The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Locksmith in Your Area
There’s nothing worse than losing your key or finding yourself locked outside your own home. We’re all familiar with that feeling of reaching into a pocket or bag only to find your key has somehow vanished, and it’s far from pleasant. For those times when you have a lock or key related issue, it’s important you have a reliable and reputable locksmith company on hand to help out.
When selecting a locksmith, it’s important you choose someone who is quick, reliable and professional, and this is often easier said than done. Hiring a reliable locksmith is a security matter for your home or business, and it’s crucial you select someone who is knowledgeable and skilled.
Below, we share our top tips for choosing the best locksmith in your area.
Ask around for recommendations
The best way to find a reliable locksmith is to ask friends, family members and neighbours for recommendations. There’s a high chance someone you already know can recommend someone professional, reliable and efficient.
If you’re short of recommendations, a quick search on the internet will pull up local locksmiths. Don’t forget to read customer reviews and recommendations to get a feel for the company in question and ensure you’re choosing a reliable locksmith.
Look for someone with experience
While it’s good to support start-up businesses, you don’t want to be stuck with someone who doesn’t quite know what they’re doing. Getting locked out of your property or losing your keys is a huge inconvenience and you need the problem to be rectified right away.
Choosing someone with plenty of experience will give you peace of mind they know what they’re doing. They’ll have had experience working on locks like yours and are far more likely to provide a quick, efficient and professional service.
When searching for the right locksmith, make sure you ask how long they have been established and how much experience they have.
Choose someone with the right qualifications
A professional locksmith should be qualified. There are plenty of people who can advertise themselves as professional locksmiths, yet they lack the relevant qualifications. For the safety and security of your property, it’s imperative you hire a qualified professional.
If a locksmith claims to be accredited, make sure you check the accreditation being claimed is true. Unfortunately, there are some companies who use logos without permission. We recommend keeping an eye out for third party approvals. The MLA Approved Company scheme means the locksmith has been professionally vetted, is regularly inspected and employs a qualified locksmith.
Check for locksmiths with an MLA (Master Locksmith Association) logo; you can verify a locksmith if MLA Approved here.
Check their availability
You want to choose a locksmith who is reliable, and therefore they need to be available all year round. When searching for the best locksmith in your area, look out for emergency locksmiths who are available 24 hours a day. The last thing you want is to be stuck on your doorstep with no key on a cold winter’s night! To ensure you’re always covered, it’s best to choose a locksmith who offers 24 hour services every day of the year.
Find out what locksmith services are covered
Depending on their qualifications and experience, different locksmiths will offer different services. It’s important you choose someone who is qualified to carry out the services you require. Common locksmith services include:
- Installing mechanical or electronic locks
- Repairing locks
- Rekeying or changing locks
- Making copies or duplicate keys
- Supplying, installing and servicing high-security commercial locks and doors
Check locksmith locality
This may sound obvious, but it’s important to choose a local locksmith. There’s no point hiring someone an hour away; if you’re ever in need of emergency locksmith services, the last thing you want is to be waiting hours for them to arrive. When searching for the right locksmith for your needs, make sure you choose someone who can reach you in the least possible time.
Gather three quotes
To ensure you get the best value for money, it’s wise to gather three quotes from different locksmiths before you commit to one. This way, you can compare quotes and prices and make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. The cost of hiring a locksmith can vary depending on the type of job, your location and the time of day, but gathering three quotes should give you a rough idea of how much to expect.
Locksmiths can charge any price and it’s not uncommon for some to overcharge. Similarly, if you receive a surprisingly cheap quote from a locksmith, it may be best to steer clear. Cheap quotes are often an indication that locksmiths are cutting corners or using cheap products, which could jeopardise the security and safety of your property.
A reputable firm will gladly provide you with an approximate estimate before starting work. Always ask for a written estimate with a full breakdown of costs.
Hire an insured locksmith
It’s important you choose a locksmith who has insurance. This gives you peace of mind and confidence that the insurance company will cover the costs if the locksmith damages your locks or property. Without the correct insurance in place, you could face some costly repairs. It’s always best to ask to see a copy of the insurance policy before you hire someone to do any work on your locks or property.
Ask for identification
Most locksmiths will carry an ID badge with them. Don’t be afraid to ask to see it; any reputable and reliable professional will be more than happy to show their badge to you and prove who they are. If you’re not sure of a locksmith’s credibility, you can always call the company and they can confirm the locksmith’s current location along with their name.
It’s always a good idea to keep the business card of a professional locksmith in your purse or wallet for when you need it. You never know when you’re going to lose a key or find yourself locked out, so it’s important you have someone reliable on hand.
Campbell & McGovern: your security experts and trusted locksmiths in Liverpool
At Campbell & McGovern, we provide expert locksmith services in Liverpool, serving Bootle and beyond. We’re proud to offer a reliable 24/7 emergency call out service which you can call anytime of day or night, all year round. Our local locksmiths are dedicated to getting to you as quickly as possible and will always ensure your home, family and possessions are safe after a break in. Our prompt response team means our experienced Liverpool locksmiths can be at your location within just an hour to solve your crisis.
Our team of experienced professionals have over 150 years of experience between them, so there’s no scenario we haven’t dealt with before. We’re a firm you can trust to deliver on our promises and we pride ourselves on our affordable locksmith prices. We are full members of the Masters Locksmiths Association (MLA) and the Auto Locksmith Association (ALA).
To learn more about our locksmith and security services, visit our website today.
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