What would you do if you got locked out? If you make a phone call to the police, you are going to be told to contact a locksmith. Are you going to be able to trust just any locksmith? Avoid calling 911; instead, have a locksmith in mind to help you in emergencies.
Cover up all of your locks before you begin painting. If you paint over the lock, your key will not fit, and you will have to hire a locksmith. The time spent covering locks will save you a ton of money over hiring a locksmith to fix them.
Be sure you’re able to research the locksmith of your choice before you hire them for any work. Are they thinking about your best interests? There are less than reputable locksmiths out there who make a habit of making extra copies of keys for themselves, so use caution.
Business Hours
You can avoid hefty fees by finding a locksmith while they are open for regular business hours. This will help you to reduce the cost that you pay. The after hours fees can often be double the fees charged during normal business hours.
When you contact a locksmith and it’s your first time, you should speak with them about how long they’ve been doing this. In addition, ask how long they have been in business at their current location. Locksmith with more than 5 years of experience are a better choice.
Check that the locksmith is who they claim to be prior to allowing them entry to your home. Check on both the address and phone number, making certain that they match the business and the individual. Due to the Internet, it is very easy to make sure if someone is trustworthy.
Don’t hire someone who charges significantly less than everyone else. Often, this person will have minimal experience and may even be a scam artist. It’s always a good idea to get as many quotes as possible and only consider those in the middle of the range.
Make sure to inquire about a locksmith’s history in the business. If it’s been a while, they are more likely to be trustworthy. While someone new to the business shouldn’t automatically be ruled out, if they don’t have much experience behind them, you need to be careful.
Get a customer list before you trust a locksmith. Just ask for some references or check the reputation of the locksmith online. Ask if they are trustworthy and what they will charge.
Never use any locksmith who will charge you for just showing up! This is far from standard practice, so it is an indicator of a bad apple. If they insist on payment when you don’t hire them, call the cops.
Whenever you receive a locksmith’s price quote, ask about additional charges. Is the price with tax? Are you eligible for any sorts of discounts? Are there additional fees which will be tacked on like mileage or urgent service fees? You must ask them about all associated costs before you let them start working!
Ask for an ID and a license. Compare these documents so you know who you’re dealing with. While not every state will make a locksmith get a license, good locksmiths will get one whatever the case may be.
Do not put yourself in a vulnerable situation when a locksmith comes to your home. If you don’t trust them, send them on their way. This is why you should meet them where their store is prior to letting them know where you live.
If you were unhappy with what transpired with your locksmith, immediately call into the company to lodge a complaint. If you wait too long, it could go past the deadline where the company lets you make changes. If the company will not correct the problem, contact the local Better Business Bureau.
Ask what they keep after they do the job. For example, are they going to have a copy of the key you have in their files? Imagine the risk if somebody nefarious got hold of them. It is imperative to get this information before hiring the locksmith.
Hiring a locksmith is costly, so make sure you really need one before you call. You are able to change locks yourself without a professional. If you are completely sure you know you can’t tackle a certain job, then, by all means, call on a locksmith.
Remember that the price you get on the phone may differ slightly from what you are actually charged. If the lock has been damaged, it may require extra work on the part of the locksmith. It should raise flags if you get vastly different phone and in-person price quotes.
Emergency Services
If you are trying to locate a good, trusted locksmith, pick one that is going to be able to provide emergency services. You can never tell when you will need the services of a locksmith. Find out what the charge is for emergency services. There are sure to be extra fees, so you can get past any surprises before they come.
These tips can help you learn how to hire one that can help you in a hurry. You can find a professional who charges you a good price if you do your research. Why you specifically need to hire a good locksmith doesn’t really matter, as this article can help you find one for whatever your job is.
