Few things are as frustrating and embarrassing as being locked out of your own home. There’s never a good time for it to happen, of course, and getting back in can be harder than it needs to be. If you’ve been locked out, you’ll want to pay attention to the following tips.
Look for an Unlocked Entrance
Don’t panic when you lock yourself out. Instead of immediately looking for a locksmith, start looking for a way back inside of your house. Make sure to pay attention to things like first-floor windows and unlocked doors. You’d be surprised by the number of entrance routes that tend to go unlocked during the day, so make sure that you take advantage of them during this type of situation.
Call in Reinforcements
Your next step should be to start reaching out to those who have copies of your keys. Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or even a house-sitter, there’s probably someone out there who can help to get you back into your home. If you don’t have someone this time, make sure that you get a spare key and that you get it to someone who is able to help you in the future.
Check Your Insurance
It’s amazing what your homeowner or renter’s insurance might cover. Grab your smartphone and check out your contract when you are sure that you’ve been locked out – if you’re lucky, you might have some kind of locksmith coverage. If not, you might still want to contact your insurance company because they might have a relationship with a locksmith in your area. While you’ll likely still end up having to pay something, you’ll probably get a discount on the services.
Don’t Panic
Finally, try not to panic. The last thing you need to do is to break a window or a door down in your attempts to get in your house. Doing so will not only end up costing you much more than a locksmith, but it could end up triggering an alarm or causing your neighbors to call the police. While this kind of situation is obviously quite frustrating, you need to do what you can to keep your cool until help arrives.
If you’re locked out of your house, try to exhaust your other free avenues of entry first and then try to call a locksmith. If you’re patient and calm, you can get back into your home with a minimum of fuss. While this can be an embarrassing experience, it can also be a great lesson that will help you to remember to keep a spare copy of your keys somewhere other than the inside of your home.
