Locking yourself out of your car or house is very annoying. You might feel like this can only happen to you, or that it will never happen to you. The truth is, as careful as we might be, these kinds of things happen more than we’d like to admit. A locksmith service can help you out of this predicament and get you back inside your home or car quickly and easily. However, there are a few things you should consider before calling a locksmith.
IS IT AN EMERGENCY?
Before you call a locksmith you need to ask yourself one important question – is this an emergency? If it’s after business hours, then yes, hiring a professional locksmith service makes sense. However, if it’s during business hours and you find yourself locked out of your car or home, it might be best to wait for a while. Chances are the person who has the keys is on their way home to let you back in.
If this is not an option for whatever reason, then hiring a locksmith would be appropriate. According to professionals from Brandon Lock and Key, a professional locksmith can have you back into your home within 30 minutes. A car will take a bit longer because of the location of the lock, but it should only take about an hour at most for a trained technician to make it happen. However, since companies often charge a premium for calls made during off-hours, even if they are relatively close to the site, if it’s not an emergency, you should try to wait until the morning.
WHAT TYPE OF SERVICE DO YOU NEED?
One of the things that make locksmiths so useful is their versatility. They can be called out for any type of service – opening doors, replacing a lock or a key, and even installing a new one. There are many times when you might find yourself locked out of your house or car. If this happens several times, you should consider having a locksmith install a deadbolt or another sturdy lock that will make it much more difficult for you to get locked out again.
However, if this is the first time you are locked out of your apartment, then you should consider changing all the locks on the door – front door, bedroom doors, sliding glass door – especially if they are old and flimsy. Getting new high-security keys created is usually cheaper than changing an entire lock because of how expensive those can be. The same goes for cars; if it’s an older model that doesn’t have a sophisticated security system, then it would be cheaper to have the locks changed than to install a brand new one.
THE REPUTATION OF THE LOCKSMITH
If this is the first time you are hiring a locksmith service, then it would be best to check their reputation before making a decision about which one to choose. Chances are good that if they have been in business for a while, people will talk and leave reviews on websites like Google and Yelp. You can also ask your friends and family which company they use and how they liked them. This will help you make an informed decision when you call up a locksmith service after being locked out of your car or home.
Since you are locked out, you probably cannot call your insurance company to see if they provide discounts for using a locksmith service. However, it never hurts to ask when you are on the phone with them. You might be surprised by their answer!
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
This is one of the most important questions you will ask before hiring a locksmith service. However, since they offer their services at different rates, it can be hard to find an answer that applies to your situation. Most companies charge by the hour or have tiered pricing – if you are locked out of your car then it’s cheaper than if you are locked out of your home. Some companies might also give discounts for cash payments – these could easily save you 10% or more!
You should make sure you know what type of payment they accept before calling them because many do not accept credit cards. You don’t want to waste time driving around looking for an ATM just to pay for something that would have cost a lot less if you had just used a debit or credit card. Make sure to ask this question as soon as the locksmith service answers your call, and write it down on a piece of paper so you can refer back to it later.
Locksmiths can save the day when these kinds of things happen. However, some things are best kept in mind before you have them show up at your doorstep to help you out of this sticky situation. By following these tips, you will be able to find the right locksmith service for your needs and budget so that you can save yourself a headache.
Kevin Szabo Jr Plumbing 