A good locksmith can quickly become someone you are faced with an emergency. Use these suggestions so that you will already have a good locksmith candidate.
Cover locks before you begin painting. It might take some extra time, but that pales in comparison to the time a locksmith will take to change all of the locks.
When you paint your house, be sure to cover the locks prior to painting. If you get paint in the holes of the locks, it could cause your keys to no longer fit into them. This may take time, but it will be worth it in the end.
You need to be sure that the person you hire has your best interests at heart. Some locksmiths are scammers and will make duplicates without your keys.
Be on the lookout for locksmiths who provide estimates only to raise them significantly later on. This is a scam to extract more cash from you.
Even if it seems like you’ll never need to hire a locksmith, it’s always good to be prepared. Research before you need one and find someone that you can trust. You can save the locksmith’s phone number so you have it ready to go if there is an emergency.
Find locksmiths who are active professionals in the locksmith community. It is wise to know that you have a true professional working on your locks. It will also allow you to know he’s dedicated to what he’s doing.
You can often find websites that provide reviews in your particular area. Make sure the review websites are not run by a locksmith. You also go to your local BBB before you decide on a locksmith.
You want to be sure that you get a receipt once you pay a locksmith. Although locksmiths are generally honest, there are scammers out there. So, get verification that you are paying for the services in full. The receipt should be placed somewhere safe because you may have questions about payments in the future.
Sometimes this will mean that the person is not qualified to do the work correctly. Get several quotes and find one that you want to hire.
Look for a good locksmith well in advance of needing them. Waiting until after an emergency to call one will really limit your choices. You may even end up with a disreputable person with access to your belongs and your valuables.
Make sure you check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure that you are working with a reputable locksmith. This will give you the information you need for your peace of mind.
Ask the locksmith you are considering how long they’ve been doing business. If they have been working at this for quite some time, they are probably reliable. While experience does not equal trustworthiness, just a tiny bit of experience is something to be cautious with.
Ask your locksmith for references of previous customers. Most companies will gladly give you the references you ask for, and it’s important that you actually call them.
If you get a price on the phone and then a locksmith wants you to pay more after they show up, tell them you are no longer interested in the service they offer. There are far too many options for locksmiths. Those that will be dishonest are not worth the time.
The net is a valuable resource for a locksmith. A lot of people enjoy getting online to talk about their experience with. You should be able to access both good and negative reviews. These reviews can come in handy when you are looking to hire a deciding factor when you are searching for a locksmith.
Beware of any locksmith who claims they need to drill out your lock or wants to replace it when you find yourself locked out.
Get references before you hire a locksmith. You may wish to call each and every reference given. You can never be too safe.
You can always do a Google anyone who comes to work for the locksmith that is going to be providing services to you. Don’t feel embarrassed by this since it can protect you do; protection of yourself isn’t just about locks. If you think something is unsavory, try to get another locksmith.
A good locksmith should not charge you for showing up at your house. Most locksmiths won’t do this, so it indicates this person is not on the up and up. If you request that they leave and they demand payment, ask them to leave.
Talk to multiple locksmiths prior to making a decision. Call a variety of locksmiths before you commit to choosing one. This will give you a good idea of reasonable rates. After you are in the know, you can more intelligently make your decision about what is an acceptable bill.
Ask about additional fees when hiring a quote. Is tax included or not included with the total they quoted? Do they have any discounts for veterans or seniors? Do you charge extra for urgency or those outside of a certain radius. Figure out what your total prior to agreeing to anything.
Locksmith services are more costly after regular business hours. Some locksmiths actually use these hours to charge exorbitant rates. You can often avoid this by obtaining quotes from multiple locksmiths.
Ask your locksmith for a customer list. Next, give some of the people on the list a call. Ask about the dependability and integrity of the locksmith as well as the amount charged after hours or during emergency situations.
If you are unhappy with the service, immediately call into the company to lodge a complaint. If you do not, they may not fix the issue for free. If you don’t get want you need, you should speak with a consumer protection agency to help you.
Tipping a locksmith is a common practice, so don’t neglect to hand him a few bucks for what he did for you. This is certainly the case if the situation was an emergency situation. A good tip for a typical locksmith service is 15 percent, and 20% can be given for after-hours visits.
Be wary of any locksmith who wants to replace your lock immediately. A professional can open the door without damaging the lock and also provide a new key.
Difficult and dangerous situations do occur when we least expect them, so it’s wise to be prepared. It’s always smart to be prepared. Use these tips to find the locksmith you may need down the road.
