Unintentionally and in the rarest of accidents, you locked yourself out of your own home. Now what? Such incidents can be frustrating and problematic, especially if you’ve got kids or pets inside, and probably some dinner in the oven.
The next natural thing to happen is panic. But you don’t have to, because with these pointers, getting back into your living space is guaranteed.
Get A Locksmith
When it comes to picking locks without damaging them and giving you instant access back into your house, a residential locksmith is your best bet. They may not be the cheapest option on the table, but they are a surefire way to make sure there’s a table to start with.
Lockout services can cost anything from $20 to $80, depending on the extent of the problem. The price may be less if it’s just picking the locks, and more if it involves changing the system altogether.
Call Your Landlord
If you are renting the house, then your landlord likely has his or her set of keys. Not that a spare key in the hands of another person should get you worried. In fact, it is advised for lessors to have access to their buildings for such situations and other kinds of emergencies.
If the landlord lives close enough, they should be able to drop by and help you get back in. But if you actually lost the keys, getting a replacement or duplication will also involve a locksmith—in which case it is advised to deal with a trusted professional.
Ask the Concierge
If you live in an apartment building or a hotel-like facility, it is safe to assume you won’t be able to scale the high rise to get in through an open window. Such commercial establishments are typically required to have a master key to every unit.
So, you can give your concierge or building manager a call to ask to be let in. If you locked your keys inside the apartment, then you can easily get them back. But if you misplaced it, the management will take care of the replacement.
Check for Unlocked Windows
Unlocked windows—or doors—are more or less an open invitation to invaders. Nevertheless, they can help you get out of a dicey lockout situation. If your main entrance is locked, you might want to check other entrances. If you’re lucky, you might find one open.
But, caveat: make sure that open entrance is known and accessible to only you going forward. You can get a professional locksmith to set up an emergency let-in system that involves combinations or tweak known only to you. This is usually needed for life-threatening situations.
Finally, if you are locked out with a broken lock, it is best to call in a locksmith. The same goes if your key snapped inside the cylinder while trying to unlock. To prevent lockouts from rendering you helpless again in future, you can give a spare to a trusted family or companion close by.
