the suggestions, it really helped!
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