If you lock yourself out of the house, ignore locksmiths who want to replace the lock upfront. A skilled locksmith should not have to do a total lock replacement in order to unlock any door. Replacing locks will cost you more money.
When you call a locksmith company, pay attention to how they answer the phone. You want to hear the company's name. If they do not provide one, ask them for it. If you get the run around, and the name is not given, move on to someone else. They could be running a scam.
When checking the credentials on any potential locksmith, don't forget about a possible alias, or other name under which they might have operated. While not everyone will reveal this information, it should be readily available to you online and elsewhere. While a name change isn't always a bad sign, it's something you should know about when seraching!
Make sure the locksmith you hire is properly licensed and insured. While this may not impact his ability to fix you up a new set of keys, it offers a lot in terms of credibility and trust. Make sure anyone you use is up to date on all the paperwork and as professional as possible.
Contact the Better Business Bureau before hiring a locksmith to make sure that they have not had a lot of complaints. While there is nothing abnormal about having a couple, a pattern shows that this person is not reliable. It is best to know this about them before trusting them to help you with a lock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg8o30PKRlk
Let's be frank - make an extra set of keys. That means house keys, business keys or even car keys. If you can stop yourself from needing a locksmith, then you don't have to worry about hiring one! That said, still research your options in case you need a lock changed or security set-up upgraded.
A well trained locksmith is one who can solve any problem in a snap. They will have the best security products available because they'll know what's on the market. They'll understand what works, and what doesn't, and you can find them using the tips and tricks you've read here today.
