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At some point in your life, you will inevitably need the assistance of a locksmith. Whether you accidentally locked yourself out of your house or your key broke inside the door, locksmiths are absolute lifesavers during these inconvenient, stressful times. Imagine the relief you’ll feel if you’re locked out of your house on a cold night and the locksmith finally pulls into your driveway; you’ve been rescued.

What should you expect when calling a locksmith and what does the process entail?

The first step is submitting a service request. Next, the company’s dispatch department will work with the local team to find a technician available to help you. The technician will contact you with an estimated time of arrival. The technician will also ask you any relevant questions and gather all the necessary information needed to unlock your door.

The next steps in the process are outlined below so that you will have a better understanding of what the typical protocol is when a locksmith arrives. You will also learn the basics of what a locksmith does when fixing or replacing a broken lock. The more you know about what’s going on, the more comfortable you will feel.

Calling a Locksmith: An Overview

The process a locksmith typically follows is outlined below.

● Submitting a service request. This refers to the call you, the customer, make to the company when you need a locksmith’s assistance. Ideally, you will be familiar with a 24-hour emergency locksmith service ahead of time. Otherwise, you will have to do a few quick searches on your phone before making the call.

● Coordination. The company’s dispatch department will coordinate the call with a service manager. This is when the company locates a service technician who is available and geographically close to you. If it is after hours, there is usually at least one technician on call at any given time for emergencies.

● Phone call. The technician will call you to update you with an estimated time of arrival and to gather any pertinent information. That way, the technician will have all of the tools and equipment he or she needs to successfully complete the task at hand.

● Evaluation. Once the locksmith arrives, he or she will evaluate the problem and give you an estimate of how much it will cost to fix or replace your lock, how long it will take and so forth. That way, there will not be any unpleasant surprises at the end when you receive an invoice for services.

● The work. After the locksmith has answered any of your questions during the evaluation stage, he or she will do the actual locksmithing work. For a lockout, this involves either repairing or replacing the damaged lock. There are many other services that they can provide, it depends what you need.

● Completion. The final step involves the locksmith presenting you with an invoice for services rendered. You may be asked to submit payment immediately, or you might be given a 30-day window.

Will I Need to Replace all My Locks?

It depends on the work the locksmith is required to do. If you were simply locked out of your house, the locksmith can open the door without requiring any of your locks to be replaced. In general, this is less expensive and easier than replacing the locks. The same is true in the event you accidentally lock yourself out of your car; the locks and keys do not need to be replaced unless you have absolutely no access to a spare key.

Can a Locksmith Help Me if I am Not the Homeowner?

A locksmith can indeed assist you if you are locked out of a home that you do not own. For example, you may be housesitting for someone else and accidentally lock yourself out. However, you should always expect to produce your ID and explain to the locksmith that you are not the owner.

Related Questions

When Should my House be Rekeyed?

In the event your home is burglarized, and the burglars were able to access one of your house keys, it is necessary to change the locks and rekey them. That way, the burglars will not be able to easily access your home again. Or, if there is a problem with your lock that is so complicated that it cannot be repaired and it has to be replaced, then, in that event, you will need to rekey all the locks as well.

Does a Locksmith Have to Break Your Lock?

In most cases, no. A locksmith can usually open a locked door using his or her tools and equipment without causing any damage to the lock itself. This is not always the case, however. In some rare instances, yes, the lock will need to be broken in order to open the door. The locksmith will advise you before breaking the lock if it is indeed necessary to do so and there are no other options.

Hopefully, you will not need to call a locksmith anytime soon. That said, it’s important to have the name and phone number of a reliable locksmith handy in the event you are locked out of your house or car. It happens to the best of us – that’s why 24-hour emergency locksmith services are available in the first place.

How Much Does a Locksmith Charge for His or Her Services?

It varies. Different locksmiths have different rates for their labor and equipment. This is why the evaluation step is important; you will be provided with an estimate before the work is done. That way, you can realistically manage your expectations in terms of what it is going to cost you to have your door opened, your locks replaced, etc.

If you live in Michigan, Action Locksmith, Inc is a trusted and reputable locksmith that has been helping residents throughout the southeastern Michigan and beyond for over 30 years! Hard work, dedication and commitment to quality workmanship has made us one of the best locksmith companies around. From re-keying to door repair and installation, access control to security systems, we can help your home or business with your door lock and security needs. Call us today to learn more about our locksmith services!