How to Choose the Right Locksmith When You're Locked Out of Your House

We’ve all been there. You come home and go to grab your keys to open the door, only to realize you’ve forgotten them inside, lost them, or left them somewhere. Now, you can’t get into your home. 

Now what?

If you can’t access your keys anytime soon, call a locksmith. A locksmith is a professional who handles locks for homes and vehicles, and they’re your go-to person if you get locked out. But how can you be sure your locksmith is legit? With home break-ins becoming more and more sophisticated, there is always a possibility that a “locksmith” may not be who they say they are. 

In this article, we’ll give you tips on choosing the right locksmith and other security alternatives so you can perhaps avoid needing a locksmith altogether!

Choosing a reliable locksmith

When evaluating locksmith services, it’s essential to do your due diligence. When you lose your keys and need to call someone in, you’re likely already frazzled and may not care who comes as long as someone comes with a solution. But even in a moment of anxiety, it’s important to take a deep breath and select a professional and reliable locksmith. 

Here’s why choosing a reliable locksmith is important: 

• Security is at stake: Your locks and keys are the primary barriers safeguarding your home or business. Entrusting your home’s first line of defense to an unreliable locksmith can expose you to vulnerabilities. Unscrupulous locksmiths may compromise your locks or create unauthorized copies of your keys, potentially granting access to unauthorized individuals.

• Risk of scams: Hiring an untrustworthy locksmith can put you at risk of falling victim to scams, like being overcharged. These individuals may overcharge for services, perform unnecessary work, or employ bait-and-switch tactics. Not something you want to deal with when you’re already locked out of your home!

• Quality of work: Reliable locksmiths are committed to upholding industry standards and providing high-quality service. On the contrary, untrustworthy locksmiths may lack the skills, training, or ethical standards to perform their work correctly. This can result in subpar workmanship that fails to secure your property effectively and may cost you more - perhaps with a broken door - in the long run. 

• Long-term trust: Building a relationship with a reputable locksmith establishes trust and ensures reliable service for the long haul. Unreliable locksmiths, on the other hand, may disappear after a job or be unavailable for follow-up services, leaving you in a lurch when you need assistance.

It’s also important to remember that when you’re locked out of your home, you need a locksmith you can rely on for prompt and efficient assistance. Shady locksmiths may exploit your urgency, arriving late or charging exorbitant fees. This can exacerbate stressful situations and compromise your safety.

So what should you look for to ensure you have found a reliable locksmith? 

• Credentials and certifications: One of the first factors to assess is whether the locksmith holds the necessary credentials and certifications. Locksmith licenses and certifications indicate a professional's competence and adherence to industry standards. 

Reputable locksmiths often belong to recognized associations like the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) or have specific certifications such as Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL), Certified Professional Locksmith (CPL), or Certified Master Locksmith (CML). They get these by going through the appropriate professional training and certifications. Ask about these before hiring one to come to your house. 

• Reviews and testimonials: Before deciding on a locksmith, it's essential to research their reputation by checking online reviews. This is generally one of the top ways to weed out bad actors. Going with someone who has more than just a handful of reviews can assure you that it’s not just the locksmith’s friends and family giving them a boost to get their business off the ground. 

• Availability and response time: Because getting locked out of your house can happen at any time, you’ll want a locksmith who’s available and responds quickly.

• Transparent pricing: Transparent pricing is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises and hidden fees. A reputable locksmith should provide clear and detailed cost estimates before beginning any work and have this information clearly outlined on their website/services page. Suck transparency will help you understand the expected expenses and ensures that you won't be overcharged. 

You’ll also want to ask how they plan to receive payment. It may not be too comfortable to have the locksmith follow you in your home in the middle of the night because you’ve forgotten your bag with your keys and wallet inside the house, and you need to get cash out to pay them.

Where to find a reliable locksmith

There are plenty of places to find a reliable locksmith in your area. Here are a few thought-starters:

• Online: Search engines like Google, Yelp!, and Angi to find locksmiths with reviews

• Local directories: Check Yellow Pages and online business directories for locksmith listings

• Recommendations: Ask friends, neighbors, and coworkers for personal recommendations

• Locksmith associations: Check directories from locksmith associations like ALOA

• Hardware stores: Inquire at local hardware stores for locksmith recommendations

How to end your locksmith woes once and for all

If you often find yourself locked out of your house and become a frequent client of your local locksmith, it may be time to consider alternative options.

Today, there is no need to settle for a standard lock and key. Plenty of smart home companies – SimpliSafe included – offer keyless smart locks to their customers. The SimpliSafe Smart Lock offers several benefits:

• Automatic door locking: You can set your door to automatically lock on a timer, just in case you forget to lock the door manually on your way out. 

• Impedes intruders: If someone enters the wrong PIN five times, SimpliSafe’s smart lock will notify you. After fifteen attempts, it will automatically lock your home for thirty minutes, ensuring that no unwanted visitors gain access.

• Keeps track of who comes and goes: The smart lock will send you alerts whenever someone locks or unlocks the door, so you know when the kids return home from school or when a contractor leaves for the day. 

• No key needed: Lock and unlock your door using your specific PIN code, either on the lock itself, on your keyfob or via the SimpliSafe app. With keyless locking and unlocking, you never have to worry about forgetting your keys again! 

In the end, the most important thing is to ensure your property is secure and only accessible to verified visitors. Remember to lock up and have your favorite locksmith on speed dial!