When most people find themselves needing to hire a locksmith in New York, the urgency of their situation puts them in a uniquely vulnerable place. It’s unfortunately easy to get taken advantage of when you’re locked out of your house or office and need assistance as fast as possible. This makes many people understandably anxious about the prospect of hiring a locksmith, but this doesn’t need to be a stressful process. Here are three tips for hiring a locksmith.
Plan ahead
If you’re scrolling through your city’s directory for the first time only after you’re already locked out, it will be harder for you to be thorough when choosing a professional. Take some time before that emergency situation hits to ask friends for recommendations, check out the websites of local companies, and do your due diligence to find a reputable locksmith in New York.
Get an estimate first
When you do find yourself needing locksmith services, the Better Business Bureau recommends calling to get an estimate of services before the professionals arrive. This estimate should include costs for both labor and parts, and ask about any additional fees as well. Trustworthy locksmiths will be able to provide this information over the phone, and won’t increase their price upon arrival.
Make sure they offer what they claim
Many companies will make promises on their website that they can’t actually deliver. For instance, many services that claim to be 24 hours do not actually have locksmiths on call 24 hours. Even if you don’t need services during odd hours of the night, this is a bad sign for their business practices in general, so make sure you hire a locksmith who doesn’t make false promises.
Don’t panic if you get locked out, and follow these simple steps to find a trustworthy locksmith that you’ll be happy to work with.
