If you need to rekey your locks or replace them entirely, find a trusted residential locksmith. Your home insurance or membership association may cover some of the costs.
When you move into a new home, there’s a chance that the builder has copies of your door locks, as well as other people involved with the construction process like plumbers, electricians, drywall contractors and flooring specialists.
Being Locked Out
When you are locked out of your house, it can be a scary situation. It’s always a good idea to give a spare key to a friend or family member who can let you in. Alternatively, your landlord or apartment manager might have a spare key, as well. However, it’s important to understand that the building may charge a lockout fee.
Another option is to try to pick the lock yourself, but this can be dangerous for you and your family. It’s also not the best way to get into your home, and it’s likely that you will cause more damage than if you had called a residential locksmith service. Moreover, it’s not possible to know how many people have your home keys. This can lead to someone else entering your home, either to rob you or harm you and your loved ones.
Broken Keys
If your key has broken inside the lock, this is a very serious problem. It could prevent you from locking your home and may also allow a burglar to gain entry to your home.
This is one of the most common reasons people call a residential locksmith. If you are renting an apartment, previous tenants might have a copy of your key or even extra keys floating around. We can rekey your locks to ensure that only you have access.
To remove a broken key, start by spraying a dry lubricant, such as WD-40, into the keyhole and around the broken piece of the key. You can then use a match or piece of wire (a straightened bobby pin works well) to apply pressure to the broken key bit.
Moving into a New Home
If you’ve moved into a new home, one of the first things you should do is get the locks changed. You never know who might have a key to your house — previous tenants, babysitters, pet sitters, cleaning services, and other people who may need access to clean or repair the home.
A locksmith can change the locks to ensure you are the only person who has access to your home. They can also install home safes for additional security. These safes are used to lock valuable items, such as cash, jewels, and expensive equipment, and can help deter thieves from entering your property. They can be installed on a door, drawers, or cabinets. They can even be buried underneath the floor. They can be accessed with a key or code.
Moving into an Existing Home
Those who move into existing homes have just as many security concerns as those moving into apartments. There’s no way of knowing who might have a copy of your front door key, or how many keys might be floating around out there. A locksmith can rekey your locks to ensure that only you have access.
Locks can wear out with time, so it’s a good idea to have them checked and replaced when necessary. This is another task that residential locksmith services can handle, and it’s usually less expensive than getting a new lock installed. However, the exact price will vary depending on when you call for service (after-hours services are generally more expensive). The locksmith should be certified, which means they have passed a background check and have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and competence.
Single-Key Access
It’s not just apartment buildings that have security issues – many existing homes do as well. When you move into an older home, there’s a good chance that many people have had access to the front door and other doors in the house – builder workers, plumbers, electricians, drywall contractors, etc.
In such situations, it’s best to call a residential locksmith so that they can rekey the locks. This way, you only have one key that opens all the locks in your home.
It’s important that you hire a residential locksmith with the appropriate certification. Check their credentials, including online reviews and customer satisfaction ratings. A reputable company should be able to provide you with the information you need quickly and clearly. They should also offer a reasonable estimate for the work.