Are you building a new home? Who will put in your locks for you? Do you currently own a home? Would you like to secure it with the addition of window locks? Are you standing on your porch in the cold because you left your keys inside? Find a great locksmith using the tips below.
In the event that you have a high-security lock and there is a problem, it is best to call the lock company before calling a locksmith. Since this type of lock was designed to be difficult, a locksmith may have a hard tome getting into it. You may end up paying a bundle for them to try with no success.
Get a receipt when the work is done. Most locksmiths are of course honest, but there are scam artists out there. Always make sure that the receipt you get states that the job is complete and everything is paid in full. Have the receipt somewhere safe so you can get it if an issue arises.
The best way to find the most reliable locksmith is usually word of mouth. When you need one, start asking your friends and family who they trust. From there, check with the local BBB or other agency that will provide information about reputations. Don’t just trust anyone with the keys to your home!
Inquire as to whether or not the locksmith you hire is bonded and insured. While this may seem like over-regulation to some, it can really save a homeowner from potential disaster. If anything breaks or otherwise goes wrong while the locksmith is servicing something on your property, you will be competely covered!
Google your prospective locksmith. Lots of websites are dedicated to customer reviews of businesses. It’s best that you don’t simply trust the reviews that any locksmith puts on their own website. Also try checking with your local BBB before you hire a locksmith.
The locksmith should ask you for identification. Any reputable locksmith will want to ensure that you are the actual owner of the property. This may seem like an inconvenience, but you need to realize that a locksmith that asks for indentification is only trying to protect the community from theft.
Be sure to request identification from any locksmith you are thinking of hiring. While you’re on the phone with them, let them know that they will need to show you proper identification before they can enter your home. Solid professionals also tend to wear uniforms, but proper identification is a bare minimum.
If you can, look on the Internet for information about a potential locksmith. There are a number of reliable websites that contain reviews of consumer services. Do not use a site that is affiliated with any particular locksmith or locksmith group. Additionally, check with your local Better Business Bureau before hiring a locksmith.
Obtain a list of previous customers from a locksmith before you trust him with your keys and locks. Next, give some of the people on the list a call. Inquire about trust, costs and especially the price for emergency services or a call on a Sunday afternoon.
Before you hire a locksmith, ask them about any additional fees you may face. While their low cost of replacing a lock may seem great, those fees can turn it into an expensive venture. There may be a charge for coming to do the work quickly, the time of day it is or even mileage.
Be sure to Google the business you wish to hire to see what others say about the quality of their work. This is an easy way to figure out if the company is a scam or not, but only if they haven’t changed their name recently. If you can’t find anything, that is another red flag.
Question the company about how much of your information they are going to retain after the job is completed. Also find out what that information will be used for. Finally, if the locksmith is working on your residence, make sure that the locksmith doesn’t set the locks to take a master key. This could be a security issue down the road.
Emergencies will cost you more with a locksmith. Some locksmiths will know this and charge unreasonably high rates during these times. Be sure to shop around and check out multiple locksmiths to make sure you’re getting the best value.
Compare the invoice presented to you with the person’s business card, license and even signage on their vehicle. If they all match, you’re good to go. If the invoice has no company name, be wary. Unless they operate as an independent contractor under their own name, you might be facing a scam.
Ask your family, coworkers and friends who they have used for locksmithing services in the past. This will not only give you a list of people you can trust, but potentially those to avoid. It will also help you to discover who is local, meaning you can track them down easily.
Make sure that the price you were quoted on the phone closely matches the price you are being given on site. There are a lot of scams out there, and this bait and switch is one of them. It’s best to vet locksmiths before an emergency even happens just to make sure you don’t get into this scenario.
Ask around to find out who people you trust use for their locksmithing needs. If they don’t have any recommendations, check with service rating websites such as Angie’s List. You can also ask construction companies to find out who they use, or even local security companies as they may know someone good.
A phone quote won’t necessarily be what you’re charged after the work is done. It’s hard for them to give exact numbers without actually seeing the damage. However, the price should be close to what was quoted.
An emergency is not the time to find your locksmith. Use the valuable information in this article to go about hiring a locksmith in the right way and at the right time. These tips and tricks will end up saving you a lot of money and a lot of trouble. Put them to good use!