Protecting your valuables is important for renters and homeowners alike. Would you get any random person to install a security system? Of course you don’t, that is why you should only hire locksmiths to work on your locks. Whatever the issue is, this article has tips to help you find a pro.
Locked out from your house? Don’t agree to replace that lock right up front. A locksmith that knows what they are doing will not need to change the lock. Replacing a lock will force you to spend extra money for no reason.
If you are painting, it is important to cover your locks before you begin. If you accidentally get paint on your lock, your key may no longer work. It might take some extra time, but you will lose even more time and money if you end up having to call a locksmith to come fix your locks.
When you paint your house, be sure to cover the locks prior to painting. Otherwise, you may get paint in the keyhole. Covering all your locks can eat some time, but it’s a lot faster and cheaper than using a locksmith to change them all.
Even if you’re thinking that locksmiths aren’t something you’ll need, being prepared is important. Do your homework before you are in a pinch, and you can have someone you can rely on if you ever have an emergency. Save your locksmith’s phone number in your phone just so that you always have it.
Check with the BBB to make sure your chosen locksmith is reliable. Another great place to determine the legitimacy of the locksmith is to check with the organization that specializes in verifying them, and that is ALOA.org.
Get a receipt once the work is done. While most of the locksmiths you encounter will be honest, there are those few that try to scam others. Always make sure that the receipt you get states that the job is complete and everything is paid in full. Place your receipt somewhere safe in case a dispute should arise.
Before you let a locksmith inside your home, make sure he gives you a few references and professional recommendations. You may wish to call each and every reference given. Not only will you want to get great quality services in a locksmith, you have to be able to trust the person all the way.
Business Hours
Ask any locksmith about his or her experience up front. Make sure that they’ve also been operating from the same location. Companies between 5 and 10 years old in an area are probably reliable.
One good way to save money with a locksmith is to hire them during business hours. A locksmith will charge more for evening and night-time service. For example, finding yourself locked outside of your car during business hours may cost $50 or so, but after hours this can easily double.
Verify a locksmith’s credentials before letting them into your home. Double check the address listed is real and connects with the phone number you were given. The Internet is a valuable tool that will help you to easily verify a locksmith’s credentials, so be sure to use it.
Check the BBB to find the claims against your potential locksmiths. You will minimize the chance of being scammed if the person is in good standing with the BBB.
Check the identification of the locksmiths when they arrive. Inquire while you are still on the telephone and make it clear that you will verify the information. Most good professionals wear uniforms as well, but at minimum a valid ID should be presented.
Do not use any locksmith that changes their quote upon arrival. It is best to hire a locksmith that is honest and upfront.
Do not employ a locksmith that charges a really small price. Sometimes this means that the person is not qualified to do the job they have been hired for. Get multiple quotes, get rid of the lowest and highest ones, and try hiring the modest ones.
Find a locksmith who has current credentials and stays active in learning more about his trade. It helps to ensure that you have a true professional working on your locks. It can also help you avoid poor locksmiths that take you for all you’ve got!
Get the information on a good locksmith before you need to find one. During an emergency, you will have a lot fewer options to choose from. It is vital to get someone that you can trust.
When you make your first call to a locksmith, one of your first questions should be to find out the length of time that they have been open for business. Confirm that they have been in the same location for a long time. Firms that have been in one place for multiple years can generally be trusted.
Ask the locksmith how long they’ve been doing business. Chances are, if they have been around for a while, they are trustworthy. While experience does not equal trustworthiness, you want to hire someone who has been established as reputable and trustworthy.
Before you hire any locksmith, search the Internet for reviews about the quality of their services. Review sites like Angie’s List can be a huge help. Make sure the site you check for reviews is not however tied to any locksmith service or sponsor. Also, check with the BBB.
Don’t pick the first locksmith you come across. Calling from three to as many as five individual locksmiths is a good way to get a range of prices. You will know what the rates are with various companies. You can choose a locksmith with a price that is right.
Check that the locksmith is who they claim to be prior to allowing them entry to your home. Double check the address listed is real and connects with the phone number you were given. With the World Wide Web at your fingertips, checking someone out is quite easy, so don’t skip this step!
Ask your locksmith for a customer list. Next, give some of the people on the list a call. Ask if they are trustworthy and what they will charge.
Do not hire the first locksmith you consider. Call a few to get a feel for the options available. This will give you a good idea of reasonable rates. Once you know the price range of the job, you can select a locksmith who charges a fair price.
Google the locksmith’s name when they arrive. Don’t be embarrassed by this since it can protect you better than a few locks can. If you see something that isn’t good, you can find another company or ask the company to send a different person.
Prior to putting all your trust into just any locksmith, talk to some customers first. A lot of businesses are going to not have a problem with giving you references, and you should take your time to call them up. Figure out just how good the locksmith is at his job and also find out what his rates are off-hours and for emergencies.
Ask about additional fees when asking for a quote. Does the price include tax? Can you take advantage of senior or veteran discounts? Do you charge extra for urgency or mileage? Figure out the total, and then agree.
Some locksmiths charge a lot more if you call outside of business hours. Sometimes this will increase the amount of money that you must pay. This can be avoided by soliciting multiple price quotes.
If you happen to call a locksmith during non-office hours, expect to pay a lot more money. There are companies who make the most of this and charge premium rates. You can avoid this by getting a few different quotes.
Ask to see their identification and license when a locksmith arrives. Compare the two to ensure that the person there is who they say they are. Not every state makes licensing mandatory, but a reputable locksmith has one anyway.
A professional locksmith does more than just changing locks on your doors, they should be also be able to install window locks. They may know a little about alarm systems as well.
Talk to your police department to see if any locksmith company you wish to hire has complaints against them. The department will have these filed, so you should be able to access them. If the police find something, go back to the drawing board and find another locksmith.
Ask for an ID and a license when you have the locksmith come to you. Look at the two to be sure the locksmith is who they say they are. Not every state requires locksmiths to be licensed, but most good locksmiths will have one.
Know what the locksmith is keeping. For instance, is your key and your address kept in their files? This can be a big security breach if the wrong person got a hold of it! Before they do the work, find out if this is their policy.
Try to find a locksmith that has been around at where you live for quite some time. If they have just come to the area, then ask for references from their previous location. Do a search online for the company to see if you can find customer feedback.
When you have electric issues, you hire an electrician. So, when you have issues with locks, you hire a locksmith. Do you know how to find a professional you can trust? Read the tips in this article. They will help you find a qualified professional.
Contact the police department to find out if the company you wish to hire has any complaints against it. These will be filed with their department, so they should be available to you. When there are any records available, cross that firm off your list.
