Finding the Right 24 Hour Locksmith

It happens when you least expect it, and seems to occur at the worst possible times; locking yourself out of your home or vehicle. When you find yourself in this situation it can obviously be a big headache, with a fair amount of hassle thrown in for good measure. This hassle can easily be multiplied when you have locked yourself out during the night, or on a holiday. In order to make getting back into your home as easy and hassle-free as possible, it is crucial to choose a 24 hour locksmith company before you are in need of service. By vetting a company before you are in need of their services you will be able to find the best professional to take care of your needs. As a customer, you will also be able to find out the exact pricing that a specific 24 hour locksmith company charges, allowing you to choose a locksmith based on a realistic final cost amount.

Ask Your 24 Hour Locksmith the Right Questions

As mentioned above, finding the right locksmith company to use when you are locked out comes down to properly vetting the company before going to them for service. This means that you must ask any applicable questions that could affect the way that a 24 hour locksmith completes service for you. It may take calling to several companies to find a professional that you are comfortable with. However, this time is well spent and can help you to avoid a headache in the future.

Hours of Availability

The first task in the process of finding the best 24 hour locksmith for you, is first ensuring the company’s 24 hour availability. Does the company have technicians who are completing service in the middle of the night, or do they keep emergency locksmiths on call? If a locksmith is on-call it can increase the wait time that you would normally experience since the locksmith is not already in the field. Ensuring that the 24 hour locksmith is going to be able to assist you on holidays is also important. While the company may claim to offer service 24/7, they may not have locksmiths available during major holidays.

24 Hour Pricing

When saving the number of a locksmith into your phone for future use, it is also wise to get price quotes for your specific service. This can help customers to avoid becoming another victim of “bait and switch” tactics. When calling for locksmith pricing information it is crucial to ask for the price of service for both regular business hours and after-hours service. Some 24 hour locksmiths charge more during the night and weekends so, as a customer, it is important to know this beforehand.

Have your locksmith of choice saved to your phone for quick access in emergency situations.

Assure Professional Quality Service

Another important question to ask when vetting a 24 hour locksmith company is to ask whether overnight and weekend service is completed by a licensed professional or an apprentice in training. Some unscrupulous locksmiths may offer 24 hour service, but overnight and weekend service is completed by their training apprentices and not their licensed professionals. Having an apprentice complete service is obviously a concern for customers who want to ensure that no damage is done to their lock during the emergency opening process.

Additional 24 Hour Locksmith Services

The most common reason for needing a 24 hour locksmith is for the completion of an emergency unlock, however there is much more that a locksmith company can offer you. A full service 24 hour locksmith company will not only be able to offer you emergency unlock service, but many other helpful services. If you have lost your car keys and are in need of a replacement, some mobile locksmiths will be able to complete this service 24/7. This can be beneficial since it can get your vehicle back out on the road hours, or days, earlier than you would have been able to otherwise. Additional services that a 24 hour locksmith can provide you include lock repair, lock replacement and re-keying. All three of these services can be useful in the case that your home or business is broken into during the night or on a weekend. By having your locks returned to functioning order as soon as possible, customers can avoid additional loss that can occur when security is down.

When it comes to choosing a 24 hour locksmith company, the main concern of customers should be to choose a company that they feel they are able to trust. With the right combination of availability, pricing and services, customers can trust that the locksmith company they are choosing will be there to provide emergency service exactly when they are in need of it.

What Should You Look For in A Locksmith Company?

There are several factors one must take into account when choosing a locksmith.  Like any skilled trade such as an automotive mechanic, a plumber, or an HVAC technician, Locksmiths can range in skill and specialty.  Some important things to look for would be their years of experience, availability of services provided, reputation, and of course the opinions and experiences of their customers.  These key elements are a good starting point to find a good locksmith, but also to help you avoid the hassle and headache of getting stuck with a less than desirable experience. The following is a guide to help you choose the best option for your locksmith needs.

Being a locksmith is a skilled trade that can take months, if not years, to master the library of knowledge and skill that will be an asset to you in a time of need.  There are many locksmiths out there. Most of which have learned from a trade that was passed down to them via immediate family. Whereas these individuals may do an excellent job, they may not have as much knowledge as an active professional locksmith who does it as a living. To ensure that your needs are met, it’s better to go with someone who has a continuous professional history and several active years of service. The better business bureau (B.B.B.) can help in finding the number of years that a company has been in business.  Do keep in mind that a company doesn’t have to be 60 or 100 years old to employ good, skilled, and knowledgeable locksmiths.

There are several types of locksmiths out there to choose from.  Locksmiths can specialize in one, or all of the following areas: automotive, residential, commercial, and emergency lockout services.  A good starting point is finding a company that can cover a wide array of these locksmith specialties.  This way, you can be assured that your need will be met by the proper technician. Checking for a larger organization will give you a better choice as they generally employ more locksmiths with a wider variety of skills.  Saving a few dollars to go with the guy down the road might not be the best tactic if he doesn’t have the knowledge or skill to work on your specific problem.

The reputation of the locksmith should be the most important factor when choosing who to do business with.  Have you heard any good things about the company or person you are about to call?  Word of mouth is one of the oldest, and best, forms of advertising out there.  Certain websites such as consumer reports or Angie’s list can be a good place to look for feedback on locksmiths. However, be warned that there is nothing on those sites that says the people posting are telling the truth.  Unfortunately, perception in these instances is key. Some occurrences or experiences can be tainted by the customers’ attitude or situation when they are dealing with someone in the service industry.  Remember, not everything that is posted online is always true.   Talking to someone who has had a personal experience, especially if it’s someone you know, would be the better route when trying to find someone to work with.  As mentioned before, the B.B.B. can be a more reliable way to see a company’s reputation as they are a regulated organization and have procedures in place for making reports on a company.

In conclusion, a good locksmith can be found as long as you take the time to ask the right questions and find a good and reputable company in your area that can accommodate your needs.  Be aware that when you call one of the larger companies, you should ask to speak to the actual locksmith if you have specific questions regarding what you need to have done.  Many companies utilize dispatch offices to take calls and assign the jobs to their specialized locksmiths. Be sure you get the locksmiths information and speak directly to them as they will be the ones with the knowledge, and who will also be performing the work.  Just keep in mind; it’s difficult to know how to fix a problem over the phone without seeing what needs to be done.  The more detail you can provide to the locksmith, that will help narrow down the problem and will make for an easier fix once the locksmith arrives on location. So take the time to ask the right questions, look for a company that has been around for a while or at least one that has locksmiths with a few years of experience under their belts, and you will do just fine.