Emergencies by their very nature can happen at any time of the day.
You accidentally leave your keys at work; someone steals your bag on the train or you pop outside to empty the rubbish only to find yourself locked out.
It’s at times like this when you need to find a professional locksmith. Although there are many resources for finding help, it’s important to know how to find a locksmith you can trust.
Here are a few factors to consider before you put yourself or your home at risk by hiring the wrong person for the job.
Get A Personal Recommendation
When you want to see a film at the local cinema or try that restaurant that’s just opened in town, it’s normal to ask someone you know.
Recommendations and referrals are the best way to lower the risk of being disappointed or wasting your money. It’s the way people have been doing business for years.
That’s why when you move to a new area, one of most important things you can do is ask around for a trustworthy locksmith.
It’s probably not the first thing on your mind but will pay off if you ever find yourself needing an emergency locksmith, especially in the middle of the night.
The best way to find a professional locksmith in London is by a word of mouth recommendation.
Ask a neighbour, your landlord if you’re renting or pop into your local shoemakers, dry cleaner’s or hardware store because they will usually know a reputable locksmith.
Find A Local Locksmith Online
If you can’t get a personal recommendation, the next best thing is to go online and look for a good locksmith in your area.
If you have a smart phone, do a quick search with the term “locksmith near me”. Take a look at the reviews for locksmiths because this will give you an idea of other peoples’ experiences with them.
Make a mental note of any positive feedback.
Did they arrive on time? Were they able to fix the job? How cost-effective were they? Were they friendly?
Call a couple of professionals to compare their prices for the job and locations. In general, the nearer a locksmith is to you, the less expensive it will work out because they won’t have to travel far.
Cheapest Isn’t Always Best
Cost is the main consideration for most people when they’re hiring a professional. But remember, the cheapest locksmith may not be the best one. They may not even be able to do the job correctly!
Equally, the most expensive is not necessarily the most skilled or experienced locksmith either.
Use your commonsense and accept the price that seems most reasonable to you.
At the end of the day if you are locked out of your home and have to call an emergency locksmith at 2am in the morning, it stands to reason that you’ll have to pay a small premium.
Always Be Vigilant
Always be vigilant when a locksmith is working on your home locks. Ask for ID to prove they are who they say they are and never leave them in your home unsupervised the first time you use them.
Unfortunately, there are untrustworthy people who pose as professional locksmiths in order to gain access to your home. If you leave a stranger alone with your personal belongings, you’re just asking for trouble.
As you can see it isn’t difficult to find a decent locksmith in London. The best way is to ask around and get the number of a reputable professional well before you need to call out an emergency locksmith. Family, friends, neighbours and the Internet are great resources to start your search.