5 Questions to Ask to Ensure You Hire Trusted Locksmiths

5 Questions to Ask to Ensure You Hire Trusted Locksmiths

There are many reasons that you may need to hire a locksmith for your home or business. It might be an emergency situation – you’re locked out and misplaced your key – or maybe you want to upgrade your building’s security. Whatever the reason, it’s important to have a trusted locksmith you can call on in times of need. 

In most areas, there are many options for you to choose from, so how do you select the right one? Choosing the right locksmith is crucial; after all, the security of your home or business depends on it.

Many people, unfortunately, select their locksmiths based solely on the factor of cost. However, if you always opt for the lowest-priced services you can find, chances are you will not end up with a locksmith you can really trust. While you certainly shouldn’t be overpaying, there are a lot of factors that are more important to consider when putting your safety and security into the hands of a professional.

Here are five questions to ask to ensure you hire trusted locksmiths:

1. What Services Do You Offer?

Before you start to dig too deep into what makes the perfect locksmith, you should first find out what services your potential candidates offer. After all, you’re trying to see if they are trustworthy and a big part of that is experience and versatility. 

There are plenty of locksmiths out there who can get you back into a locked business, but chances are, at some point you’ll require other services as well. For example, you will occasionally want to change the locks on your doors, especially if there has recently been a security breach in your area. 

Also, find out if your potential locksmith offers rekeying services. If you lose a key, you will have to have it replaced and a reputable locksmith will be able to do this. They will also be able to repair damaged locks, improve security, and install safes and commercial locks.

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2. Do You Belong to Any Professional Organizations? 

A trustworthy locksmith isn’t just someone who can come and unlock a door for you. The job is actually a very demanding one, requiring knowledge of mathematics, spatial perception, and excellent mechanical aptitude and hand-eye coordination. In addition to a great deal of technical proficiency, locksmiths must have a wide breadth of knowledge about the various types of locks and the latest technology and, perhaps most importantly, a commitment to the safety and security of clients. 

To ensure that any potential locksmith you might hire is committed to these things, check if they’re a member of any professional locksmith organizations. While it’s not an absolute necessity for trusted locksmiths to be members of organizations such as the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), being held to the standards of such a group will go a long way toward demonstrating that your potential locksmith is highly trained and always committed to increasing their knowledge.

Harry’s Key Service. Inc is an active member of the Building Industry Association of Clark County. 

3. Do You Have Licenses and Insurance?

This one may seem obvious, but it is absolutely worth mentioning: always ask if your potential locksmith is insured. As locksmiths work with heavy equipment and specialized tools, it’s crucial that they take steps to protect your financial security if there is any sort of accident. Don’t be afraid to ask your potential locksmith any questions you can think of regarding their insurance. Make sure they’re covered in the case of injury or property damage. 

You’ll also want to verify that they have all the applicable licenses for your area; often, less-than-reputable locksmiths will attempt to operate without proper licensing and this should be an instant red flag. Proper licensing means that not only is your locksmith correctly trained, it also means this person will adhere to a stringent code of professional ethics. Check out our staff’s credentials and designations here.

4. How Will You Ensure My Security?

Your financial security is one thing, but you’ll also want to ask about your personal security. After all, locksmiths are in the business of safety, and you’ll want to make sure that they are absolutely committed. 

First, ask if they do background checks on their employees. It’s important that every member of their organization is trustworthy; needless to say, they should be properly screened before being hired and given access to your home and valuables. 

Check any references that the locksmith provides, as well. Don’t be afraid to call and ask past clients about the locksmith company. You’ll want to double check that previous clients have been satisfied, without any major issues pertaining to security. 

Lastly, you should ask what professional guarantees they offer. Trusted locksmiths will have no concerns about backing up their work with a guarantee, as they will be fully confident in the services they provide.

