Dealing With Being locked Out of your House
Hurrying, absent-mindedness, stress, and multitasking are the hallmarks of modern day life. And in all this, it is easy to lose our keys or to forget them, ending up in a situation all of us dread –a house lockout.
House lockouts are more common than we realize. Every day, millions of people find themselves in such circumstances, and the immediate gut reaction is to panic and look for a locksmith.
Many times people panic to the extent of trying to force entry through the door, which leads to damaging property and the locks. If you find yourself in such a situation, don’t worry.
Just remember this is normal and can happen to people, and the best thing you can do is to stay calm and search for a reliable locksmith.
Whether you are reading this article because you have been locked out of your home, or because you are trying to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, it’s a good thing you are here!
We are going to give you the whole run down on this situation, so if you find yourself staring at a locked door to which you have no keys, you know precisely what to do!
How Does a House Lockout Occur & What You Can Do To Prevent It
Before we move onto the steps you should take when locked out of the house, let’s see what the things that can cause you to experience this situation are. Typically house lockout occurs because of three things:
- You Forgot Your Keys:
It happens. As silly as it sounds, it is prevalent. Many times when you are rushing out of the door, you may end up clicking the lock only to realize you don’t have your keys with you.Typically this happens during the early morning rush when people are rushing to work, or getting children out the door for school. In all the hustle and hurry it is very easy to forget your keys on the kitchen counter or the table. - You Lost Your Keys:
Losing your keys is another typical scenario. Maybe you forgot them at work or lost them there. Or perhaps it was a trip to the supermarket where you had to empty your bag while your toddler spilled milk on it, and you end up losing your keys there.It can be anything. Perhaps the keys fell out of your pocket, or your bag, or maybe your purse was stolen and with it went the keys as well. Whatever the case, at the end of it, you have to stand in front of a locked door. - Faulty Locks
Another typical scenario is the faulty locks situation. Maybe your locks have not been inspected or replaced in a long time. Many people forget to maintain their locks, which makes them unresponsive to the keys.
Sometimes the lock may have sustained some damage after a storm or an accident, and you might’ve kept off the repairs. Usually, in such cases, you have to pay for the stalling with a house lockout.
How To Prevent a Lockout?
Now that you have seen the three most common situations which cause a house lockout, you can agree that prevention is better than the cure.
Rather than landing in a situation where you have to spend hundreds of dollars on getting your lock undone, it is better to be prepared not to land yourself in that situation in the first place. The best thing you can do to prevent this is to:
- Have multiple copies of your keys. Keep some extras in your car or your bag. Or if you have a reliable friend or a neighbor, keep a copy with them.Some people also find it helpful to hide the key somewhere on their property. The benefit of having extra keys cannot be stressed.
- Have a spare key on your car key chain. It is a helpful tip. Having a spare key on your car key chain will prevent you from losing or forgetting the house keys.Often, when we have to take care of more than one keys, we tend to forget. But having them in the same bunch makes this less likely.
- Get regular lock maintenance. Locks require maintenance. Just like anything else. Giving your locks regular maintenance, especially when it’s due will help save you time in the future when you have to face an inevitable lockout.
- Have the number of a reliable locksmith. In case you are ever locked out, you don’t have to deal with scammer locksmiths.
Okay, I Get How To Prevent A Lockout. But What Do I Do Now That I’m Locked Out!
Okay, okay, we know you’re panicked. That is why you are rushing through. However, the first advice is to remain calm. Everything is only going to make sense if you are calm.
So when you find yourself locked out of your home, this is what you should do:
- Check if You Have Any Spare Keys or Any Other Entry Points
Often in the heat of the moment, people forget they already had spare keys. Also, see if there is any other door or window that you can use to get in. Check if any other friend or a family member has a spare key to your house. If not, you have to call a locksmith. - Stay Put & Don’t Force The Lock!
Stay put and don’t force the lock because if you break or damage it, it is only going to cost you even more. It is imperative you don’t make matters worse for the locksmith because in the event the lock is damaged, it will need to be drilled out and replaced. A damaged lock will cost more. - Call a reliable locksmith
There are many scammer locksmiths out there who will either charge you more for the job, insist on changing your lock, or in the worst cases, copy your keys to rob your house in future. So the first thing you can do is to call a reliable locksmith.
Now if you haven’t prepared yourself for this situation beforehand, chances are you won’t know who to call. In this case, when you search for a locksmith number, run a quick search online and see if the locksmith company has a proper name, website, and contact information.
Check them out on Google, and when their employee arrives, see if he is wearing a proper uniform. All of this will signify the locksmith is real and not a scammer.
First Class Locksmith – A Reliable Solution
If you are wondering how to get in contact with a reliable locksmith, First Class Locksmith has been providing locksmith services to Houston for over 35 years.
We are highly experienced and ready to provide to you Houston’s top locksmith service experience. Our locksmiths are trained and have years of experience and certifications.
A seasoned locksmith means they provide the maximum service with the least amount of damage done to your locks. Let us know if we can help you!
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!