What To Look For When Choosing A Locksmith
Hiring a reliable locksmith in case of a lockout or to install a new lock or fix a broken ignition switch is, oftentimes, easier said than done. While you can find plenty of locksmith services advertising their services with a simple online search, not all of them actually do what they promise. For instance, there are lots of inexperienced locksmiths who do not specialize in working with the advanced types of locks that the car you are driving uses. There are also plenty of con-artists that will try to rip you off and overcharge you for simple services like a lockout. To assist you with selecting the right locksmith, here are a few of the main aspects you should consider when looking to hire a locksmith for an emergency or a simple repair or replacement job.
#1: Good Credentials You Can Personally Check
You could start by looking for approval from trustworthy third parties, along with any form of accreditation you can come across. The ALOA Security Professionals Association also known as ALOA, the Associated Locksmiths of America is a reputable trade organization in the US. It is dedicated to locksmiths as well as any other type of physical security professional and it represents over 6,000 locksmiths in the US, Canada, and other countries. It is the largest association in North America. The ALOA's main purpose is to oversee the issuing of all proficiency certifications for member locksmiths. Any locksmith who is part of the ALOA is guaranteed to benefit from continuing education programs, participation to yearly trade conventions and also to benefit from professional training from the ALOA Training Center in Dallas. Expect all ALOA vetted lock technicians to be fully skilled, trained, experienced and reliable. They are also periodically undergoing testing and further assessments.
When looking for an automotive, residential or commercial locksmith, see that you search for the ALOA logo on their website that serves to prove the locksmith company is approved by this important body in the trade. You can also take the process one step further and actually make sure that the locksmith has the accreditation it claims to have. Unfortunately, there are still lots of companies that choose to deceive people by making false claims of accreditation and relying on these logos without any genuine backup. All of the locksmiths we work with here at Get-Locksmith have undergone detailed background checks and they have received their full accreditation.
#2: Try To Only Hire Local Locksmiths
This is essential for not only showing your support for the local economy of the city or state you live in, but also for making sure that the response time will be as short as possible. This is essential during emergencies when you need to find an expert who can arrive at your location during a lockout emergency in the shortest time possible. All of our locksmith teams are fully mobile and dispersed in all our franchise locations covering several states and major cities, such as Get Locksmith Houston, plus we have partnerships with accredited locksmiths nationwide, which means that we can reach you at any address and GPS location within half an hour or less. A local locksmith not only knows his way around the city streets and best shortcuts but can also reach you in time for you to quickly resume your activity once the lock or key issue is fixed.
#3: Get At Least Three Price Quotes Online
Ideally, you should get at least three separate price quotes from different locksmiths in town. These price estimates are free of charge, they incur no obligations or fee and they can be easily obtained by phone or by filling in a brief online form. Keep in mind the price quotes you are going to receive will vary depending on the time of the day or night when you will call customer support, the day of the week (weekends and national holidays will normally incur more expensive rates) and the job you will solicit.
You can also check out the price list most locksmiths display online on their websites. Keep in mind all companies usually charge a minimum fixed service fee. Compare these service fees as well and see if there will be any added expenses to the quoted prices.
#4: Use Word Of Mouth
If you have a coworker, relative or neighbor who has recently hired a locksmith for a broken lock or missing key issue, ask them to tell you about the service they have hired. Would they recommend the locksmith company to you? Should you steer clear from the respective company? Any input will help, so do not disregard this idea.
#5: Check Out Online Reviews And Company Information
You can also take advantage of the numerous locksmith review websites you can find online or use the social media pages of the respective companies to see what their clients are saying about them.
While the Google search engine is a good way of coming across reliable locksmiths, you should keep in mind to skip paid ads as they do not necessarily reflect on the quality of the service that you can expect from these services. Instead, these rankings are good indicators that will let you know who is willing to pay a lot of money for advertising.
Try to only hire experienced locksmiths who are authorized or licensed, insured and/or bonded and who work with the most advanced software and tools in the industry. For car locksmiths, see that they cover the exact make and model of the vehicle you need help with. Not all locksmiths have the know-how and the key-cutting machines or transponder key specifications needed to cater to the needs of all clients.
Use your common sense, do a lot of research online and get all the credentials you can to ensure you will always hire the most reputable and trustworthy locksmiths in town.