5. Where Are You Located?

After you’ve ensured that your potential locksmith is skilled, licensed, experienced, and committed to your security, you should start considering location. While it is, of course, better to choose a more trustworthy locksmith even if they’re farther away than a less reputable one, location is also important when it comes to key and lock services. After all, if you find yourself trapped outside late at night, the last thing you want is to wait an hour for your locksmith to arrive. 

Ideally, you’ll be able to select someone who is close enough that they can get to you quickly. For example, if you’re in the Greater Vancouver, Washington area or Portland Metro area, you’ll want to seek out the most highly trained professional locksmiths that serve that area. Harry’s Locksmith serves the Greater Vancouver area, Portland metro, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Washougal, Camas, Ridgefield, and more. Our service area extends throughout the Pacific Northwest’s I-5 Corridor. 

We offer residential, commercial, and automotive services, so all of your needs will be met without having to keep three different locksmiths on retainer for your home, business, and vehicle. We can assist you in a lockout, upgrade your building hardware to meet ADA standards, and provide any other security services you may need. Harry’s Locksmith is the pillar in the Vancouver community that you’ll want to find when looking for a trustworthy locksmith in your neighborhood.

 

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Rekey locks vs Changing your locks

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So you’re thinking of calling a locksmith to fix your locks. Do you want to rekey locks or change your locks? This is a question we frequently answer when setting up an appointment. There is a difference between a lock rekey and replacing your door locks. You may be surprised to the learn that the cost to rekey locks is cheaper too.

Should you rekey or change your locks?

Do you know who has keys to your home or office building? Probably more people than you think. These are a few situations where you should rekey your locks:

  • Whenever a key has been lost
  • Whenever a key has been stolen
  • If you have moved recently into a new home or office space
  • If there’s been a staffing change in your organization
  • If a house member or roommate has moved out

The main difference between a lock rekey and changing your locks is that rekeying locks fixes your existing hardware and changing your locks means you want to replace your hardware.

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What is a lock rekey?

A lock rekey is when a locksmith changes the pins in the lock itself so that the previous keys won’t operate it. It is usually cheaper to rekey the existing door hardware than to completely replace it. A lock rekey is great if you already like your current door knob and want a cost effective safety solution. Rekeying your hardware is a simple way to keep your home and work place safe and secure.

A full service locksmith shop like Harry’s Locksmith will have the knowledge and expertise to rekey homes, office buildings, car doors, and vaults and safes. The best locksmith will offer these services.

How much does it cost to rekey locks?

When we provide a quote to rekey locks, there are three main factors we take into account: location, number of locks, and number of keys. The cost to rekey locks is generally as follows:

  1. Location. Our service area fees start at $49 in the Downtown Vancouver area.
  2. Number of locks. It’s approximately $15-20 per lock cylinder that we rekey. Most residential locks are $15 per lock. Some high security commercial locks like Medeco locks are $20.
  3. Keys. Standard residential keys are approximately $2.75.

In what circumstance do you need to change the locks?

There are a few reasons why you might want to replace your locks. For example, if you have had a break in or intruder recently and the locks were damaged, you want to replace the locks.  Another good reason to change your locks is worn out hardware or if you want to upgrade to a better security system. If you want a door knob replacement or a more secure deadbolt, then replacing your locks may be the best option. There are numerous benefits from transitioning to keyless entry or other alternative entry options. 

The cost to change locks and replace the hardware depends on the door you have and what features you want. If you are looking to change the locks on your home, a mechanical deadbolt and knob start at about $26-65 each. The price for new residential door hardware has a wide range. The price depends on the level of security you want, the finish, and style.

How much do locksmiths charge to change locks?

If you’re looking to upgrade your door hardware to digital locks or keyless entry, there’s even more options! Prices start at about $110 and go up for a keyless entry lock. The cost to replace locks will include the cost of the hardware itself (unless the customer provides it), labor to install (usually at an hourly rate), and a service call fee based on the area that the locksmith assists you at.

A house rekey or changing your door hardware doesn’t have to be expensive. Give us a call today for a free estimate and our team will help guide you through the process and help you pick out the best option for your home or business.

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